Pierre Poilievre held a press conference yesterday, where he debuted a new slogan about the “credit card budget,” as though that were clever (it’s really not), and had several of his MPs all read the same scripts about so-called “Liberal inflation,” even though inflation doesn’t work that way, and the current affordability crisis is the result of policies that have been baked in for several decades now. But where things got testy was in the media availability after, where Poilievre was taking shots at media outlets (including false accusations about corrections), and him “quoting” things Chris d’Entremont said about the Liberals in the Chamber, which might have been more damning if they simply weren’t the very same scripts that every Conservative MP reads unthinkingly. (d’Entremont later, correctly, dismissed this as just “spinning.”)

But what took the cake was when Poilievre was asked whether he was reflecting on his leadership style after the two losses to his caucus over the last week, and he said plainly “No,” and then babbled on about being the only leader fighting for affordability. (Also not true, because the only thing he’s fighting for is trickle-down economics, which created the affordability mess we’re in). But seriously, Poilievre is incapable of self-reflection, and he keeps proving that over and over again. He’s the same campus conservative he was when he was seventeen, and nothing will ever change or dissuade him from that, nor his childish, argumentative style, his need for chants and slogans, or his jejune beliefs in how monetary policy works. He is incapable of understanding complexity, and it shows. The fact that his leadership style is being referred to as a frat house is just as indicative of this fact. No self-reflection, no personal growth, and it’s a wonder why people who aren’t already Kool-Aid drinkers in the party don’t connect with him.

Meanwhile, the NDP are puffing out their chests and telling the Toronto Star that they’re getting ready for an election if the budget doesn’t pass, which I will call bullshit. They’re not getting ready for an election. The party is $23 million in debt, they’ve already mortgaged the office building they own in downtown Ottawa, and they have no more resources to draw on. This is them trying to look like they’re tough and relevant when they will see to it in one way or another that there is no election because in no way can the fight one, even if it’s to try and reclaim five seats in order to return to official party status. This is posturing, and nobody should be under any impression otherwise.

— Effin' Birds (@effinbirds.com) 2025-11-12T23:01:55.085Z

Ukraine Dispatch

Ukrainian civilians are being evacuated from settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region as fighting intensifies in the area, while forces in the area say that they have stopped the Russian advance. Here is more about the situation in Pokrovsk. Ukraine’s justice and energy ministers submitted their resignations as a result of the energy kickback scheme allegations.

Good reads:

• Today’s the day when Mark Carney will reveal the second tranche of major projects.
• Anita Anand says she didn’t raise trade talks with Marco Rubio during their one-on-one at the G7 ministerial, as it’s not her portfolio.
• At said ministerial, the French foreign minister called out American boat strikes as against international law. Anita Anand doesn’t want to weigh in. (Come. On!)
• The government has indicated it will be tinkering with veterans benefits again (because apparently nobody has learned a single lesson on this file).
• An open call has been sent out for a new Parliamentary Budget Officer, with “tact and discretion” being job requirements (after the interim PBO disqualified himself).
• The Bank of Canada deliberated waiting another cycle before lowering interest rates, but eventually opted to do it this time.
• The head of the Royal Canadian Navy says the plan is to actually buy off-the-shelf submarines rather than go through a “Canadianisation” process.
• The Correctional Investigator is resigning early in frustration as the correctional service has done nothing to address his concerns in the years he’s been on the job.
• There are concerns that there is still no definition of what counts as “Canadian” for the new Buy Canadian policies, given the history of loopholes.
• The King of Sweden will be visiting Canada next week to highlight ties that include possible partnerships with Saab for military equipment.
• The Canadian Press digs into the series of fake online videos that are trying to push western separatist narratives.
• The adoption of a new values and ethics code for Senate staffers is on hold after pushback because it requires staffers to disclose political activities in their off hours.
• Chris d’Entremont was booed at his local Remembrance Day ceremony, because people can’t get a grip.
• The premiers are gearing up for their meeting with Carney next week, so of course they are preparing a list of demands—erm, “priorities” they want to share.
• Nova Scotia is continuing its tradition of giving a giant Christmas Tree to Boston, in spite of the trade war and annexation threats.
• Kevin Page gives the budget a B+ in his evaluation.
• Susan Delacourt games out the weirdness of what an election would look like if the government were to fall over the budget next week.
• Althia Raj wonders why Carney was so quick to ram through his major project legislation (with its Henry VIII clause) if he hasn’t used it.

Odds and ends:

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