Old politics is all about breeding apathy and cynicism so the “leaders” can get on with their business, and the … [Read more]
Continue readingTag: leadership
Scripturient: The Leadership Crisis
In his latest book, The Leadership Crisis, Gord Hume defines seven characteristics – the Seven Cs – of great political leadership*. See how many you can recognize as attributes within our own council: Competencies, including people, organiz…
Continue readingScripturient: Spotting incompetence
Further to my earlier post, I wanted to provide some tips on how to spot incompetence in an employee or, especially, in managers and executives. I understand that incompetence may be a subjective view. What some view as incompetence others may see as c…
Continue readingScripturient: Peter, Parkinson and Adams
C. Northcote Parkinson, Lawrence J. Peter, and Scott Adams are for me the ‘holy trinity’ of philosophers of modern bureaucracy, within both the public service and the corporate structure. As philosophers, they are all keen observers and wi…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here (via PressReader), on the leadership choices facing the federal and provincial NDP – and why neither should be too quick to assume that changing leaders will necessarily help to rebuild after election disappointments.For further reading…- I’ve d…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On performance reviews
Following up on this post, I’ll weigh in with my own take on the federal NDP’s leadership review – based primarily on the question of what Tom Mulcair seems to have taken away from the 2015 federal election, and how it will position the party in the ye…
Continue readingWise Law Blog: Leadership
What does it mean to be a leader?And what does true leadership in a law firm context really entail?Clearly, there is no “one size fits all” answer to these questions. Every leader’s approach and plan will necessarily vary, depending on circumstan…
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Choosing a new leader for Canada’s Tories.
The date has been set: May 27, 2017. That is when the Conservative Party of Canada chooses a replacement for former leader Stephen Harper and Acting Leader Rona Ambrose. Looking for an abbreviation to use on the calendar, we call it ConCon. We have no idea where ConCon will be held or what form it […]
Continue readingScripturient: Why We Deserve a Permanent CAO
First, a little history. Back in the spring of 2012, Collingwood Council terminated the contract with Kim Wingrove, the CAO, according to the terms in the agreement. In her place, council appointed the CEO of Collus, Ed Houghton, as interim CAO. In add…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On threshold questions
Althia Raj is predictably dispensing Lib talking points about the potential outcomes of the NDP’s leadership review. So to set the record straight, let’s examine what the numbers actually mean.There’s exactly one threshold which produces a binding outc…
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: An Antidote to Cynicism
I was not going to post my regular “Sunday Sermon” this week, little in the news having grabbed my attention but then I saw this thanks to Montreal Simon. It sums up my current feelings quite well so here are a couple of extracts from Heather Mallick’s article in the Star.
Canada has changed so much in the 100 days since the Liberal cabinet was sworn in that I don’t quite know how to describe it. It’s not a sea change, which is a gradual encrustation at full fathom five, or a reversion, which would let us pretend those 10 Harper years had never happened. Don’t ever forget that lost decade.
But as I write this, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is live on Twitter, asking us to ask him anything. Tell me that’s not new. If Harper had had anything to say to citizens, it would have been, “Stay away from me. I have guards both human and dog,” or “We are watching you from apertures.”
She goes on to say….
Climate change is now taken seriously and can be discussed without fear. Government scientists can speak freely without stigma.
There will be an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women, and it will be well-designed and purposeful. Their shameful treatment cannot go on forever. If we don’t make things right, will we become like the U.S., padlocked into hate since the Civil War with no end in sight? Intolerable.
The cabinet is half female. I don’t think anything has given strength to Canadian women more than that, and the male half of cabinet is honoured to work with them. And Ottawa no longer persecutes Muslim women in head scarves. There is no longer a hotline for snitching on self-defined “barbaric cultural practices.”
And concludes like this…..
I like the new tone, although the rule of no heckling/racism in the Commons will likely have to be enforced.
I like Trudeau’s personality. Imagine Harper joking with the Queen or being invited by U.S. President Barack Obama to a state dinner.
We have four Liberal years ahead of us and I don’t feel cynical about the future. My cynicism has always been my worst quality. It’s good to shrug it off.
Yes Heather, I also feel my cynicism with government dwindling and it does feel good. Let us hope it lasts!
Democracy Under Fire: An Antidote to Cynicism
I was not going to post my regular “Sunday Sermon” this week, little in the news having grabbed my attention but then I saw this thanks to Montreal Simon. It sums up my current feelings quite well so here are a couple of extracts from Heather Mal…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On timing
Following up on the subject of the federal NDP’s leadership, I’ll note that the Edmonton convention won’t figure to be the only one before the next federal election – and that there might be a case to hold off for now.The NDP’s constitution provides fo…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On organization
Given some of the odd twists and turns in Paul Wells’ latest piece on Tom Mulcair’s future, I’m hesitant to give too much credence to his unnamed sources. But to the extent it’s accurate, Wells’ take on the lack of much organization on any side of a le…
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Goodby Harper, Hello Canada
I am going to be taking a short break from my weekly blogging over the holidays but before I do I wanted to write a little of my personal thoughts as to what I hope the new year will bring. I will admit to being very optimistic, perhaps too much so, for a return to a kinder, more inclusive, caring Canada as detailed by our new governments many proposed changes to things that were ignored, closed, silenced or abused by the previous regime. Just the tone of the PM and his various ministers gives me a renewed sense of hope for the future, a positive outlook and the reinvesting in people, the openness in listening to, and inviting such dialogue from, the provinces, the scientific community, our environmental groups and our native peoples is so refreshing.
I am not so naive as to believe that all the promises will be achieved in the next year or more, or even ever, but the fact that they are trying thus far for that “open and accountable” government promised to us so many times before is to be supported and encouraged. The reinstatement of the census, the unmuzzleing of our scientists and diplomats, the freedom of our charities to express an opinion without fear, the invitation to all Partys and Provinces to join the delegation at the climate change talks all show a real desire to actually fulfil such promises.
Its not going to be all plain sailing, the very practical proposals for appointing Senators (something that must be done if we are going to have a functional parliamentary system) is already being criticized by some of the very people who would have an increased say in such appointments, namely the Provinces. In trying to ensure a non partisan Senate but still be able to introduce government bills to that chamber previous procedures will need to be changed and some Senators are trying to do just that but some outside the chamber are going to do everything they can to block any efforts to make such changes. The new opposition, who are now in the same position as the Liberals were just a few brief weeks ago, are naturally against almost any move to undo legislation or decisions forced through whist they were in power. I hope they will learn to be a little less partisan with their rhetoric and debate future bills upon their merit, but I doubt that will happen. Just trying to form parliamentary committees has already turned into a squabble as to who can serve on or attend meetings.
So here is my message for 2016. Let us support and encourage the positive change that the new government is proposing, let us ensure that they keep their promises of consulting with the Provinces on shared issues, let us make sure that that open and accountable thing does not drop from sight again and, yes, let us hope for more ‘Sunny Days’ ahead for Canada.
I will be back in January with some thoughts upon the choices to be made in bringing in Electoral Reform. As Peter Lowry says “What we really need in considering these questions is people with open minds. You simply cannot consider solutions to the voting system until you have a clear idea of why you want to change it and what really are the options available. This is not as simple as people think.”
Meanwhile I wish all my readers Happy Holidays and a productive and prosperous 2016
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Goodby Harper, Hello Canada
I am going to be taking a short break from my weekly blogging over the holidays but before I do I wanted to write a little of my personal thoughts as to what I hope the new year will bring. I will admit to being very optimistic, perhaps too much so, …
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Here Is What A Great Leader Looks Like
Ashoka the Great, the most revered figure in Indian political history along with Mahatma Gandhi Once a great conqueror, ruling the greatest empire of ancient India, Ashoka swore off war and conquest, advocated and practised non-violence and compassion, established hospitals and veterinary clinics for people and animals, founded monasteries, colleges
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Justin Trudeau’s Big Renovations and Small Stature
Justin Trudeau has said he refuses to move into the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive until it has a multi-million dollar renovation. I think Trudeau Jr.’s stature is not fitting of his position. He is Prime Minister, not king, emperor or tzar. He should not be so juvenile.
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Democracy’s Future
After 5 years of writing about democracy’s decline and the impact of one particular individual had in that regard I am now faced with the question of ‘what do I write about now’. The choice is not hard for there is much to be done not only to return from
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: New Leadership Urgently Needed For The US, Canada and Britain
Imagine if Martin Luther King Jr., Tommy Douglas and Tony Benn were President of the US, and Prime Ministers of Canada and Britain, respectively. The world would certainly be a far better, more just, freer, more peaceful, and safer place. But we do not. In all three of these “leading”
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