Not all MEC touring bikes are, well... touring. I consider a sine-qua-non the triple crank. Only these two have it:

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5041-062/National-Bicycle

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5039-2...ty-One-Bicycle

The National comes with a Brooks B17 as standard and with a 48-36-26 crank and 11-32. Very close to the Novara Randonee REI used to sell, but with disk brakes and a Brooks B17.

The Nineteen Seventy One bike comes with a 50-39-30 crank and a 12-30 cassette. It comes with brifters (which I like), but the gearing is higher than the National.

I have 26 in the front 34 in the back as the lowest gear and I have to get out and push at prolonged 14% inclines, but I weigh north of 260 lbs. So the National would be my choice, but of course YMMV