I thought I would have more time. I wasn’t planning to write again until July, but I see the ante has been upped, the party is organizing a new special convention, and the timetable for large-scale party decisions has sped up. So be it.
It has been 22 days since I’ve written, but I’ve had the chance to read what many enthusiastic Liberals have shared about the future of their country and their ambitions for an inclusive progressive national government. I’ve also had the chance to read a throbbing horde of conservatives offer their patronizing advice to a party they don’t support. The most helpful read I have found so far, the one closest to my own views, is this recent post by Glen Pearson. Every Liberal should have a read.
During my time away, reading, thinking, licking my wounds, I have had the chance to make a few conclusions. Since I must get back to my exams, I’ll just list them, and I look forward to your responses in the comments box.
1. We should always remember Keith Davey. We lost him recently, but in his writings the meaning and purpose of a Canadian Liberal is clear. His book “The Rainmaker” can be found on the bookshelves of most Liberals who own books. In it, he lists some rules to live by, and they are very good rules for a national party. The first of those rules is to always support the leader, always. Sometimes we forget this rule, at our own peril.
2. “Renewal” is a dangerous word. For many Liberals, the process of “renewal” will involve shouting at other Liberals on the Internet, especially about rules, meetings, conventions, dates, fees, constitutions, and other things that ultimately don’t matter. This is not good. Stop it please.
3. We need to croudsource our new policies, and be ready for them to be stolen. It isn’t enough to ask people like me what I would like to see from the Liberal Party, since I already liked what was on offer, very much so in fact. “Renewal” has to mean surveying Canadians who did not support the party and guaging their expectations from the Government of Canada.
4. There is a horde of new, loud, young Quebec orange separatists in the House of Commons. I welcome them. They speak their minds, and they were elected by the people whom they now represent. I hope they will continue to engage in thoughtful, meaningful debate about the meaning of the Quebec Nation, whether it should be enshrined in law, whether they would vote “yes” or “no” in a referendum on sovereignty, and how they think the process of separation would work. Would there be a declaration of independence for instance?
While they speak their minds, and I respect their opinions, it will be the role of the Liberal Party to advocate for a strong national government dedicated to national unity and universal rights of language and equality. Jeffrey Simpson had the brilliant idea of moving to reaffirm the Official Languages Act, which in a single act might tear the NDP caucus in two. On the one hand, the Quebec caucus that was just promised a Bill 101-ish type federal law (by Jack Layton in the leaders’ debate no less), and on the other hand the rest of the NDP, the pilots unions, the majority of anglophone Canada, etc. etc. etc.
5. Everything we do from now on has to reek of new. We need a new car smell. That spray-can stuff won’t do either; we need the new car smell that comes with a new car. This will require us, if I can extend my metaphor, to trade in the old car. What is the old car? Everything that was a symbol of who we were in the 90’s and early 00’s. We had two great prime ministers. We killed the deficit, invested in important things, and built an economy stronger than anyone else in the G20 (which we also invented). Canada, however, has spoken, and they prefer the current arrangement. We have to accept that, and those of us who are too closely associated with that old roster should retire in quiet dignity to the life of the elder statesperson, offering advice and helping from behind the scenes.
Then, we can say with conviction that our initiative in 2015 is entirely new. Anything our opponents can point to and say “Hey, look, class of 1993” is a weakness.
6. We need to empower the Young Liberals of Canada. They are the best thing about the Liberal Party of Canada. Personally I think Sam Lavoie should challenge Mme. Brosseau to a debate on anything, in either language, at any time, in any place. How about a debate about official languages in both languages?
7. We need to have fun. Always remember that what we are doing is awesome. Canada is a great country; it deserves a first rate government full of passionate individuals who believe in the purpose of a national government. If we can’t have fun doing that, then I give up, and I’m going to sit in my basement and rewatch “The West Wing” until the Rapture, which I now hear is in October.
Whoever laughs wins. Let’s have some fun with this politics game yeah, and when Canadians see us they’ll wonder what all the commotion is. (See point 2)
8. I’m looking forward to the book about this election. I’m thinking Helena Guergis should write it, with a forward by Ryan Dolby. Guergis should interview every pundit who after the debates said there was no “knock out punch,” then she should interview every public opinion polling company in the country and ask them about their early election numbers.
9. I have no regrets, except that we didn’t win.
