Editor's Notebook
Wendy Peters
Writers share their reaction to the outcome of the
Liberal leadership race
Liberal MP Stéphane Dion was elected as leader of the Liberal Party
of Canada at the party’s convention on Dec. 2. Contributing writers to
The Business Executive were asked to share their opinions regarding this
somewhat unexpected result.
Wendy Peters, Editor, Oakville, ON — I was unable to choose
definitively one of the top four Liberal leadership candidates since they
all possessed positive and negative attributes. I liked Bob Rae’s wit,
experience, knowledge and intellect, but worried about his political
baggage as NDP premier. It was also obvious many considered him to be an
interloper.
Michael Ignatieff offered the most worldly view and
he’s bright and intellectually savvy. Unfortunately, he made too many
verbal gaffes and was vilified for his 30 years living away from Canada.
Many of the Liberal rank and file could not accept blindly that he was
parachuted in by the “Liberal machine” to be the party’s saviour.
Gerard Kennedy is the future of the Liberal party, but
isn’t quite ready for prime time. I think he is honestly dedicated to
Liberal values and will attract young people to the party as he becomes
better known. His day will come.
Stéphane Dion is honest to the core and I agreed with
his platform more than all the others. My deepest concern was and is his
heavy-accented English. He reminds me of Peter Sellers playing Inspector
Clouseau; not the stupidity, obviously, he’s brilliant, purely the
accent. Can he hold his own against the PM when tempers flare and he’s
not speaking in his mother tongue?
Thankfully, he did begin his leadership tenure with
strength and trust in his MPs — allowing a free vote on the same-sex
marriage issue. Hopefully, Dion is a long-term investment rather than a
short-term fix. And he has no baggage whatsoever.
Marvin Ross, Writer, Dundas, ON.— I let out a huge sigh of relief
when Stéphane Dion came out the winner at the Liberal Leadership
Convention. Either Bob Rae or Michael Ignatieff as leader was a scary
thought. Despite the fact that Bob Rae claimed that he has changed, his
record as premier of Ontario is horrible. He managed Ontario poorly and
not all of it can be blamed on the economic situation that he inherited.
Iggy has not lived in Canada for years, was parachuted into a
constituency where many did not want him and his foreign policy ideas are
suspect.
I like Gerard Kennedy who has proven to be successful
at running both a large food bank and the Ministry of Education. I was
pleasantly surprised that he did as well as he did and am pleased that he
threw his support to the alternative to the scary duo. I am confident
that Dion will do well.
Denis Gibbons, Writer Burlington, ON.— Critics are underestimating
Stéphane Dion when they complain about his inexperience and lack of
fluency in English. The new Liberal leader offers younger voters,
especially, a new choice and is bound to rejuvenate a party which
suffered badly from the Quebec advertising scandal and lost the last
federal election.
Many say Ontario’s Bob Rae would have been more
appealing to voters across the country, but how hard would true Liberals
work for the election of a politician who changed his stripes from NDP in
an effort to get himself into 24 Sussex Dr.? My guess,
also is that Dion’s federalist position will not hurt him with
voters in Quebec. I believe they’ll be a lot more interested in his
focus on improving the environment. They’re smart enough to know that
if strong measures are not taken in that area, nothing else will matter
anyway.
I predict a Liberal majority in the next election,
which could come this spring.
Carol McDonald, (observations of an apolitical) Writer, Milton, ON —
The process — too long and drawn out, too many candidates, too many
long forums to hold the attention of any but the most ardent
card-carrying Liberals ... too bad.
The weekend — now it gets interesting! Not because
of who was leading but because there were so many potential votes from
the lesser candidates with the power to sway the results. One wondered at
first why anyone would run if he/she knew there was no chance ... but
then realize that that these people become the ‘king-makers.’About
Ignatieff — too arrogant by far and as it became obvious, unable to
relate to people, unable to broker deals and unable to foster loyalty;
without those traits so necessary to a political leader, good thing he
didn’t win!
About Dion — meek and mild-seeming but apparently a
shrewd dealmaker, capable of generating admiration and support — shades
of Trudeau, perhaps, in his obviously superior intelligence and knowledge
of ‘the system.’ I think he’ going to be full of surprises, even
refreshing. He’s getting off to a strong, bold start and gathering
steam ... watch out, Harper!
Tim Rigby, Writer, Oakville, ON — Before the Liberal leadership
convention occurred, it was not obvious who would be the most effective
leader of the party. In the end, however, the answer became clear and the
delegates made the right choice. There had to be a reason why so many of
the candidates endorsed Stéphane Dion and that’s in no small part to
him being the best choice to run for Prime Minister in the next federal
election. There is criticism of Stéphane Dion for possibly lacking in
charisma. The Liberals need not worry: in the dimension of charisma, no
party with Harper as its leader would ever have a political advantage.
The Liberals are no longer a divided party. In Dion,
the Liberals have great solidarity and a new vision with lucid thinking.
Dion is renowned for his integrity and work ethic; he has already
demonstrated great acuity of pressing issues; and he possesses a natural,
elegant statesmanship. Dion represents a sharp contrast to the
self-styled, repressive regality of Harper — and that’s just what the
party and the country need.
Tom Peters, Publisher, Oakville. ON — Ignatieff, the hired gun from
Harvard, miscalculated the depth of the home grown loyalty of the Three
Amigos — Dion, Kennedy and Rae. I guess it proves once again that you
are more comfortable with the devil you know.
In Chicago the saying was, if you don't like the
weather, wait a minute. Dion waited and the delegates came to him hat in
hand. My question is, did Dion win or did the delegates select him as the
safest possible option? My guess is that a conservative instinct at a
liberal convention won out. Ignatieff won the vote in the beginning, but
second-guessing made the third place a first.
David Hulley, Columnist, Fenwick, ON — I must admit that the
election of Stéphane Dion as the new Liberal leader came as a surprise
to me. I fully expected Michael Ignatieff to stall and eventually falter
after the first ballot but I did not believe that it would be Mr. Dion
who would come up the middle. His somewhat marginal control of English
does not allow him to be an impassioned speaker in that official
language. I thought the limitation would cause Mr. Dion to be
overlooked on the often “emotional” convention floor. I believe this
surprise win demonstrates his biggest strength. Opponents and the public
in general will tend to underestimate Mr. Dion. This will be a mistake.
Chris Potter, Writer, Fort Langley, BC — I don’t pretend to speak
for western Canadians, but among those of my acquaintance there’s a
growing fear that, under Mr. Harper’s government, Canada is losing its
identity and the values that set us apart from the USA. The Conservative
party’s foreign and domestic policies seem to draw increasingly from
the examples of our southern neighbours.
I don’t pretend to speak for all immigrants, but
when I chose to make Canada my home, my choice was informed. Our
bicultural and bilingual nation with its mosaic approach to immigration
was appealing. Canada, around the world, was perceived as “more
international” than the USA. Had I wanted to be an American, I would
have moved there.
Stéphane Dion enjoys dual citizenship — I like
that. It’s international. And as far as I know, it couldn’t happen in
the US. He carries a backpack instead of a briefcase. So do I. And
that probably wouldn’t happen in the US either. And I like that he’s
Quebecois. When I joined Canada, I bought the package. Quebec is an
integral part of that package, and Mr. Dion is for unity. I like
that.
He has been described as “boring,” and
“mundane,” but also as “an unpretentious politician.” I like
that, even if it does sound like an oxymoron. Only time will tell if any
or all of these apply. Meanwhile, for this voter, Mr. Dion is a welcome
beacon of hope.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Madam,
During a visit to Oakville Town Hall recently, I
picked up the December issue of your newspaper. Not having seen this
publication before, I was interested to see what it contained. I came
across a hard-hitting “Editor’s Notebook” on the lack of civility
in politics, most of which was true and made a lot of sense.
What was not warranted was what could almost be
construed as a libelous attack on the President of the United States in
the penultimate paragraph. There is enough anti-Americanism in this
country without editorials of this nature stoking up the rhetoric. The US
is Canada’s major trading partner and this Carolyne Parrish type of
rant does not help your business readers sell to our neighbours. Mind
you, having also read David Crane’s piece a few pages on about
“Harper posturing hurts China, Canada Human rights”, I’m wondering
whether there’s a hidden agenda in the editorial office of your paper.
I think most people would agree the lack of human
rights in China needs to be addressed, but mealy-mouthing platitudes do
not work. It is only by confronting China on this subject will
improvements be made. Starting at the top of the chain, as former Trade
Minister Sergio Marchi has suggested, is what Prime Minister Stephen
Harper was doing.
In conclusion, your Opinion page asks for Letters to
the Editor, but I note no letters were published in the December issue.
Does that mean no one writes to you?
Yours truly,
Chris Duff, Oakville
There is a huge distinction between anti-American
sentiments — which are NEVER expressed in this publication — and
criticism of an incompetent U.S. president and/or his administration. —
ED.
wpeters@busexec.com
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