January 27, 2003
Jean Chrétien’s latest cause is to reform the way that political parties are financed. The littlest guy from Shawinigan is proposing that political donations from unions and many corporations, at least those over a certain size, be banned. The reason for the ban is to avoid the perception (and of course, the reality) that government contracts and patronage appointments are given out as a reward for financial support. The proposed changes do not mean that less money will be spent on political campaigns--rather the loss of union and corporate donations will be made up by the taxpayer.
The prime minister stated that he is treating the campaign finance reform as a matter of confidence and if the caucus doesn’t support him, he will call a snap election. Pundits have debated whether or not Chrétien knows that the decision to dissolve Parliament and call an election rests with the Governor-General and not with him. She could refuse to call an election and ask Paul Martin to form a government which he probably would be able to do. He does know, but may be counting on the fact that Adrienne Clarkson got her appointment the same way Ethics Czar Howard Wilson got his and that she is just another Chrétien stooge. The more likely scenario is that the PM is betting on the fact that his spineless backbenchers will all fall into line like the good little boys and girls they almost always are.
Over 30 years ago, that icon of the Liberals, Pierre Elliott Trudeau said of backbench MPs: "When they get home, when they get out of Parliament, when they are 50 yards from Parliament Hill, they are no longer honourable members, they are nobodies." Now as Chrétien’s leadership begins its tenth year, backbenchers have been reduced to full time nobodies, even when they are sitting in the House. Much like terrorism, another election is not worth fighting.
The reactions to Chrétien’s posturing about political finance reform by some backbenchers seem to suggest that they, unlike most of the country, are just now getting to understand the boss. After Chrétien stated that he doesn’t need anyone anymore because he’s not running again, Toronto MP Joe Volpe was quoted as saying: "This is a novel argument--that you can do this because it doesn’t matter anymore. You do things because it does matter to people. That’s what parliamentary democracy is all about". Where has Volpe been? The way the Liberals governed the country, it was never about things that mattered to people--for Chrétien, it was all about "him". Were advertising contracts given to Chrétien supporters because it mattered to people? Was the PM’s new deal for Africa because the Canadian public demanded it? Is the prime minister in a constant search for a legacy, because it mattered to people? Where ya been, Joe?
Liberal caucus chair Stan Keyes chimed in with: "Let caucus have a full discussion. Doesn’t that make a lot more sense than trying to shove something down someone’s throat?" Full discussion? Where was the full discussion on Kyoto, Stanley? Where was the full discussion about whether the billion dollar boondoggle, otherwise known as the gun registry, should continue? The dutiful backbenchers who said "yeah" when they were told to say "yeah", and "nay" when they were told to say "nay" are now, when the possibility of an unwanted election faces them, suddenly discovering democracy.
MP Dan McTeague, best known for his whining when gas prices go up and his deafening silence when they drop again, said: It’s odd that someone who is prepared to retire is, at the same time, threatening an election. That’s bizarre. The public sees it as bizarre. A lot of people are scratching their heads this morning saying, ‘What’s this all about?’ Many members of the caucus were left reeling." Well, McTeague got the last line right. The caucus is reeling. For the rest of us, Chrétien is just being Chrétien. The PM’s conduct is no different that it’s always been. He’s doing to the backbenchers what he has been doing to the rest of the country for the past nine years. It’s as if the backbenchers have just woken up and seen the situation for what it really is. The fact that Chrétien might call an election and refuse to sign nomination papers for Liberals who oppose him, at least provides some comic relief in the last months of the Chrétien years. Keep it up, guys.
Of course, there won’t be another election before Jean Chrétien leaves office. The sheep will all get up and fall into line behind the boss. But, until that happens, it’s fun to watch.