Éric Blais/Toronto Star: If he had run on his predecessor’s policies, he would likely have lost to Pierre Poilievre. The economist calculated that a weaker climate policy that governs beats a stronger one in opposition. By that math, this isn’t a retreat from principle or a cynical grab. It’s the cost Carney is paying to be in a position to act on any principle at all.
But there remains a question that should still keep him and Liberals up at night. You can spend a brand fast, but rebuilding one takes years. And elastic is not the same as infinitely stretchable. The emergency that justifies the bending of Liberal values today will pass, but a party pulled too far out of its own shape may not snap back…