Now that the head-shaking over Ontario’s Bill 23 has settled, one thing is widely agreed: the only possible beneficiaries are real estate developers. And the developers who stand to benefit most are major supporters of the Progressive Conservative Party, many of whom own property surrounding the highway that would cut across protected areas of the Greenbelt.

With the widespread proliferation of New Public Management policies across Western nations during the 1980s came massive deregulation, privatization of public assets, smaller government, tax reductions for the rich, and increased influence of business on government policy—implemented through political donations, lobbyists and management consultants.

Recent changes to the Conservative Party leadership election rules are designed to limit the candidate field to those with significant financial resources or friends in high places. In what some consider an “elitist” move, the Leadership Election Organizing Committee has upped the ante for aspiring hopefuls; increasing the entrance fee to $300,000.

Prime Minister Trudeau holds the shameful distinction amongst prime ministers of Canada to be the first found guilty of ethics violations; and this is his second. Although he has also probably issued more apologies on behalf of Canadians than any other PM, Canadians are not getting an apology for this. Mr. Trudeau it seems, gets to decide when it is okay to break the law.