The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Opportunities and Opportunists Opportunism is very common in politics at all levels in all the democracies. Consider the switching of Conservatives Scott Brison and Belinda Stronach to the Liberals, both of whom had unsuccessfully run for the Tory leadership then saw a better opportunity with the Liberals (both ended up in Paul MartinÕs cabinet). Their better opportunities evaporated with MartinÕs loss to Stephen Harper. Now Stronach is out of politics and unlikely to return. Bob Rae is another good example. He was the NDP MP who helped Pierre Trudeau defeat Joe Clark, then later became NDP premier of Ontario for one term. After losing to Mike Harris, he left politics for a lucrative law career. Rae made plenty of money from the Liberals, heading several commissions then discovering he is really a Liberal, not a New Democrat. He even had the nerve to run for the Liberal leadership. He lost the race and is running in a March by-election next week in Toronto. Rae gives the appearance of a hearty Stephane Dion supporter but is likely waiting, like Michael Ignatieff, for Dion to fail. Liberal opportunities abound given the undemocratic quirk in the partyÕs constitution that allows the leader to appoint candidates rather than allowing riding members to elect someone. Paul Martin had the audacity to appoint ÒParachute RubyÓ Dhalla from Winnipeg to a safe Ontario riding, much to the consternation of the riding executive, which wanted one of their own as candidate. Dhalla of course won but Martin never appointed her to cabinet. Stephane Dion so far has not had as much luck with his interference in the local nominations. Remember, he appointed one of his intellectual buddies to a supposedly safe Liberal seat in Quebec during the last series of by-elections, choosing him over famed astronaut and solid Liberal Marc Garneau. The Liberals lost the seat to the NDP, who ran an ex-Liberal. More recently Dion appointed former NDP MLA Joan Beatty to run in Desneth-Missinippi-Churchill River in the coming by-election, denying two very good candidates a chance to seek the nomination. Beatty relished the opportunity, as being a provincial backbencher is nowhere near her former cabinet post in Lorne CalvertÕs government. If elected, Beatty may even receive a criticÕs position in the Opposition. As the last Liberal, Gary Merasty, only won the riding by 67 votes, it will be interesting to see how much help she gets from NDP and Liberal workers. Such random and arrogant appointments are not a part of most other parties and certainly foreign to the Conservatives, although the leader must approve all candidates (really a formality). Of course the Tory leader can influence riding members to choose a candidate he wants. Candidates for a nomination must sell memberships and seek the memberÕs votes at a formal meeting, and must accept the results of the vote. Any leader who tried to appoint someone if others are running would be in serious trouble with the membership, which is the way it should be. The LiberalsÕ lack of democracy stretches beyond nominations. Consider the Private MemberÕs Bill on the Canadian Wheat Board put forward by two Liberal MPs who have few, if any, wheat/barley producers in their ridings. It is designed to decrease the influence of the government and supposedly increase the influence of the farmers, which it really does not do. They conveniently do not mention that the Wheat Board costs, including wages, are paid for by the farmers, and the major wheat/barley producers would be way better off in a competitive market. IsnÕt freedom of choice a major part of democracy? Obviously not to the Liberals. The bill, as with most Private MemberÕs Bills, has no chance of passing. RogerÕs Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
