The Intellectual Frailty of Little Men

No, not little as in physical stature, but the stature of one's integrity and spirit, that kind of lack of presence. Although there would be many - at least there were many, before Stephane Dion proved himself an abject failure as Liberal leader and leader of the Official Opposition in the Canadian parliament - who yet cling to the belief that this man will lead the Liberal party out of its well-earned obscurity within the country's body politic.

Stephane Dion's ethical bankruptcy, however, is there for anyone interested to scrutinize; up front and centre, thanks to his many miscalculations, miscues and downright misses, when he could have placed himself front and centre as a credible alternative to the morals-challenged Liberal leaders who preceded him.

From his lamentable record on the environment - though he now decries the struggle the Conservatives face to paper over his deficiencies - to his critiques of the current minority government with respect to Canadian troops stationed in Kandahar - thanks to his own party's decision to send them there - he has distinguished himself as just a mite this side of contemptible.

He could conceivably have gained credibility, and certainly it would have been a refreshing change if he occasionally even mildly lauded policy not of his own design, in recognition it may hold good promise for the country. Setting partisanship aside, working co-operatively when and where the occasion calls for it, with the governing party. For not everything this current government initiates is entirely without merit.

He plans to augment his shadow cabinet - soon to be installed as the legitimate cabinet, he promises, with the next election, just around the corner - no, not that corner, the other one - with a politically-engaged component of female representatives. It's the liberal way, in our egalitarian society, despite that women aren't falling all over one another in their eagerness to stand forward for elected office.

He sees nothing amiss in dispatching someone of the stalwart calibre of David Orchard, formerly of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, now launched as a Liberal, a hard-working, dedicated Canadian who committed to some fairly rigorous stumping to bring 500 new members into the Liberal Party. And to whom, in any event, Mr. Dion might be expected to demonstrate some modicum of gratitude for his part in assisting him during the Liberal leadership contention.

But no, here's poor David Orchard, twice two-timed; jilted first by Peter MacKay betraying his solemn promise not to meld the old PC Party with that of the upstart Reform-Alliance, and now by Stephane Dion who has betrayed his trust, shunting him aside as the candidate for the March byelection in Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River riding. Democratic determinism in action; hauling in a former NDPer to enhance the female presence in the party.

This, despite the umbrage of fervent Orchard backers in the riding, angered by the high-handed unfairness of pulling that slippery rug out from under Mr. Orchard's trusting and campaign-weary feet. Now that he's softened up the riding, bringing aboard those who succumbed to his Liberal-laden blandishments in a riding up to then bereft of Liberal support.

It's just his style, unfortunate as it would appear, to vaunt himself as a leader of men (and women) of high moral principles and a fine grasp of the vitally important issues facing the country. Like the gradual evaporation of smoke-stack employment, leaving vulnerable one-company towns across the country deflated and without hope for the future.

So that, when the prime minister announced, as he did today, a $1-billion community development trust fund, Mr. Dion attacked that initiative too.

With his usual bluster and bravado, claiming it to be a sham, not an assistance to hard-pressed towns. The fund, whose purpose is to make worker re-training and skills development feasible, easing communities through these difficult transition times, will help immeasurably those so deleteriously affected by the new world order, where such employment has migrated to less-developed economies.

The provinces are certainly on side, since they stand to gain ten million each in base funding; 3 million to each of the territories, and the balance to be divided between the provinces and territories on a per-capita basis. "The program is aimed at one-industry towns facing major downturns, or communities plagued by chronic high unemployment, or regions hit by lay-offs across a range of sectors", said Prime Minister Harper.

Humbug, said Stephane Dion.