The Conservative Party’s moment has come to sell Canadians on its ‘common sense’ plan, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told his caucus on Thursday, as they gathered in Quebec City for the federal party’s three-day policy convention where controversial policy pitches risk impacting the party’s broadening appeal.
I loathe the “common sense” narrative. It’s really no different than a “customer is always right” policy, applied to politics. To which, if you have ever worked in a service job that faces the general public, you very well know that the customer is rarely right, especially when the topic doesn’t relate to their expertise or profession.
Yes, technocrats can miss the forest for the trees. Sometimes they lose focus on what the general will of the nation is in favour of a precise, but aloof policy directive. That said, it doesn’t mean you fire your accountant and hire a plumber to do your taxes instead.