15 Oct 08: Challenges for the Next Canadian Government

[Edward Campbell]

I know I’m repeating myself, but I have never believed in ”Gott mit uns” or special providence  or anything like that. 

Thus I know that a Conservative government will, eventually, need to be tossed out of office and allowed time in the ‘political wilderness’ to regroup, rebuild and rearm itself with good policy ideas. When, not if, that time comes we need a strong, centrist Liberal Party as the ‘government-in-waiting’ because the alternative, Taliban Jack Layton and the NDP as our other choice, doesn’t bear imagining.

I wish our Liberal friends well and hope they will make the right (centre, anyway) choice.

 

[GAP]

Oh, the Liberals will elect a new leader, but I seriously doubt he/she will lead them out of the wilderness after this term for the CPC.

There is little if any depth there, and no one to inspire....just tired old rehashed concepts and people....

 

[dapaterson]

The beauty of politics is that you never know.

Imagine a decade ago if someone told you that in an American presidential election it was likely that a Hawai'ian born African American Democrat with a slight political resume would defeat an experienced Republican war hero.

Or in 1984, just after Mulroney's massive majority, if someone told you that within a decade the Tories would be reduced to two seats in the Commons.

 

[Kirkhill]

Quite right, but you see, GAP, that's precisely the problem identified by Andrew Steele, just above when he says:

The last sentence, "Only work and discipline will earn you back government.", or back-to-back governments if you're Stephen Harper's Conservative Party, is critical and it is a potentially fatal error being made by all those wistful voices. Less wishing and hoping and more hard nosed policy and politics can save the Liberal Party from itself and its own death wish.

But I believe it is more than that.  As I have said elsewhere. It is not just that they want a White Knight because they want an easy road back to power.  They want the White Knight because they are of that section of society that craves a Leader to make the tough decisions for them.  That saves them from individual responsibility.

They are the antithesis of the self-view of most conservatives that crave individual freedom, accept individual responsibility and look not for a Leader but rather a competent manager. 

It is not just that they don't like Stephen Harper, they fear that he doesn't lead anywhere.  They are concerned that he doesn't tell them what to do and how to do it.  The console themselves with the notion that he MUST have a plan that is apparent to his followers but hidden from them.  They can't understand people supporting someone who doesn't lead.

 

[Old Sweat]

They are concerned that he doesn't tell them what to do and how to do it.  They console themselves with the notion that he MUST have a plan that is apparent to his followers but hidden from them.

Do you mean he has a hidden agenda?

I think, Chris, you are on to something. Look at the childcare proposal that became a key factor in the 2006 election. Implicit in it was the presumption that the government was able to do better job of raising children than were their parents. Farther back I recall after the Kingston conference circa 1960 the statement was made that once the Canadian people became comfortable with the nanny state, the Liberals would be in power forever. This was the principle behind its thesis, not the desire to make peoples' lives better.

 

[OldSolduer]

The nanny state is another euphemisim for extreme socialism...Communists were in too much of a hurry.

 

[Kirkhill]

Do you mean he has a hidden agenda?

Yep, I think that is, if not the origin of the fear, at leat why it resonates so well with the Liberals and the Socialists.  There has to be a plan because how can you be a leader without a plan? And how can people support you if you aren't a leader?

You need a leader to lead you forward into the brave new future.

Or, in the words of a favourite mantra of the 80's "If you're not progressing, you're dying".  It doesn't leave much room for acceptance of the status quo.

 

[OldSolduer]

You know I really hate those stupid left wing mantras, as well as some of the right wing ones too.

My personal pet peeve mantra is "today is the first day of the rest of your life"

 

[a_majoor]

Carpe diem!

 

[Brad Sallows]

>"today is the first day of the rest of your life"

I prefer sentiments along the lines of: "If you do <something to which I object strenuously>, it'll take you the rest of your life."

 

[Edward Campbell]

Here is the new cabinet, the people who will meet the challenges.

By the way, those who may have watched the lead up to the swearing in ceremony on CTV Newsnet will have received an excellent brief on how cabinet and ministers really work - and why Jack Layton is a propagandist rather than a 'public servant' - from David Emerson and Monty Solberg.

 

[OldSolduer]

I'm going to try to get a laugh here:

I should be in that Cabinet as The Minister of Nothing in Particular or is that job already gone?

 

[Edward Campbell]

I'm going to try to get a laugh here:

I should be in that Cabinet as The Minister of Nothing in Particular or is that job already gone?

No, it's open. I promise to mention your name to the PM next time we have a wee chat.

Sadly, this quite vital cabinet appointment is already taken by the best qualified candidate.

 

[The Bread Guy]

If I might be allowed to be a bit parochial, I note that there is a Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), a Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), and a Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification), but in spite of having a Conservative MP in northern Ontario (in the 807 area code, not the 705 "near north"), there is no Minister of State for FedNor named (although I presume Minister Clement, as Industry Minister, will retain the "second hat").

I leave analysis of this ignoring of northern Ontario, and the merits of voting for the winning team, to those wiser than myself...

 

[OldSolduer]

No, it's open. I promise to mention your name to the PM next time we have a wee chat.

Sadly, this quite vital cabinet appointment is already taken by the best qualified candidate.

Oh darn!! I was going for that one as I can mimic a Silly Walk, but I bow to the grace and expertise of the current Minister. He rocks!! ;D

 

[The Bread Guy]

If I might be allowed to be a bit parochial, I note that there is a Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), a Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), and a Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification), but in spite of having a Conservative MP in northern Ontario (in the 807 area code, not the 705 "near north"), there is no Minister of State for FedNor named (although I presume Minister Clement, as Industry Minister, will retain the "second hat") ....

The latest - CBC Radio paraphrases an Industry Canada spokesperson saying they're looking into the highlighted part.  Like they're going to name another cabinet minister next week?  Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight - centre bones the periphery once again...

 

[Edward Campbell]

According to his own web site Tony Clement "continues to be Minister for FedNor."

Maybe Steve didn't tell him the news or, perhaps, the PM's web site is in error.   

 

[The Bread Guy]

According to his own web site Tony Clement "continues to be Minister for FedNor."

Maybe Steve didn't tell him the news or, perhaps, the PM's web site is in error.   

Thanks very much for that ERC - funny how it appears the Minister's personal site bio was updated quicker than the official Ministerial bio, where his new appointment isn't mentioned (.pdf attached to prove it wasn't there when I looked).  Also, one of the Conservative candidates in Thunder Bay got the same word from party HQ. 

As for the List o' Cabinet, I know when Minister Clement was double-hatted (health & FedNor), both portfolios were mentioned in his official title - maybe someone thought it redundant to say "Industry Minister and Minister Responsible for FedNor."

Nonetheless, this shows me the priority of northern Ontario (the 807 bits, not just the 705 bits) at the Cabinet table and in communications regarding changes the region would be interested in, even with a Tory member in the area... sigh...

 

[Edward Campbell]

Notwithstanding optics or politics, in my opinion the Minister of Industry already has control of and responsibility for too many regional programmes and ought not to have specific responsibility for any specific one of them.

I firmly believe that all of them, the regional programmes, not the Industry Ministers, should be abandoned - North, South, East and West. They are all great examples of pork barrelling gone horribly wrong.

If we have to have FedNor they should give it to Jim Prentice - he was born up there.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Notwithstanding optics or politics, in my opinion the Minister of Industry already has control of and responsibility for too many regional programmes and ought not to have specific responsibility for any specific one of them.

I firmly believe that all of them, the regional programmes, not the Industry Ministers, should be abandoned - North, South, East and West. They are all great examples of pork barrelling gone horribly wrong.

VERY fair ball to discuss & debate, and I'm guessing you're not alone on that one....

If we have to have FedNor they should give it to Jim Prentice - he was born up there.

Yes, I'm sure putting an MP from Calgary (albeit a pretty damned powerful one, number three to the throne according to some commentators) will assuage our parochial worries about the interests of northern Ontario being represented in Cabinet 

Not normally this vocal, but I wrestle with the issue of democracy being what it is re:  majority rule while living in a part of the world with nowhere near enough voters (even if they do all turn out) to make huge differences or call enough attention to the area.