Feb 24 The Digby Courier

A native son, Peter McKay is the new voice of Conservativism in the Maritimes, reflecting eastern Tories’ new vision of themselves. His appointment gives him the opportunity to be identified with Canada more widely and allows him to be seasoned with international experience, the appearance of which is useful for future leadership, and potentially for the party.

Peter’s recent apology for the Emerson defection, however, did not show him at his best. Part of what lawyers are taught is how sometimes to make the weaker argument look stronger, and doing so can be in the interests of justice. But surely, if there was a difference between the floor crossing of Emerson and Stronach, it was that Belinda could have, at the time of her defection, easily re-won her riding under her new party banner. In politics, sometimes “no comment” is the better answer.

Though Emerson may yet bail out, Stephen’s judgment won’t soon be forgotten, regardless of Canada’s Olympic results or Ezra Lavant’s attention getting/diverting. It has undone Harper’s integrity campaign, and it was unnecessary.