Anybody Fit to Rule Canada?

Whispering in the Wind (WITW 33) June 11, 2014

Political decision making is almost always framed and judged within a specific time frame – in Canada, at the federal level, the time frame is between now and the next federal election.   Actually, the Harper, Mulcair, Trudeau campaign to win the hearts and minds of Canadians began some fourteen months ago when Justin Trudeau was elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.  No doubt in my mind, in the early days of Mr. Trudeau’s leadership, Mr. Harper had only one objective in mind:  make the 2015 election campaign all about the economy and only about the economy.  Mr. Mulcair had two objectives in mind: consolidate his power base in Quebec and corner the prime minister in the Senate scandal.  Mr. Trudeau’s strategy in the first six months of his reign wasn’t to espouse any great policy initiative, it was to criss-cross the country, flex his muscles and look youthful.  All in all things went well for the prime minister in that the economy didn’t collapse.  For the leader of the official opposition he emerged as an outstanding parliamentarian and that was about it.  The leader of the third party, all he could muster, he became Canada rock star without showing any political stripes.  As an old family man I always looked forward to the month of June, it is the month for report cards: 

Report Card – Steven Harper

Prime Minister Harper has had a rough go of it in the last year or so with a good deal of his troubles resulting from his own secretive management style.  His refusal to be more forthcoming in the House of Commons regarding the Senate scandal has left many questioning his management style and speculating personal role in the matter.  In terms of economic leadership matters, one can’t ignore Mr. Harper’s (and Jim Flaherty) role in keeping the country out of a major recession, nevertheless things have run amok more recently, all related to the Harper government’s administration of the country’s Temporary Foreign Workers Program – the changes being considered, no matter what they are, will have very serious consequences on those businesses that have become dependent on the program as it was administered.  Adding to Mr. Harper’s economic pain are the precarious pipeline decisions in both Canada and the United States.  Mr. Harper’s approach to Aboriginal education was an excellent strategic move and could have gone a long way to improving aboriginal conditions and relations for generations to come – unfortunately Mr. Harper (and the former grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations) misjudged the political landscape within the Assembly of First Nations and the result; major, dangerous setback for aboriginal relations with the federal government.  Mr. Harper’s skirmishes with the Supreme Court of Canada (the nomination process, the reference case on Senate reform), demonstrates a lack of understanding of the country’s constitution and the limitations placed on a prime minister with a majority government – clearly Mr. Harper failed in his power play.

 

Report Card – Thomas Mulcair

In the past year Thomas Mulcair has been described as an exemplary parliamentarian.  Mr. Mulcair must consolidate his power base is in Quebec where Mr. Harper and the Conservatives are not a major political factor – his major challenge in Quebec will come from Justin Trudeau and the Pierre Elliot Trudeau legacy.  Mr. Mulcair is prime ministerial material but has two major flaws.  Mr. Mulcair is leader of a left wing party and there are no signs of him trying to move the New Democratic party toward the center of the political spectrum.  Second, Mr. Mulcair and the New Democrats have persistently called for the abolition of Canada’s Senate.  Mr. Mulcair has to eat his words and make some recommendations regarding the rejuvenation of the Senate – Mr. Mulcair has to face political reality.

Report Card – Justin Trudeau

In just one year Justin Trudeau has moved from being a gaffe prone rock star to being the serious contender for Canada’s top political job, prime minister of Canada.  Just a few months ago Mr. Trudeau undertook a bold move regarding the Liberal Senators and by edict declared the Senators independent – a move that gained him considerable respect in political circles and demonstrated guts and imagination.  More recently, Mr. Trudeau’s contradictory statements regarding the Liberal party’s so-called “open” and free nomination process, except that all potential candidates had to be pro-choice candidates, has shown a Trudeau that hasn’t thought things through and cannot think on his feet when facing a camera.  In my view Mr. Trudeau comes across as a man who is too loose in his demeanor and doesn’t take things too seriously – a position that might be attractive to the younger voter, but for guys like me, the approach is a sign of political immaturity.

A Final Thought 

If none of our political leaders pass the Shaske test, then who is going to lead this great country we call Canada?  Stay tuned!