A Commentary by Doug Draper
November 4th, 2015 – In 1993, when the late Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau’ memoirs were published, I bought a copy in a Niagara-on-the-Lake bookstore where the clerk also handed me a button that read; “Trudeau is Back.”
That button, which I still have and managed to find a few days back at the bottom of a desk drawer, has taken on a new relevance this November 4th with the swearing in of Justin Trudeau as Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister.
I know, I know. There are still many people out there who will say, as they have since he was chosen leader of the federal Liberal Party two years ago, and certainly again this summer when the election was called, that the son doesn’t have the intellectual gravity the father had, and that he’s not much more than a “nice hairdo” who “is not ready” to take on the country’s top job.
As recently as last August, there were many of us out there – and probably even a majority of Canadians, including this one – who never bet on Justin Trudeau forming a majority government this November 4th.
Many of us underestimated his ability to lead a campaign that proved to be far more successful than those of his two main rivals, the Conservatives’ Stephen Harper and even NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, who began the election with poll numbers more favourable than Trudeau’s and who many believed had the smarts and experience to dominate the race to the end.
In the few weeks since the October 19th electon, and even before Trudeau and his cabinet of 15 men and 15 women were sworn in, I received several calls and emails from people saying he won’t keep his promises – that he’ll sell our country out on the recently drafted TPP Trade Deal, that he’ll rubberstamp proposals to run tar sand pipelines across the landscape, that he’ll back away from putting together a strong plan to address climate change, and on and on.
Some of these calls came from people who are active members of the Conservative Party and NDP, and others came from people who believe all politicians are lying bums who’ve sold out all their principals to trillionaires, and that therefore there is little or no hope for positive change.
I’ve never been a card-carrying member of a political party and while I pride myself in having some talent when it comes to detecting any crap that comes out of a politician’s mouth, I can’t bring myself to become cynical enough to believe there is little or nothing to hope for.
If I believed that, I might give up following and writing about politics altogether and spend my time learning to play a few more songs on my guitar.
So the way I look at the swearing in of this new government is this.
Justin Trudeau has already surprised us with his success as a campaigner and let’s see if he surprises us again by doing a bunch of good things for the country. And let’s see if we stay engaged enough in the political process to make sure Trudeau and his government follow through on their promises because we, as citizens, also have a very important role to play here.
We also need to realize that at least some of the change that has been promised will require a lot of hard work and won’t happen overnight. Harper and company dismembered a lot of good programs and did a good deal of damage to Canada’s reputation on the world stage, and it probably won’t be easy cleaning the mess up.
That’s not to say that magnitude of the mess should ever be an excuse for this new government not to do its best to make things better. And if it doesn’t, I hope Niagara At Large is still around to join in the criticism.
For the moment though, I’d say it is already like going from night to day to have a new leader who actually says climate change is a serious problem Canada needs to take action on. I think it was also great to hear Trudeau, in one of the first statements he made this November 4th after being sworn in, saying that he also wants to work for a better future for his children and for young people across the country.
There is some reason for hope there and after nine and a half years of the other guy, I think we could all use a little time to feel hopeful.
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I agree…. he seems to be with the people & expects us to do our part….. he impressed me when the day after the election , he went to a subway station in the morning & thanked the people for voting for him & shook hands & took pictures…. how down to earth is that….. he could have been wallowing in his glory in private with a coffee & his family…. I think he will start to bring us back to reality… thanks for all your writings Doug….. I really look forward to reading them ….anne
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I also thank you for your writings Doug
Though I am a Blue Collared advocate I have always considered Pierre Elliot Trudeau the greatest Prime Minister Canada has ever had and it was during his reign that legislation was instituted and enacted to protect the sovereignty of Canada, Legislation such as “FIRA and the NEC” both repealed by the Mulroney Conservatives as he, Mulroney and the Corporate sector moved Canada down the road to FREE TRADE and the elimination of Canadian Sovereignty. Prime Ministers since Liberal and Conservative have sped up the process of selling out Canada to foreign investors by signing “Free Trade” Agreements urged by the Corporate Sector without consultation or concern for the Canadian People.
My hope is that the apple has not fallen far from the tree and that Justin might walk in the footsteps of his father, that he is not bought out by the Corporate Sector and that he works diligently to restore the damaged caused by the Harper regime. We are fully aware that damage will take decades if not centuries to eradicate and cure….BUT…… our faith is with this Young Man and may he prove worthy of that sacred trust.
Thank You Doug for allowing me to wish
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I agree with you Doug and Anne. We have to keep hope in our agenda. Watching Trudeau’s interview with Mansbridge last night demonstrating access to the press that was unthinkable under Harper, I have renewed hope.
I too was impressed with his emphasis on openness. He actually LOOKS AT the interviewer and camera (lack of eye contact indicates deceit IMO) and was much more relaxed, easy going and thoughtful in his responses, not just giving out politicized platitudes. Body language does give vital clues to the observer. Harper was rigid as a stick and hardly ever looked at the camera and when he did he looked very uncomfortable and even unnatural. Even a friend who had some doubts about him and who is a professional cynic of politicians watched with me had to admit he appeared genuine and was impressed by many of his responses.
I was especially impressed by his quote in response to the equal number of male/female Cabinet appointees… he said “Because this is 2015” and “This Cabinet looks like Canada”. Canada does NOT look like a bunch of rich, old white men (although there are a couple in there). Also he remarked on his father warning him about the pressures of the big banks and corporations. Publicly acknowledging that fact is vital. I hope he can withstand those pressures. His teaching analogy (he was even criticized for being a teacher) was also well stated. He admits he may not be the brightest in some ways, but he stated his job is to give people what they need to solve the problems presented just as a teacher gives his students what they need to succeed, unlike Harper who would have taught, “This is how you will solve problems….MY way”. Not always are the best leaders the smartest but the ones who can chose and organize the smartest available.
Although he was born with a silver spoon, my impression is he (hopefully)lives by the quote of JFK, “For those to whom much is given, much is required.” Perhaps I am naïve but I am impressed thus far.
HOPE!
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Well, I have to somewhat disagree and look forward to R Tripp and L McKenzie’s responses, should they choose to respond. I have been non-partisan for years, altho’ central-leftie leaning.
I was never enamoured of Trudeau Senior. Not at all. More impressed actually with his son’s political acumen during this campaign.
I have voted this way and that, depending on issues. Never forget issues. Platforms. Not Charisma or Idealogy. Just issues.. “Events, dear boy, events’ to misquote and misremember the Brit who said that, change everything.
The reinstatement today of the Long Form Census, by Bains, is just brilliant. This matters a good deal to me. I don’t get Cdn TV, so “cannot possibly comment” on the CBC interview. What I can say is that Stephen Harper, in the last election, bested Ignatieff in the TV debates, by calmly addressing the camera, the viewers, not the opponents. Ignatieff, who I admired, kept staring at Harper, eyebrows spiked and raised, angry. Much of this is pure Box Office.
Let’s see what else follows. Take caution, friends, Here Be Dragons.
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I have been Rightie-leaning for most of my adult life, in case nobody noticed, however with my second childhood looming, I figured it’s best to affirm the test of a new leader with a mandate for change. I’m open-minded enough to recognize the need for ebb and flow in politics too, and for the flexing of the diversity of ideology our great nation espouses. Besides, it’s indeed high time (no pun intended) that we get some more money moving around, and in a low interest rate environment like this, that’s precisely the way I’ve been administering our household. We need power and wisdom in the hands of youth, and in the active shaping of our tomorrow. Hey, if it all turns apocalyptic, let’s just have some fun… I must say I approve of most of Mr. Trudeau’s cabinet choices, as these ministers seem well-equipped and qualified for their appointments, on the merit of their specializations or actual experience in those various fields of expertise. I don’t mean to disappoint anyone here (Gail? LOL), but I’m for unity, and strength through diversity, with hopefully not too much adversity. I look for the Conservative movement to wane, reorganize, and then “reform”, yet again, but only in due time, whenever that may be. It may indeed take 10 years or more, as the pendulum swings very slowly. The new government needs time to be tested and enact the legislation deemed essential to our progress and well being. I therefore defer any calculatingly vitriolic responses to other more able and inspired colleagues, including the colourful aforementioned Mr. MacKenzie. I’m just going to carry on spectating…
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For most of my adult life, I’ve been Rightie-leaning, in case nobody noticed; however, with my second childhood looming, I’m willing to affirm the new leader with a mandate for change. I don’t mean to “disappoint” here, Gail, but I am a total subscriber to the “serenity prayer” these days, LOL, and in favour of unity through diversity in this great country of ours. I’m actually confident in most of Mr. Trudeau’s cabinet choices, as these appointees seem quite well-qualified in their respective areas of expertise and specialization. I see this as a progressive move for Canada and I hope it all works out for the best, though there may be some areas of concern, as in the refugee issue. It was high time for change, no pun intended, and I believe it will be best for the so-called Conservative movement as well, as the political pendulum swings ever so slowly, perhaps 10 years or more. They will experience self-examination, reorganization, and then yet another round of “reform”, before being able to form a suitable alternative for this new government, whenever and if ever they fall into disfavour, which seems a cyclic probability. The optics have been favourable for Mr. Trudeau, and now comes the time for evidence of policy substance. It will be a daunting task, globally and domestically, to captain the country through the uncertain times ahead. Power and wisdom has to be in the hands of our young progressives, and I believe we have to back them as well as we can. Hopefully there is not too much of a financial strain in appeasing special interest groups, and as I age, I may be considered a member of one of the major ones, ie. the Seniors. I shall defer any vitriolic rebuttals to my more able and inspired colleagues, such as the aforementioned Mr. MacKenzie, or any others who wish to wade in…
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