Canadian Politics

Advice for Canadian Members of Parliament

By Sam Mooney ⋅ October 20, 2008 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Grow up, play nice with the other members, this is our country you’re playing with!

This election campaign was not a lot more than a series of vicious personal attacks.  Adam Radwanski, writing in the Globe and Mail says:

“In this election, like the last parliament, there was no great issues-based divide. Instead, there were personal attacks about who was or wasn’t a leader; who was or wasn’t a liar; who did or didn’t care about their country.”

Is this the best we can do?  Produce politicians who think the best thing they can do is say “I’m better then him”.  Trust me, guys, that’s not saying much.  (Guys because – as much as I admire Elizabeth May – she wasn’t a factor, and won’t be until we have electoral reform)

As I write this I’m listening to Stephane Dion’s speech announcing that he will step down as leader after a leadership convention.  We made a mistake, those of us who voted.  Dion would have been a very good Prime Minister.  The negative ads and attacks by the Conservatives were certainly a factor but so was the lack of Liberal Party support.

Members of Parliament could do a lot worse than taking a leaf from Mr. Dion’s book.  His love of the country shone through.  We need politicians who love Canada.  We don’t need politicians who say the kinds of things Mr Harper has said about Canada.

Remember, just because someone has a way with words doesn’t mean that they say anything worth hearing.

When Parliament is convened I would hope that we see better behaviour than we’ve seen in the past few years.  It’s up to each one of the elected members to behave, to control their tongues, to remember their manners.

Do I sound like some old woman living in the past?  Maybe.  Just remember, some of things our grandmothers said are as true today as they were 60 years ago. ‘You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar’.

If any of you need help just let me know.  I’m available to coach you.

Tags: dion, harper, Parliament