When Mad Max Bernier stormed out of the Conservative Party to begin his racist crusade, the failing Andrew Scheer had a big choice to make.
He could repudiate Bernier, and try to fool Canadians into believing that his Cons are a moderate party attuned to Canadian values.
Or he could try to match Bernier's bigotry, or even try to out racist him.
Well now we know which way Scheer has chosen to go.
Andrew Scheer finally won a by-election last night by appealing to Quebec nationalists and playing footsie with former separatists.
But don't expect him to brag about it too much. For it was a tainted victory.
And there is a reason he didn't mention this at the Con's victory party.
Scheer has said he'd give Quebec more power over culture and immigration and has promised to crack down on the influx of irregular refugee claimants, which has become a particular problem at Quebec's Lacolle border crossing.
For once again Scheer has been caught cuddling up to right-wing extremists.
Last Monday night Justin Trudeau attended a memorial ceremony for the victims of the Quebec City mosque massacre.
And during his speech he criticized one of Quebec's largest far-right groups, La Meute or Wolf Pack.
Calling them "nonos" which roughly translates as dummies or bozos.
It's easy to condemn racism, intolerance and discrimination against the Muslim community. We know who is who. It's the racists, it's the other, it's the ‘nonos’ who walk with a dog paw on the t-shirt.”
Only to have Sylvain Brouillete, a former leader of the group, take aim at him.
