Torys Accidentally Smear Fellow Tory

Peter MacKay's communications director Dan Dugas apparently shares his master's delicate political touch. On Tuesday he smeared Paul Hobson, an economist who has argued that a cap on how much equalization and offshore revenue the province can receive if it opts into the Tories’ new equalization system would cost the province about $1 billion.

Dugas wrote in an e-mail to the Chronicle Herald:

"Don’t you think your readers ought to know that the author of a study on equalization is Paul Hobson, a Brison riding executive member (president) who went to the Grits with Brison? I’m saying it’s the kind of context in a political story that people should be aware of every time you mention him, don’t you think?"

However, Mr. Hobson shot back that:

...he’s not a Liberal. In fact, he donated $100 to the federal Conservatives in January.

At least Mr. Dugas, unlike his boss, had the class to issue an apology. But you've got to wonder about a government that can't even hurl slime accurately.