Friday, October 11, 2002
Remaking Canadian politics - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- The title Maclean’s used isn’t bad. It’s apt, probably because I didn’t come up with it. The title of the October 7th issue of the magazine was: “500 Days to Remake Canadian Politics: After Jean Chrétien What?” The cartoon image is that of four mountain climbers attempting to scale Parliament Hill’s Peace Tower. The guy with a pack marked ‘Alliance’ is slightly ahead of that who’s got ‘PC’ on his. The ‘NDP’ one is a bit behind, with the ‘Bloc’ one hanging off a rope to the side of the tower. Paul Martin in a gorilla suit is atop the tower, drawn significantly larger, testament to the political situation in this nation now.
With the Prime Minister’s departure, political junkies across the nation are wondering who will take his place. The consensus generally is that Paul Martin will succeed, but with the switch taking place the Grits, it’s interesting to note the major parties are seeing some major changes being made as well. Let’s not forget the switch made at the Alliance this year with the dumping of Stockwell Day and the installation of Stephen Harper. As I type, the Tories are trying to replace Joe Clark, and the NDP is seeing their Alexa McDonough giving up the leader’s chair. The Maclean’s issue in question has articles anticipating this sea change in the political climate of this, as Peter Warren so aptly puts it, remarkable country.
First up there’s a profile on Paul Martin. They muse and talk to staffers about his leadership style and what kind of personality we’ll see were he to become leader. It’s pretty flat. Nothing new to report except that he’s (surprise) in total control of the Liberal Party structure and he’s fighting for the job already. Personally, if Martin lives up to what he’s already promising, then that’ll be great. However, one mustn’t forget, he’s a Liberal through and through and they’re known for saying one thing and doing another.
Following that there’s a flattering piece on Bernard Lord, the Tory Premier of New Brunswick. The Tory party is in love with him, and I’m sure he’d make a good leader. (Word is that party officials are trying to make a concerted pitch to him to seek the leadership forthwith in an attempt to jump-start the party and its flagging fortunes.) I think a Lord leadership of the Tories is what most pundits are hoping for. That would certainly stifle the competition, namely the couple of current MPs who are wishing to seek the leadership for themselves, namely Peter MacKay and Scott Brison. Surprisingly at the Tories, all the conceviable aspirants are pretty young folks. MacKay and Lord are two good candidates and either would make a respectable leader. If the Tory hierarchy can postpone their vote until later in 2003, then I’m sure Lord would give it a go. However, if they’re planning a spring one then Lord will not run, thus opening up the race for that other New Brunswicker, MacKay. Himself, of good Tory stock and wide appeal on Parliament Hill. (Incidentally, he’s been voted Parliament Hill’s sexiest MP.)
There’s an article too on Toronto City Councillor and NDP leadership hopeful Jack Layton. Layton, the head of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, has thrown his hat into the race to succeed outgoing leader Alexa McDonough. Maclean’s dubs him “the champion of the far left,” one who the NDP is hoping will lure in left-wingers who are disenchanted with the NDP as it is. ‘Far left’ NDPers in these parts, Libby Davies, Svend Robinson and Jenny Kwan have endorsed his leadership, thus he’s pulling them already. I doubt he’ll be leader, but the NDP will hope he can keep more supporters withing the party than detract.
And there’s an interesting Q&A with Mario Dumont, the 32-year old leader of Quebec’s third party, Action démocratique du Québec. (For a more in-depth look at Dumont, read the Maclean’s of the 14th of October.) La belle province’s reigning and rising political star looks to be his province’s saviour from the glut politics fought by the traditional Liberal and Parti Quebecois, on the plains of whether to separate or not to separate. The question for Dumont is what kind of government do Quebeckers want, and since they’re supporting him in polls and in recent by-election victories, Quebeckers seem inclined to forgetting separation for the time being. Seems that they want to reduce the size of government, they want deregulation, and they want that reduction of taxes. As Dumont seems prepared to privatise healthcare, they like the neo-conservative mantra as preached by other neo-con pols like Ralph Klein, Mike Harris and Gordon Campbell.
On all sides, we’re seeing new stars emerge. Will that mean new ideas for the Canadian political culture, or merely old ones trotted out in new packaging? Whatever, it’ll be interesting and hopefully some good will come from it. Jean Chrétien is on his way out, and that’s at least a start.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .