Second Coming Needed on Canadian Political
Scene
By Michael J Morris
Thinking about the dismal state of politics at the federal level
in Canada , my mind wanders back to a much simpler time when those we elected
more or less at least, served the general "public good" .
Now, I suppose back in the day, the public good was defined
differently depending on whether one was a Liberal, Progressive Conservative, or
CCF/NDP, and where you lived in Canada also played a role.
But, given the Senate scandals, the Robocalls affair, the debate
over the proposed new elections act, just for starters, and most recently,
the revelations about abuse the temporary foreign workers' program, methinks
that Lord Acton's dictum that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts
absolutely is in progress in the federal ruling party led by one Stephen
Harper.
However, concerns about Canada becoming a defacto one-party state
did not begin with Harper. Way back, or so it seems, in 2001 Jeffrey Simpson
wrote a book called 'The Friendly Dictatorship' after Jean Chretien formed his
third majority Liberal government.
Simpson noted that Canadian parliamentary democracy places more
power in the hands of the prime minister than does any other democracy. Also,
and of great concern he wrote that "...Canadians’ increasing discouragement over
their political system can be seen in a declining voter turnout, a documented
erosion in respect for all politicians, and in an increasing interest in other
forms of political engagement as opposed to partisan political
parties".
Chretien and the Liberals are now gone of course, but Harper and
the Cons have sure improved on the playbook.
And our discouragement with the political system, as noted by
Simpson in 2001 has assuredly increased.
There are all kinds of examples but here is one that is just
gaining the headlines. The federal government has a temporary foreign workers'
program which is supposed to be used when employers are unable to find Canadians
for positions.
On April 23, CBC News carried reports about alleged abuses of
the program at Tim Hortons outlets in Fernie (just down the road from Cranbrook,
in the riding of Kootenay-Columbia, held by Harper government MP David Wilks)
and in Blairmore, Alberta, just a little further down the road.
The upshot was that Tim Hortons stepped in and took over the
franchises from the franchisees.
Following the pack after more complaints arose about the program,
Jason Kenney, the employment minister in the Harper government announced that
the program was suspended for fast food outlets -- but according to news
reports, they would be able to keep workers already in place.
My goodness, I am not a minister of the Crown but I have heard
stories for some time about abuses in the program and how Canadians who are
qualified are being replaced.
The "public good" to me at least means that the government of the
day looks out for all Canadians and their best interests.
Perhaps the Harpercons believed nobody would really get upset about
those abused by the program -- whether they be temporary foreign workers or
Canadians who lost jobs because of it.
I leave you with lines
from 'The Second Coming' by William Butler Yeats -- hoping that a second coming
that ensures the best of the best for all of us arrives on the Canadian
political scene sooner rather than later. Enjoy the metaphors.
Turning
and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the
falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is
loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The
ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the
worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at
hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming!
My email is
mj.morris@live.ca
Full disclosure: I am not now and never have been a member of the Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society; however, I did conduct a workshop for its members for which I was paid.
