The fine art of saying nothing

At the new Google office in Kitchener yesterday, our Prime Minister was asked “a fairly blunt question” about the state of the economy, John Ivison reports in the National Post, and responded: “I’ve spoken with many Canadians who are going through very difficult times, particularly in Alberta, where worries about jobs and the economy are very real. But at the same time, I’m tremendously optimistic about the Canadian economy. It’s not just standing in an amazing place like this that is demonstrating how much Canadians have to offer the world in terms of innovation and forward thinking, but also to understand that Canadians, as forward-thinking optimistic problem solvers, are always ready to create economic growth and success. The federal government will be a strong partner, making investments where we need to.” Astounding. It’s voluble, cheerful, encouraging, apparently forthcoming, and so utterly devoid of actual meaning that Warren Harding, who invented the term “bloviation” to describe his own capacity for such prose, would gape in envious astonishment.

The only question is whether Justin Trudeau realizes he said nothing at all at great length there. Does he talk like this on purpose because he knows he has nothing useful or intelligent to say, or does he actually think that statement was useful and intelligent?

You certainly can’t tell by reading it. Or rereading it. Or … zzzzzzzzzzzz.