The last decade in Canadian parliament has witnessed one of the most dramatic reversals in Western democracy. Regional differences, language issues, resource-sharing and citizenship disenchantment with all things political have resulted in a Canada at troubling odds with its more professional and stabilized reputation of only a few years ago. Speaking with a former United Nation's official last week who worked for years in an effort to reconstruct Haiti provided a sage observation on how this is viewed from nations outside of our own -- "Canada seems to have lost its sense of honour." It was phrase that has stayed and troubled me since it was uttered.
There is every sense that whatever Canada was in the eyes of the world has been radically altered, at least in perception. When Canadians themselves talk of the last decade in politics there is clearly a sense of jadedness, but when comparing the present context to those days when this country was highly regarded as an equitable nation and a terrific generator of Foreign Service professionals, many Canadians clearly sense a certain decline in stature.
Perhaps it's because politics itself has changed. The rustic/eloquent observer of the Canadian scene, Rex Murphy, commented last week that the two past Liberal leaders -- Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff -- were more like "boy scouts" than tough politicians. It's likely that there's some truth in this. But the victor is one who has succeeded in taking us down a number of dark alleys, where compromise is cast aside for conflict, and a sense of permanent partisan warfare replaces respectful governance.
What Murphy was saying, in effect, is that the days of respectfulness, dignity, and professionalism in the Canadian political landscape are more suitable for old National Film Board newsreels than the modern era of rumble-tumble bludgeoning political intrigue. We now live in a world where a government can turn on its own parliament, deny it the proper accounting assessments necessary for the approval of mega-expensive items like the F-35 jet, and proceed as if the need for the Canadian people to have a proper accounting for such expenditures (the largest military procurement in Canadian history) is not of prime importance. It is a world of political assassination via the airwaves, the silencing of professional ministry staffs, and a media that largely delights in the sheer parry and thrust of it all.
Welcome to the death of political honour -- that now unattainable practice of sticking to your word, where a commitment made was one worked out in a multi-party setting, and where all political representatives, especially the prime minister, would demonstrate the dignity of office by bowing to the will and constitution of parliament itself. Was it ever this ideal? Absolutely not, but past eras instinctively understood that it was a measure by which they would be judged. Furthermore, it was an effective means for dealing with public policies in a way that limited excessive friction and roguish behaviour. The new world of politics is more about fear of the leader and loyalty to the party than about honouring an institution that has watched over a very successful country for decades and guaranteeing that outcome by a personal sense of self-respect and honour.
The irony of it all is that Canada's reputation was clearly linked to its "boy scout" sense of responsibility. We were the folks in the blue berets, storming Vimy Ridge; residents of the most successful multi-cultural state in the world, business people who could span an entire country with a prosperous model; and citizens that at least pursued that most mercurial of all democratic pursuits -- equality.
The Machiavellian nature of our present Canadian political power structure has the potent result of demeaning the very greatness that honoured us at home and abroad. In response to Rex Murphy, I can only offer the perhaps outdated view of David Gemmell in his Shield of Thunder: "I may be stupid, as you say, to believe in honour and friendship without price. But these are virtues to be cherished, for without them we are no more than beasts roaming the land."
The days of roaming are now upon us. Careers have replaced character. And the only ones who can halt that transformation are the very citizens who have turned away from our national embarrassment.
Follow Glen Pearson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/glenpearson
Yes, we wore blue berets and helmets and felt ever so good about it. It was rare that we solved anything wearing them and I say that as one who wore them. So rare that it was non existent.
Saying that we had or have "business people who could span an entire country with a prosperous model" would get, at best, a cynical smile west of Winnipeg and derision in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Rightly so as even after provincial status was granted to Alberta and Saskatchewan they were treated as part of the NWT and it took years for Canada to honour it's commitments to BC when we joined Confederation.
Six plus years of minority government in Ottawa hasn't helped our perception of both our honour and our politicians AND our media. The latter group treated minority as a "will the government fall" version of 6/49 while ignoring policy discussions. The media covered conflict not policy.
As far as honour is concerned the Chretien government signed up on Kyoto with no intention of doing a thing to achieve it and, it should be noted, signed us onto the F-35 contract.
a reply. It's " elder abuse" no common courtesy anymore - am trying prayer to reach their hearts.
A pioneer Tory since age 12 a family tradition since grandma a nurse British working class Tory!
Try to keep up.
Canada does not need jet fighters. We need transport planes to set up emergency services world wide if needed.
We need coast guard vessels not boondoggle submarines. We need that Arctic scientific vessel.
Why do the Conservatives want to cut social programs yet commit us to zillion dollar military fittings that we don't need and don't want.
Sue the guys who sold us those white elephant lemon subs and can the jets which I bet will turn out to be white elephant lemon jets.
Yes under the authoritarian Harper regime. The only way to re-claim our honor is to swiftly kick these guys out in the next election.
God I miss Jack!
Excellent article. Will feature this article on our radio show Friday night.
No, but we have apparently severely reduced its funding to advance our exports of cheap-oil and low-cost resources to the United States and to finance our purchase of enough imaginary fighter jets to defend Moose Jaw.
We have allowed the present and previous governments to disavow international pledges. We have allowed past and present governments to destroy our natural habitat for thirty pieces of silver. We allow our present government to do business with dictatorships and terrorists for the almighty dollar.
Our government has no honour and neither do we unless we kick them out and restore it ourselves.
As Canadians we are much better than our current government projects. The tensions that inevitably exist in a society such as ours requires a soft touch and demands exceptional honour amongst our leadership. Sadly, both aspects are largely missing from our current government.
Rex has been a strong advocate of the conservative shift in Canadian politics, and this government's shift, from a society who prides healing over hurting. If you have paid attention to Rex and his opinions over the last 10 years you would notice a change from moderator to debater often on his CBC radio show. His conservative leanings, especially over the middle east, more than once have him attempting to belittle opinions he disagrees with, as opposed to being the gracious facilitator of the countries views his once was.
While I agree that Vimy Ridge was a defining moment for Canadians willingness to help others without regard for themselves, it is time to stop glorifying battles from the past and take back our place in the modern world.
The way the Titanic's sinking is being re-sold this week as a "populist disaster" is also somewhat nauseating, and also serves the purposes of avoiding covering much more important current events. They DID, at least, point out how the shipowner bailed at Southampton apparently upon hearing of the coal fire already burning onboard i.e. the 1% (more like the 0.01% taking refuge while also keeping his profits, at the expense of human life).
cont....
Nicely put. Thank you.
It seems one could substitute "Conservatives" for "beasts" and the meaning would be the same.
Would be kinda cool to have on the Inside Passage maybe...probably too long/wide for much of it though, but could use it as a chopper base, and have some tennis courts and tracks and such laid out on top for fitness cruises....
Either that or outfitted with emergency relief air support and on-board hospital.
But that would be too much like peacekeeping.
Have we found anyone to declare war on yet? (Denmark would whup our asses so don't go there....)
The Cons do not represent me in any way, shape or form. When they are gone, I, and others like me, will still be here.