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Perhaps Canadas soon-to-be-former leader of the opposition shouldnt have waited so long to unleash his inner Scheer.

For much of his term as Conservative leader, Andrew Scheer struggled to establish an identity. For a time he seemed just too chipper to take seriously. People appreciate good manners, but Scheers chipmunk grin didnt exactly reek of gravitas. Once the election drew near he shifted to attack mode, veering at times into insult. The change did little to help decide what to make of the Tory leader.

Maybe the knowledge that his remaining time is limited has set Scheer free. As the Liberals twist and turn in Parliament in the face of cascading dilemmas, Scheer has enthusiastically unloaded on the government with a mix of invective and scorn. Justin Trudeaus verbal response to Indigenous blockades was weak, weak, weak, weak, he said, a word salad that pandered to a small group of radical activists.

Maybe the knowledge that his remaining time is limited has set Scheer free

Dialogue is not going to pay the bills for people who are facing layoffs because of people breaking the law who have no connection to the Wetsuweten First Nation, he charged, so upsetting the prime minister that he refused to let him attend a meeting with other opposition leaders.

If that bothered Scheer, it didnt slow him down. He drew protests in his hometown of Regina for suggesting protesters check their privilege and let other people do their jobs. He blamed Teck Resources decision to cancel a mega-project squarely on Trudeau, issuing a statement claiming the prime minister was afraid of his own caucus.

The prime ministers weakness over the last few weeks has sent a signal to businesses across Canada that the rule of law will not be upheld, court injunctions will not be enforced and major projects cannot get built, it said.

He even took a swipe at the CBC for posting an article criticizing a kids TV program for being insufficiently anti-capitalist. Why is the CBC acting like capitalism is a bad thing? he tweeted. Kooky college professors are nothing new, he said, but the CBC should leave the left-wing bias out of its coverage.

Is this a man who, after spending an entire campaign refusing to clarify his views on abortion and same-sex marriage, finally feels able to drop his guard and express himself? The timing may be bad for his career, but good for his party: a Nanos poll shows Conservatives have passed Liberals in popular support, widening the gap that saw the Tories win the popular vote while losing the October election.

Of course, its not all about Scheer. The growth of discontent results mainly from the prolonged confrontation with Indigenous groups over rail blockades, and the perception of a government flailing about forlornly for answers on a number of fronts. Though Teck abandoned its project before the Liberals had to render judgment on it, divisions within the government were obvious. While other countries managed to evacuate citizens from China over the Wuhan virus, Canada couldnt seem to find anyone willing to let it land a plane. And after defending his actions in the SNC-Lavalin scandal by decrying the danger of foreign ownership, the prime minister seemed notably unvexed when Bombardier, another supposed Quebec industrial gem, sold off its rail operations to a French firm.

In any event, its rich pickings for opponents, and Erin OToole, for one, seems intent on embracing Scheers approach as he beats the bushes for support in the race to succeed him. OToole has been all fire and brimstone in the conflict over blockades. Intimidation and physically preventing people from going about their lives is different (from peaceful protest), he asserted. It is a form of common law assault and should, in the appropriate situations, be treated as such.

An OToole government would identify major railways, ports, highways and bridges as critical national infrastructure and introduce a Freedom of Movement Act making it a criminal offence to block a railway, airport, port, or major road, or to block the entrance to a business or household in a way that prevents people from lawfully entering or leaving.

OTooles main rival, Peter MacKay, has been more circumspect, seemingly following the dictum that its never wise to interrupt an opponent, in this case Trudeau, when hes in the middle of making a mistake. Given the extent of the governments troubles, both men, and others in the contest, should be champing at the bit to get the leadership question settled and turn their attention to a government that fumbled away its majority and now seems intent on botching its minority as well. After the October election there were suggestions Trudeau would have a year or two before once again facing voters, but this is a wounded government that would be eminently vulnerable to a competent opposition. The challenge for the Tories will be to prove theyre up to it, and soon. The Liberals may not go on defeating themselves forever.

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Kelly McParland: Hurry up, Tories. The Liberals won't keep defeating themselves forever - National Post