Our new prime minister attracted some criticism in March when he staged an unfamiliar piece of American-style political theatre, inviting cameras to record him signing an official-looking instrument to knock out the federal carbon tax on consumer fuels. What I should say is that he attracted a surprising and encouraging amount of criticism, and not just from my fellow wacko Tristin Hopper. Canadians are not exactly hyper-aware of the distinction between a head of state and a head of government, and even opposition politicians could not necessarily have been expected to bristle at Mark Carney’s attempt to role-play as the ultimate executor of law. I would, in fact, expect them to take notes and prepare to steal the idea.
