"...Liberal/Republican? Excuse me if I'm wrong but doesn't the CPC, certainly under Harper, model itself on the Republicans? Perhaps you mean Liberal/Democrat?.."

Not really, you are confusing apparent content for techniques.

The Republican party fashions itself on the "Values of the nation" - as does the Liberals in Canada. And as such, all their strategy flows from that.

They are cousins that may have a different taste for what they like to eat at the family picnic, but they generally show up, and agree with circling the wagons to protect the family.

And don't get me started on the list of similarities between Trudeau and Trump, I have listed them many, many times on these pages.