Update: The timing of the events have been slightly shifted. Butts is now expected to testify at 10 AM, the PM is expected to make an announcement at around the same time.
The Liberals will be making a speech introducing a national pharmacare plan at 9:20 am today.
Pharmacare announcement just before the Butts’ testimony. Make of this what you will. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/ezjJcLS4GR
— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) March 5, 2019
The problem?
The recommendations for the plan were expected to be released far closer to the October election as those doing the study were nowhere close to executing the program yet.
This sped-up date came up during last night's episode of CTV's Power Play when Tonda MacCharles, a reporter for the Toronto Star, brought up a more likely planned launch date in May, given her conversation with Dr. Eric Hoskins, Canada's leading person on the topic.
Tomorrow a national pharmacare announcement is scheduled for 0900AM.
— CTV Power Play (@CTV_PowerPlay) March 5, 2019
Is this a distraction from tomorrow's justice committee testimonies?@RobertFife & @TondaMacC certainly think so, and it isn't working. #ctvpp #cdnpoli
More at https://t.co/uCQmGSpNgb pic.twitter.com/eRB6bcJYc5
So what are they really planning? Well, late after the original media release Finance Minister Bill Morneau's office called media to explain that it was only the interim report. Interesting.
Why would the government stage such a high-end media event for an interim report?
Furthermore, why make the announcement literally 20 minutes before Gerald Butts the PMs former most trusted advisor and the person at the middle of the SNC-Lavalin scandal is expected to testify?
The combination of these two things points to an interesting strategy. The Liberals, in my opinion, are aiming to target their left-wing due to the relative weakness of Jagmeet Singh in comparison to the continuing momentum of Andrew Scheer, and they may have no confidence in the following Butts testimony.
This diverting focus on the left is why ideas such as climate change and pharmacare are continuously being touted instead of tax cuts, or increased military spending, exactly when Mr. Butts is set to testify.
The party likely counts on the average Canadian to become far more excited at the idea of "cheaper" medication than to descend into another round of depressing Justice Committee testimonies.
Where will you be putting your attention? Join the conversation by commenting below!
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