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The other major issues that have presented themselves to Scheer as opportunities haven’t proved much more helpful. When it comes to the federalization of carbon taxation, Scheer still has no good answers when he is called upon to reconcile his hypothetical support for emissions reductions with his opposition to the Trudeau plan. He doesn’t like carbon taxes, period, which will play well with climate skeptics who have three-SUV garages; I do not underestimate the impetus of that voting bloc, but the Conservatives own those voters already. Scheer also cornered himself into a lame position on the campus free-speech wars, and he is pulling sour faces about marijuana legalization, even though he is one of the few Canadian politicians who will admit to having smoked the stuff personally.

I’ve sat at the kitchen table and watched my parents decide to put off a purchase so my siblings and I could have the best possible chance to succeed

Maybe the Conservatives are still in wait-and-see mode. It is hard to know what appetizing tactical chances will appear between now and next autumn. But Scheer’s “open letter” is in many ways frustratingly elliptical. He complains that Trudeau promised tax relief for the middle class but repeats the CPC talking point that “More than 80% of middle-income Canadians actually paid more tax in 2017.” This depends on how you define “middle-income,” but more importantly fails to account for the Liberals’ supercharged Canada Child Benefit, which is somewhat counterintuitive for a fellow with five kids.

Photo by Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

I’m childless, so I am ready to write rapturous columns about the Enough Kiddie Policy Already Party of Canada whenever one appears, which it won’t. But Scheer’s open letter whines that “It’s getting hard to get by and provide for your family.” From my conversations with parents, I fear that this argument will get drowned out by cartoon cash-register noises as the CCB payments keep arriving between now and election day.