by Klaus Rohrich
January 19, 2004
What do Jean Charest, Scott Brison, Sheila Copps and Keith Martin have in common? They are all poster people for the lack of principles running rampant in Canada’s current political scene.
Traditionally, political parties adhere to a philosophy that defines them. This philosophy embodies a set of principles, which are sacrosanct and inviolable. Traditionally, the Liberal Party of Canada was committed to being fiscally responsible, yet socially flexible, open to changing society as the need arose. Conversely, the Progressive Conservative Party was fiscally, as well as socially conservative, standing for the preservation of our society and its social institutions. Then the New Democratic Party came along and facilitated a major shift to the left in all of Canada’s political parties. The NDP stood for taxing, spending and an extensive array of government initiatives designed to take care of people from cradle to grave.
One would think that with such a wide range of political philosophy there would be a major difference between what the parties stood for, certainly what elected representatives of these parties stood for. But time and again our politicians are proving that there are no sacrosanct principles that define them, save and except any that will keep them in office.
Take Jean Charest, the Sad Sack former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, who jumped ship to take the helm of the Quebec Liberal Party. In my opinion, it was because he saw an opportunity to take control of the province when the Parti Quebecois finished self-destructing. No one can convince me that the policies of the PC Party federally were in agreement with the policies of the Quebec Liberals. So an opportunity came along that gave Charest a shot at power and he grabbed it.
Scott Brison, formerly a PC Party leadership hopeful, who voted for union with the alliance, grabbed a chance to further his career by defecting from the PCs and joining the Liberals. I wonder what the people of his riding thought about electing a Conservative to parliament and having him wind up sitting as a Liberal. Up to the week prior to jumping ship, Brison talked publicly about how the merger was good for the country, as it would eventually facilitate a change in Ottawa. I hope to God he’s right, because he should be among the first to be sent packing.
Then there’s Sheila Copps! What more can one say than that? Loud-mouthed, brash, unprincipled and opportunistic? Maybe, and a lot more as she is now threatening to join Jack Layton and his Band of Merry Socialists who are promising to steal from the rich and give to the poor. Truth is, they don’t give a damn about the poor, or the rest of the country for that matter, so long as they can preserve their privileged way of life, their grasp on power and their exorbitant pensions. Sheila is particularly cynical and sinister as she appears to have no problems watching her nose lengthen with every word she utters. Paul Martin wants to purge the Liberal Party of women? Come on Sheila, not even Judy Rebick believes that.
How Keith Martin can justify leaving the alliance Party for the Liberals is beyond me. again it demonstrates a total lack of commitment to any philosophy on his part and totally smacks of opportunism. His constituents voted for the alliance Party. Had they wanted an independent or Liberal in office, they would have voted for the appropriate candidate.
Finally a word about David Orchard. Here’s a guy who calls himself a Progressive Conservative (which in my book is an oxymoron), yet the things he advocates are straight out of the socialist playbook. abolish free trade? Make the rich pay? Weaken ties with the U.S.? It’s the ultimate demonstration of why Preston Manning found it necessary to found the Reform Party.
Given that members of all the traditional political parties are philosophically interchangeable, like a one-size-fits-all hospital gown, it’s a small wonder that the electorate in Canada is so fed up with politics that fewer and fewer bother to vote. Consequently, the Liberal Party, which runs its politics on the Quebec model of political cronyism, as well as the old bait and switch game, is the one party that will remain in power. Forever.
Defeating this bunch will be no mean feat, particularly in light of the tactics they use. People who disagree with them are labeled fascists, racists and homophobes. It has gotten to the point where anyone expressing opinions of conservative nature risks these charges.
Can politics in Canada be fixed? My sense is that it can be done, but it’s going to take major work. Just like the ‘War of Drugs’ is being lost because the sheer quantity of money keeps the pipelines lubricated, our politicians use our own money to buy our votes and few people are sapient enough to realize it.
If we can convince the people of Canada that they are much better off taking care of themselves, rather than having Sheila Copps or Jack Layton do so, we stand a chance.