To mark the official start of the federal Liberal leadership race, The Huffington Post Canada asked all the declared candidate to tell us, in their words, why they decided to run. Deborah Coyne, a lawyer and former professor, announced her bid for the Liberal leadership on June 27, 2012."
A couple of years ago, the brilliant political satirists, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert pinpointed the polarization and utter irrelevance of today's politics in the U.S. with their Rally for Sanity in Washington, DC. It is a sentiment shared by most Canadians, but it should not just be comedians giving voice to our collective frustration.
The fact is there are too many Canadians on the sidelines today. We're disconnected from one another, in a Canada that is more and more just a fragmented collection of provinces and territories.
Canada is becoming a nation in name only. Canadians are disengaging from national politics and a political process that too many of us see as irrelevant and outdated. We are tired of the polarized politics and the winner-take-all mentality of the left and the right.
And just when we need more than ever to renew our sense of national purpose, pull together to overcome economic uncertainty, and repair the broken social contract, our federal government is increasingly shrinking from the mantle of leadership.
We have a Conservative prime minister who is steadily and systematically weakening the national government and our nation. From health care, to science, to the environment, to infrastructure, we are now dangerously close to a tipping point -- beyond which the unprecedented degree of national disengagement could become irreversible.
Just when we need more than ever to strengthen the mutual sense of fairness and respect that's essential to building a prosperous future together, our federal government tells us to look elsewhere for answers to the challenges we face.
Ottawa is the only government that's elected by, and answers to, ALL Canadians. Our national government has a unique mandate to act in the national interest and to inspire us to work together as Canadians.
We need a national government that stops wasting our time with pandering and pettiness, and delivers real results for the Canadian people. We need a national government that will sit in the same room with the other levels of government and take the lead in working collectively to strengthen Canada.
Canadians urgently need the Liberal Party to step up to the plate, and provide the bold national leadership so glaringly absent today. All my life I have believed in a strong Canada, strong national purpose, strong national leadership -- to inspire us to work together and to build a better country and a better world.
It's an ambitious vision, but I have never been one to back away from a challenge. I have seen first-hand the power Canadians can have when we come together for One Canada.
What does this One Canada look like? It's a Canada where we can access the same quality of health care in St. John's as we can in Toronto. Where our abundant natural resources are developed sustainably based on the highest scientific and environmental standards, and we eliminate the critical infrastructure deficit in our towns and cities. Where skilled citizens can go where the jobs are and take their certifications with them, and where everyone who needs it can get the transitional support and training to help them find new work.
We are privileged to live in freedom in one of the greatest countries in the world. But with that privilege comes great responsibility. A responsibility we must all share. We must look over the horizon, and build a country much bigger than the sum of its parts.
It is time for all Canadians to get off the sidelines. Democracy will not work if you sit back and let things happen. Complacency is dangerous.
Join me in building a better Canada. One Canada, for all Canadians.
To learn more, please visit deborahcoyne.ca
Follow Deborah Coyne on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DebCoyne
Deborah Coyne: Unscripted: A Life Building a Better Canada (EXCERPT)
Alex Burton: I See Canada From a Bus, Not Airplane
There is no respectable nation when liberalism is in power. Even when they're right, it would still be supporting the snake ready to betray your national interests due to their "compassion" and other ideological bs. None of these people will ever understand supremacy and competition, they actually think it's evil.
I'm voting nothing BUT conservative.
Libs: you have to aim for the stars! Make bold proposals - not bold in the sense of right/left extremes, but ideas that all Canadians could be proud of. There's actually a big opportunity here.
Say what you will Canada respects a leader who says what they mean and means what they say. Stupid people vote too but you'd be surprised how many actually listen. Unfortunately they seldom hear anything of substance.
Perhaps a good start!
If you want to be ashamed of something, be ashamed of how the land was taken from its inhabitants.
There are bigger problems than Natives having privileges.
Yet you would lay blame upon the Federal Conservative government in an attempt to create support for a failed & floundering Liberal Party.
Guess that's your idea of coming together for OneCanada, create division to satisfy your own wants & desires, your own ideological beliefs.
It is my fervent wish that the center-right, center, and center-left parties find a way to work together to defeat the current Tory government while there is still a Canada left to protect.
My vote can easily go to a real PC conservative, a liberal, an NDP, or a Green Party leader. I see so much value for Canada in each of these perspectives and working in combination these groups create the potential for rebuilding Canada for Canadians.
If I have to chose between these parties I will, but I will be extremely upset with all of you who put party politics before Canada.
Respectfully,
Liz Wilson, Winnipeg
It is my hope that as the election looms closer, the new Liberal leader can sit down with Mulcair and look at seats where we can help eachother out by not running where we know we will only steal few enough votes to put the Cons ahead... However, partisan politics may well prevent this.
(PS I love living in Winnipeg, moved here 5 years ago and have not regretted one moment.)
I agree that we would be better off with a credible federal opposition party but I see only parties trying to capture the tribal Quebec vote and enough votes in the ROC to give them a victory. It worked since 1967 but that policy doesn't work any more. Who would be a better leader than Mr. Harper? It is so easy to criticize and destroy but much harder to build and praise. Who else can we build and praise -- Mr. Mulcair, Mr. Trudea? Let's hear it then. Let us scrutinise them like we do Mr. Harper.
never forget that this government has methodically and purposefully destroying all systems inplace to monitor the current situation and draw comparrisons to the past. Further the government is now under a concerted effort to stop any media outlet that may offer an opinion that is not in complete agreement with the current government. They are starting with neophyte reporters in small rural settings and church magazines. The writing is on the wall for the CBC and now there is even talk about making Sun News (aka tory mouith piece) part of the basic cable packages.
We will be manipulated and controled in the very same way as China has controled its populations.
If you love this country you may need to wake up and face reality. this is not the Tory government of our history.
We have a HUGE deficit that is only getting worse and these Cons have no idea how to handle a real budget.... For supposed Conservatives, the wasteful spending is just outrageous.