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A few thoughts on a Friday afternoon about that Trudeau-Scheer “meeting” in Dieppe. I imagine it’s fairly uncommon for political party leaders to “bump into” one another like we saw yesterday with Trudeau and Scheer.
You see it at larger events such as Vancouver’s Pride and the occasional (rare) showing of unity on major issues that goes beyond partisanship. But, outside the House, it’s not routine for them to be in the same place at the same time.
Every party has their own summer BBQ circuit for the leadership, and there’s always other events for them to be at. It’s a big country.
So when you see what we saw at a celebration event yesterday, it’s not only rare but it’s an opportunity for each leader to put on their best behaviour and show some sportsmanship.
Instead of that, you get a truculent Scheer approaching the PM in a rather aggressive fashion, with a point to prove. You see this at public events all the time, but usually it’s a heckler or an individual with an axe to grind that speaks for no one but themselves.
Obviously it was staged and planned by the Conservatives. They tried, and failed, to make political hay out of a ham-fisted and frankly immature attempt to play “gotcha” with the PM.
Trudeau handled this like he would any other rude individual at a public event. That has to stick in Scheer’s craw. The Conservative video should have cut away much faster because you can see his face sinking as Trudeau turns away from him.
Because in that moment you see the realization that he shot his shot, and it didn’t hit the mark at all. Trudeau didn’t flinch, didn’t engage, and moved on pressing the flesh with Canadians.
There’s a lesson in all this: at a public event, if you aspire to be taken seriously, let alone to reside in 24 Sussex, don’t try to embarrass your opponent in that situation.
If you cross paths, a quick hello and maybe a quip or two, heck even take a phot together to show that you’re all human. Don’t go out of your way to establish dominance particularly if you have cameras rolling. It will backfire.
You can see how clear the divide is between what it means to be Prime Minister and how to conduct yourself accordingly, and the behaviour of a man who seemingly wants to hold that title.
Whoever hatched this idea, or didn’t tell Scheer that it was a bad one, should feel embarrassed. They made their party leader look like an amateur heckler who just summed up every ounce of courage he had to bully the PM, and that’s not good optics.
