As a 60-year-old white man I didn’t feel enormously qualified to comment about Justin Trudeau’s brown and blackface travesties when the story first broke — though this didn’t seem to prevent countless others from becoming overnight experts — but I will say now that whatever their intention and however long ago, the actions themselves were repugnant.

But here’s the thing. As much as I am revolted by what Trudeau did with his blackface nonsense, I’m more concerned at the Conservatives’ whiteface antics. That party’s approach to climate change policy, First Nations issues, economic justice, foreign affairs, social equality, and so much else is deeply disquieting.

Andrew Scheer was never supposed to be the leader, but was the final “anybody but Bernier” candidate standing. The Tory war-room has spent most of its time since then trying to morph the man into what he is not.

I’ve written before about Scheer’s deeply traditionalist Roman Catholicism, and each time I do so, his people, and the many media figures who claim neutrality but seem to be increasingly reactionary, have accused me of being anti-Catholic. Which is odd, in that I’m an almost daily communicant who believes in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

As such, and unlike so many of my detractors, I know Scheer’s faith and his beliefs. It may well be that he will not reopen debates around abortion and equal marriage — though I do think he will oppose assisted dying — but any honest Ottawa-watcher knows that there are myriad ways in which a prime minister can help causes and movements without introducing specific legislation.

But one of the main reasons I have asked for Scheer to be honest about his personal beliefs regarding same-sex marriage, conversion therapy, and abortion is this: how would you feel if the leader of your country thought that you were abnormal and could be “cured,” that your marriage was a sham, and that your decision to control your own reproduction was infanticide or murder? Until Scheer clarifies his stance on these subjects, I can only assume that his reticence is due to the fact he still holds to the orthodox Catholic teaching he has long embraced.

On foreign affairs, Justin Trudeau hasn’t pursued an especially ethical policy, but remember that Scheer publicly supported Brexit, which was not only entirely inappropriate for a foreign politician, but demonstrates his appalling lack of judgment.

I spent the first half of my life in Britain, still spend much time there, and write for several British publications. Brexit is the most damaging political phenomenon in the United Kingdom since the Second World War, has led to dangerous and potentially violent divisions, will likely break the union with Scotland and Ireland, and cause economic chaos.

On the Middle East, Scheer is naïve and also dreadfully one-sided, and seems eager to encourage an increasingly oppressive Israeli government to behave in any way it sees fit. He will be a babe in the D.C. woods dealing with the United States, and while Trudeau often gave us platitudes about world affairs, I have never heard Scheer say anything at all of any substance or meaning pertinent to Canada’s foreign policy. In fact, I’m genuinely worried at what would happen to our international standing under a Conservative administration.

This is a wretched election, with less discussion of authentic ideas and policies than I can ever remember. I certainly don’t blame Scheer for all of that, although he is surely part of the problem, but the two leaders who are trying to discuss the issues, the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh and Green Party leader Elizabeth May, are routinely marginalized or ignored.

Predictions are never wise, but a minority Liberal government that was obliged to include the NDP and Green Party in its cabinet would probably be the best outcome for a country likely to face global economic recession, a tide of new technology that will eliminate long-held jobs, an unstable political system in the U.S., and the possibility of war in the Middle East and South Asia. Canada deserves better than what’s currently being offered, but sometimes we have to hold our noses and make the least offensive choice possible.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Michael Coren is a Toronto-based writer and contributing columnist to the Star’s Opinion section and iPolitics. Follow him on Twitter: @michaelcoren

Read more about: