Poilievre takes the dare

When springing a trap, try not to give six weeks' notice

Pierre Poilievre, from the PW photo archive

Somebody should write a book about Justin Trudeau and boxing metaphors. One reason Trudeau won that fight in 2012, he likes to say, is that he trained hard while his opponent’s friends were prematurely celebrating victory. A clear-eyed reading of this story would teach us that, in any confrontation, it’s best if you don’t give your opponent time to prepare.

And yet Chrystia Freeland let Pierre Poilievre know six weeks in advance that he would be called upon to vote separately on the Liberals’ extension of the capital-gains tax. It turns out somebody in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition can read newspapers.