When I saw this photo of Andrew Scheer getting his portrait as Speaker hung in the House of Commons, I couldn't help thinking of Oscar Wilde's classic story The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Where a portrait of the murderous Dorian ages, while he remains unchanged.
Except that in my version of the story nobody gets murdered, but as the portrait ages Scheer looks more and more like a loser or a Con clown.
For so many reasons.
Starting with the fact that he was one of the worst Speakers this country has ever known.
If everything had gone according to plan, marijuana would have been legalized in this country on July 1, Canada's birthday.
But now it looks as if we will have to wait until at least Labour Day.
There is a slim but very real chance that it could take years before it is legalized.
And Justin Trudeau knows who is to blame.
I watched Andrew Scheer's appearance last night on Tout Le Monde En Parle, Quebec's biggest talk show.
And although I thought his French was (slightly) better than I had imagined it would be, his fifteen minute appearance can only be described as a bust, or a snooze fest.
If you understand French you can watch it here.
But if you don't, I think the looks on the faces of those trapped in the studio with him will tell you all you need to know.
As you may know I lost my respect for the Senate long ago, during the days when Stephen Harper ruled the roost.
And those stuffed turkeys couldn't kiss his ass enough.
And although Justin Trudeau allowed them to become independent, they're still gobbling like crazy.
And the ghosts of Harper past still haunt the place.
A few days ago I wondered how long we might have to wait before marijuana is legalized in this country.
And whether the premiers, the police, and Andrew Scheer's Cons would be able to stop the Trudeau government from making next years's Canada Day also Cannabis Day.
But now I'm feeling a lot more confident that the target date will be respected.
Now that I know that two former senior police officers, including one who was a Con minister, are jumping on the marijuana bandwagon.
We've been talking about legalizing marijuana in this country for about fifty years, since the Le Dain Commission delivered its report.
Which was completely ignored, as was another report produced by the Senate.
So I'm glad that our next Canada Day is also supposed to be Cannabis Day, the day the insane War on Weed finally ends.
But as that day approaches, those who would like that war to continue are becoming more and more vocal.
There is a touch of reefer madness in the air. Again.
Wednesday was National Weed Day or 4/20 day, when all over Canada and the world people gather to celebrate cannabis culture and smoke up.
So one has to commend the Liberal government for the timing of this announcement.
Federal legislation to legalize marijuana will be ready in a year, Canada's health minister told the UN at a special session of the General Assembly in New York today.
"We will introduce legislation in spring 2017 that ensures we keep marijuana out of the hands of children and profits out of the hands of criminals," Jane Philpott said in her prepared speech to delegates.
Even though the timing for legalization does seem to me to be a little on the slow side.
