Initially published in the Alliston Herald on December 12, 2008
Fifteen years from now our children, whether they be in high school or a first year political science course, will learn of the constitutional "crisis" of 2008.
The provocateur of the crisis will undoubtedly be identified as Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper foolishly, in what can only be described as a game of silly partisan "gotcha", sought to eliminate the current system of funding for political parties and thereby deliver a potentially crippling blow to the opposition.
Commentator Rex Murphy perhaps said it best when he described Harper as being three-quarters effective national leader with the other-quarter being a "partisan troll" which "...periodically smothers every decent instinct in him."
If, as it seems to some, Harper is a student of Niccolo Machiavelli, the 16th Century Italian political philosopher whose name is synonymous with ruthless politics, it would appear that he overlooked one of Machiavelli's critical lessons. Machiavelli advised that if you must harm a rival, make certain to destroy him lest he be left strong enough to rise up and exact revenge.
Now, I'm not aware of anyone who actually believes the opposition claims that the coalition is all about the economy. Nonsense! The issue that served to unite these parties was, first and foremost, the elimination of the funding. On this issue I would have far preferred (I continue to be delusional in my expectation that politicians act with honesty and integrity) that the opposition acknowledge the real reason for their actions.
The concept of a coalition is entirely permissible in the context of our parliamentary democracy. As such, the hysterical cries by some that a coalition is a "coup" are truly absurd. Indeed, in 2004 Harper entered into detailed discussions with both the NDP and Bloc Quebecois with the same objective in mind. In fact, Harper specifically acknowledged the legitimacy of such an arrangement in a letter to the Governor General. It was not undemocratic then. It is certainly not undemocratic now.
There were, however, a couple of major problems with the notion of a coalition. First, the leader, Stephane Dion, seemed completely incapable of inspiring confidence in his ability to lead. Even when he had a seemingly distraught Stephen Harper in Question Period on the Monday following the coalition announcement, he did nothing to instill confidence in the public that "this is OK." When he faced an invigorated Harper the following day he more closely resembled a tub of incomprehensible goo. Public opinion seemed to turn dramatically thereafter.
Quite simply, the thought that Stephane Dion would be Prime Minister so soon after a rather clear defeat in the General Election was a source of discomfort for many Canadians including myself.
From the cycnical perspective, what is worrisome is that the battle digressed into one of public relations and spin with some, including one writer on these pages, actually buying into the hysteria and frenzy and irrationally concluding that the coalition was equivalent to a coup that should be considered as treason and would lead to the destruction of our democracy.
We are all in trouble if some members of the public are so gullible to believe that a legitimate exercise of rights by parties under our 141 year old democracy will lead to doomsday.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
New Tecumseth's "Top Ten"
Initially published in the Alliston Herald on December 5, 2008
Before Political Cyni-Side appeared on these pages I prepared a list of 20 or so potential topics for a column of this nature. One such topic included an entirely arbitrary list of the "ten" most influential members of our town. Welcome to the first annual "Ten Most Influential".
1. Mayor Mike MacEachern: Although the two term mayor has been the subject of some ribbing on the pages of Mouseland, MacEachern has accomplished more than any mayor in the history of the Town. By virtue of his management style, there is virtually nothing in the manner that New Tecumseth is operated that doesn't have his fingerprints all over it.
2. Joe Sperdutti: "Joe Who?" you ask. Sperdutti is vice-president of administration at Honda of Canada in Alliston and the "face" that most commonly represents Honda in public. More often than not, Honda gets what it wants. In recent years the wish list has included the rapid closure of a major road (Tottenham Road) and the negotiation of favourable water rates.
3. Lou Biffis: There are not many individuals who can pick up the telephone and get the mayor or warden or MP or MPP on the line. I expect Biffis can. Each year Biffis, his family, and staff devote considerable hours to oversee a massive fundraiser on behalf of the Nottawasaga Foundation. Each year a new record seems to be set. The foundation has been a lifeline for many local charities that have benefited from its generosity.
4. Jim Wilson: Our MPP has never lost. He's never even come close. He routinely wins by some of the largest pluralities in the province. He's the most influential conservative in the area and, unlike his federal counterpart, his competence has never been questioned. One builds a great many relationships over the course of an 18-plus year elected career.
5. Jamie Smith: When this Alliston councillor and lawyer speaks at the council table the others stop and listen. Any councillor seeking to engage him in battle does so at their peril. His vocabulary alone is liable to leave 99 per cent (if not more) of the population scratching their heads in wonderment as to whether they had just been insulted.
6. Cassandra DeGrace: The spouse of Mayor MacEachern is his closest confidante and sounding board. No major decision is made without her input. Whereas MacEachern tends to be conciliatory in approach, Degrace has no hesitation expressing her views and opinions in a forceful yet coherent manner.
7. Richard Norcross: Yes, he has been spoofed in the "Mouseland" columns. Nevertheless, if one were to compare the tax revenues generated from his ward with the capital expenditures made in it, the latter would far exceed the former. By that measure alone he has been an extremely effective councillor for Beeton. Further, other than MacEachern, no councillor is more skilled at securing necessary council votes.
8. Hart/Marilyn Holmstrom: There is very little that goes on in this Town that doesn't involve one or more Holmstrom. Their reach extents from the Gibson Centre to the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation to the Lion's Club and the local conservative establishment.
9. Mary Galbraith: The Alliston lawyer and former Ward 2 councillor is one of Mayor MacEachern's most trusted friends and advisors. Beyond the serious exterior, Galbraith has a lethal wit. Although one cannot be certain, she appears to possess a "Who's Who" of New Tecumseth society among her list of clients.
10. Darrin Shannon: Notwithstanding his accomplishments, the former National Hockey League professional and coach of the Alliston Hornets is remarkably humble and widely liked. Although Shannon is not known to publicly express his opinions in relation to town business, he is on the list by virtue of the weight his views would have if/when he decides to do so. I suspect that no name would strike greater fear in an incumbent politician (at any level) than Shannon.
Before Political Cyni-Side appeared on these pages I prepared a list of 20 or so potential topics for a column of this nature. One such topic included an entirely arbitrary list of the "ten" most influential members of our town. Welcome to the first annual "Ten Most Influential".
1. Mayor Mike MacEachern: Although the two term mayor has been the subject of some ribbing on the pages of Mouseland, MacEachern has accomplished more than any mayor in the history of the Town. By virtue of his management style, there is virtually nothing in the manner that New Tecumseth is operated that doesn't have his fingerprints all over it.
2. Joe Sperdutti: "Joe Who?" you ask. Sperdutti is vice-president of administration at Honda of Canada in Alliston and the "face" that most commonly represents Honda in public. More often than not, Honda gets what it wants. In recent years the wish list has included the rapid closure of a major road (Tottenham Road) and the negotiation of favourable water rates.
3. Lou Biffis: There are not many individuals who can pick up the telephone and get the mayor or warden or MP or MPP on the line. I expect Biffis can. Each year Biffis, his family, and staff devote considerable hours to oversee a massive fundraiser on behalf of the Nottawasaga Foundation. Each year a new record seems to be set. The foundation has been a lifeline for many local charities that have benefited from its generosity.
4. Jim Wilson: Our MPP has never lost. He's never even come close. He routinely wins by some of the largest pluralities in the province. He's the most influential conservative in the area and, unlike his federal counterpart, his competence has never been questioned. One builds a great many relationships over the course of an 18-plus year elected career.
5. Jamie Smith: When this Alliston councillor and lawyer speaks at the council table the others stop and listen. Any councillor seeking to engage him in battle does so at their peril. His vocabulary alone is liable to leave 99 per cent (if not more) of the population scratching their heads in wonderment as to whether they had just been insulted.
6. Cassandra DeGrace: The spouse of Mayor MacEachern is his closest confidante and sounding board. No major decision is made without her input. Whereas MacEachern tends to be conciliatory in approach, Degrace has no hesitation expressing her views and opinions in a forceful yet coherent manner.
7. Richard Norcross: Yes, he has been spoofed in the "Mouseland" columns. Nevertheless, if one were to compare the tax revenues generated from his ward with the capital expenditures made in it, the latter would far exceed the former. By that measure alone he has been an extremely effective councillor for Beeton. Further, other than MacEachern, no councillor is more skilled at securing necessary council votes.
8. Hart/Marilyn Holmstrom: There is very little that goes on in this Town that doesn't involve one or more Holmstrom. Their reach extents from the Gibson Centre to the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation to the Lion's Club and the local conservative establishment.
9. Mary Galbraith: The Alliston lawyer and former Ward 2 councillor is one of Mayor MacEachern's most trusted friends and advisors. Beyond the serious exterior, Galbraith has a lethal wit. Although one cannot be certain, she appears to possess a "Who's Who" of New Tecumseth society among her list of clients.
10. Darrin Shannon: Notwithstanding his accomplishments, the former National Hockey League professional and coach of the Alliston Hornets is remarkably humble and widely liked. Although Shannon is not known to publicly express his opinions in relation to town business, he is on the list by virtue of the weight his views would have if/when he decides to do so. I suspect that no name would strike greater fear in an incumbent politician (at any level) than Shannon.
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