Compromise and cooperation: two words heard far too rarely from the House of Commons.
In 2008, spurred on by a literal financial death sentence by the Conservatives, the Liberals and the NDP, supported by the Bloc Québecois and the Greens, quickly mobilized to form a progressive alternative government to the Tories. Their working plan for Parliament emphasized strategic economic stimulus in the form of investments in infrastructure, social services, education, and green energy. Yet, within the course of one week, thanks to the brilliant spinning of the Conservative war room, Canadians soon equated the word “coalition” with “the socialists and the separatists”. Parties and MPs working together to accomplish the goals of the majority of Canadians died.
And yet, here again, an opportunity has resurfaced. The circumstances are just as political as before. The Liberals, even despite dumping the leader they never quite supported, are now polling at numbers even lower than when Mr. Dion was at the helm! Realizing that the downward spiral of the Liberal party may very well be a long term trend, influential members from its left-wing faction are mobilizing their supporters to push a coalition, or even a possible merger, with the NDP.
And why not? Regardless of the self-concerning reasons driving this new backroom push, all progressive Canadians should be supportive of this effort. We represent 60% of the population, yet do not retain anywhere close to a majority within Parliament. This is due, in part, to the lack of a proportional voting system, but also a result of having four left wing parties splitting the vote.
The right once had similar problems. Brian Mulroney’s wide alliance of regional conservative factions in Canada began to splinter following the failure of the Charlottetown and Meech Lake Accords. Quebec nationalists who had supported the Progressive Conservatives in an attempt to gain major concessions in Quebec’s designed entry into the Constitution suffered a major blow when Meech Lake died. Meanwhile, westerners were increasingly fed up with the federal government’s wooing of Quebec, feeling their demands and needs were being neglected in return. The Quebecers, now more riled than ever to separate from Canada, formed the Bloc Québecois. The westerners, led by Preston Manning, formed the Reform Party under the tagline, “The West Wants In”.
In the election of 1993, suffering from the split of their party, as well as significant backlash from the economic recession and the newly introduced GST, the Progressive Conservatives, now led by a recently-installed Kim Campbell, was reduced from 211 to 2 seats in the House of Commons. The party never recovered.
In the following elections of 1997 and 2000, the right suffered from the splitting of their vote. It has been argued that the Liberals gained their support base of Ontario due to the vote splitting between the Progressive Conservatives and the Alliance (formerly Reform) – the province typically voted Conservative in provincial elections. When Stephen Harper won the leadership of the Alliance, he quickly moved to unite the right, and in 2003 the Conservative Party of Canada was formed.
The new alliance between blue tories from the Alliance (social and economic conservatives) and red tories from the PCs (social progressives and economic conservatives) was, and remains, tense. Many former PCs moved to the Liberals, contributing in part to that party’s shift to the right. Harper’s a magnificent tactician and this explains why he runs his party primarily from the centre-right, but every now and again implements or proposes some radically right-wing policy, such as the abortion exemption from third world maternal healthcare initiatives, to appease his former Alliance faction.
The Liberals are also a party of factions, going right back to their historic roots as a joint effort between the reformers of Lower and Upper Canada. This alliance between French and English Canada is the primary source of conflict within the Liberals. It has been remarked that there is a political hot potato between leaders emerging from either Toronto or Montreal. Pearson – Trudeau – Turner – Chretien – Martin – Dion – Ignatieff; it goes back and forth. If you look at the historic trends, it seems as if the Liberals succeeded the most when led by a Quebecer and failed the most when led by a Toronto elitist.
From the perspective of a British Columbian, the inherent elitism of the Toronto faction is quite apparent. I once attended a couple Liberal events and they were filled primarily by old white men, the kind I imagine rule the backrooms of the party in Ontario. Toronto has a historic reputation for being the centre of the universe, a sentiment well replicated within the Liberal party. The Toronto elitists are hard-headed, full of pride and resentment, arrogant to the max, and believe quite ardently that the Liberals are the natural governing party of Canada. They are the ones who have pushed for neo-liberal economic policies of the 90′s, for better or for worse.
Meanwhile, the Quebec faction is culturally quite different. I think it stems from the historic identity of Quebecers. Quebec, as the colony of New France, was never a significant economic or political force. It was one of the smallest settlements in the New World and relied heavily on support and trade with the First Nations. Quickly, colonial ideals fell by the wayside and years of mere subsistence led to greater integration with the Aboriginals. The coureurs de bois who lived among the First Nations would eventually lead to the Métis people. Once Quebec was taken over by Britain, it remained a small, neglected cultural enclave surrounded by the increasing influence and of Upper Canada. Quebecers were never one to tout amongst their neighbours or to seek significant riches, and were willing to work with others to ensure the continuation of their unique way of life.
Currently, the forces of the Liberal party that are initiating these discussions with the NDP are from the Quebec faction. Compromise and cooperation to retain their identity and ideals – sounds right up their alley eh? The major opponents are the Toronto elites, proclaiming a betrayal to the history of the party.
To that I would argue that one needs to put one’s country before one’s party. I understand that there are many vested interests in both parties and with any change, some will win while others will lose. Right now though, it’s Canada that’s losing. We have suffered six years of inaction and setbacks thanks to Harper’s Conservatives.
Where’s the progress on climate change? Where’s the progress on a national housing strategy or a national transit strategy? Where’s the progress on universal child care or the future sustainability of our healthcare and pension systems? What about post-secondary education, green energy, or the arts and culture sector? What about the ongoing inequities of Aboriginals, both on and off-reserve? What about trade expansion with the growing BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India, and China – or Mexico or South Africa?
Harper has been coasting off the record of progress from previous administrations. With a renewed sense of ourselves and our place in the world following the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, I believe Canadians are ready and poised to take an even greater leadership position on the world stage. We have great success stories to share with the world, but we cannot become complacent. There are far too many ongoing national issues to confront before we start proclaiming Canada to be the “Best Place on Earth”. We’ve going something good going here, but there’s still much work to be done – work that will only be undertaken by a progressive federal government.
Perhaps it’s because I’m still relatively young and optimistic that I believe politicians should work together to achieve common goals. When over 40% of the population doesn’t vote in an election, I think it’s a tell tale sign that the status quo isn’t working out too well. I know many people from my generation that believe that by working collaboratively we can change the world for the better. The lack of this philosophy being reflected in our federal political system could very well explain the disinterest young Canadians feel towards Parliament. A bold, renewed left is just what the doctor ordered to cure this malaise.
Progressives in Canada have a unique opportunity in front of them, the type of which only comes around once in a blue, or reddish orange, moon. We have a chance for progressives, regardless of historical affiliations or personal partiality, to work together to regain an element of influence over the course of this country’s future. By working in unison, rather than in competition, Stephen Harper will no longer be able to pit us against one another and continue his slow transformation of Canada and its place in the world. Will there be disagreements along the way? Of course there will, but at every disagreement, there’s also a chance for compromise and debate. Consensus may not always be built, but in doing so, we fabricate a better understanding of the challenges facing us and the solutions that are on the table.
This is a chance to make history. Let us seize it. Bring on the Green Liberal Democrats!
