Thread by @_scottreid

Sadly, @CurseOfPolitics is down for the weekend so that we can attend to family and hangovers. But here's my take on yesterday's event. I thought it was by far the best and most effective outing we've seen yet from Trudeau. Starting with the message: which was a full-on bullseye

https://twitter.com/CherylFull/status/1431448572852064257

There is no issue of greater importance to Canadians than the preservation of public health, the need to combat a 4th wave and the crucial goal of preventing further lockdowns. Mandatory vaccines and vaccine passports are essential to meeting all those goals.

The annc't demonstrates that the federal government DOES have a key role to play here. By providing additional funds to incentivize passports, the PM is using the power of the federal treasury to prompt provinces into doing what most of them want to do. And most Cdns support

Even more importantly, we are reminded by the day that not everyone agrees. Some Canadians vigorously oppose passports. And so do some political leaders. Erin O'Toole has unvaccinated candidates. He reiterated last night he believes it should be up to the provinces to decide

That's a BIG difference. That's the kind of difference that many Canadians will see as a definitional matter when it comes to their choice for PM. And that's why it was smart - even overdue - for the Liberal campaign to hammer home this difference and put it on full display

As for the protesters, they cannot help but help the PM's message be heard. They underscore that there is no uniform consensus on this issue of mandatory vaccination. Which, in turn, legitimizes the importance of the issue as a federal voting matter.

What better mechanism to settle this difference of opinion than a full-throated debate and vote. And don't tell me it's not on the ballot. The two main party leaders disagree on the subject. And when something is this important to this many people, S.91/92 is not a shield

So, to those who say this is not a matter for the federal election: you're either being obtuse or criminally lacking in your analysis. Where leaders stand on an issue this important, this emotional and this essential to the public interest is FOR SURE a voting matter. It will be

Final point: last night, in response to the ugly, selfish horseshit of the protestors, Trudeau had his best moment of this campaign. He sounded real. He was talking from a place of personal conviction. And in a way that can connect with real people and their real concerns

It was a good reminder that this guy remains the best athlete on the floor. He hasn't shown it consistently throughout this campaign. But, cliche though it sounds, do not underestimate his talent. He can turn it on when needed. And people respond.

More importantly, what Trudeau put on offer yday - really for the first time - was a sharply defined choice, which is a way of explaining why this campaign is happening. A Liberal vote gets you one world view and set of priorities. A Conservative vote gets you another. So...pick.

That sharp, salient choice - which creates a cleavage between Trudeau and O'Toole and, for the Liberals, helpfully leaves aside the complicating and appealing Singh - is what this Liberal campaign has needed. And that's why yesterday was such a good day for Trudeau