Liberals have proven in the last convention that they are serious about their desire to modernize the Liberal Party. There are ongoing conversations online and in-person about what the Liberal Party needs to do to recapture the trust of Canadians. Some are suggesting that all we need is a competent leader, some are calling for new policies, and others want to wait for the supposedly pending collapse of the NDP.
However, if Liberals don't tackle the fundamental question that Canadians will keep asking: "What do Liberals stand for?" we will miss a golden opportunity to redefine who we are and what Liberalism means.
It has become fashionable over the last few years for some Liberals to brag about how the Liberal Party is the party of the political centre and that both the NDP and Conservatives are ideological parties.
It seems like an attractive proposition. This claim may appear to help the Liberal Party to project pragmatism and to leave enough ambiguity to be flexible when it comes to policies. However, this strategy is inadequate in today's political climate.
When Liberals were in power, we were able to articulate our values through policy implementation. Canadians had a sense of our vision for Canada. In today's highly polarized political landscape, Liberals can no longer rely on the slogan that we are the party of the centre. It means little to Canadians. Canadians are unsure what the Liberal Party stands for and how they are relevant to the questions our country is facing.
We, as Liberals, need to clearly redefine what Liberalism means and what values and principles are fundamental to our vision.
I am a Liberal because of the following ideology/beliefs:
•Individual liberty is a fundamental component of Canadian society;
•A government has a facilitator role in society to reduce barriers for individuals to reach their optimal potential. This is in contrast to Conservatives who believe in individuals without a role for government or the NDP who believe in government making choices on behalf of individuals;
•Canadian identity is unique by its evolving and inclusive nature. Canada is a nation built on multiculturalism and immigration that is a world leader in a post-multicultural era;
•Brokerage politics that empathizes with competing views yet able to bring them together while remaining anchored to the above mentioned values. A complicated and diverse federation like ours runs more efficiently that way. This approach applies to domestic and foreign policies.
The Liberal Party is not a party void of ideology. Liberals, though, need to reacquaint Canadians with that ideology.
Those are not new Liberal values. They are values that informed Liberal policies and helped shape modern Canada. Liberals are ready to do the hard work required to redefine those values in today's context and fight vigorously for them.
Ideology is not a bad word. It informs Canadians that a party has a set of values that guide its policies. However, blind ideology is when a party defers to their gut assessment instead of the evidence presented before them. Blind ideology is a terrible and unhealthy way to govern a country.
A compelling leadership requires a relevant vision. That's what the Liberal Party historically has provided Canadians. In the last few years, many Liberals have let their memories become greater than their dreams. Canadians want to hear about our dreams more than they want to be educated about our past.
I am not proposing something dramatic or revolutionary. I am not trying to invent something that doesn't exist. I am suggesting that we reframe our conversations with Canadians away from "the party of the centre" to the party that promotes its ideology for the need for smart and focused government in our society.