Election Reflections

Well, there we are, Canada just blew $400-million in launching an election well before time and expectation, only to return the status quo. Perhaps not exactly, since the governing Conservatives' mandate, although still in the minority range, is now a robust, close-to-majority government.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in his wisdom, proclaimed Parliament to be in 'dysfunctional' mode, the government and opposition parties bickering, holding up needed legislation advances, rather than attuning themselves to governing collectively for the good of the country.

Partisan positioning - setting up roadblocks to legislation, exploding the House of Commons into a frat house dormitory, placing schoolchildren in a quandary of disbelief, attempting to understand exactly why it is that Members of Parliament can be disruptive, unruly, unhelpful and raucous during Question Period, when they're not permitted to behave similarly in their classrooms - has done our parliamentarians no credit.

Of course, no one is exempt from blame in this regard, not the opposition parties, so eager to accuse the government of mismanagement of the affairs of the country, nor the governing body, functionally incapable itself of treating their opposition with a modicum of respect, and forging useful alliances.

The presiding Conservatives have come back with more seats, particularly in areas of the country where they sought them; Ontario, the Maritimes; forget Quebec. With this new mandate to govern, Canadians surely have the right to anticipate that their elected lawmakers can make an effort to behave like Parliamentarians?

Prime Minister Harper, while having governed moderately and well for the close to three years of his previous minority government, should look to make a few changes. A less autocratic grasp of his caucus, for one thing; if he trusts his members to take charge of important portfolios, surely they are also capable of speaking publicly.

On the other hand, it would behoove him this second time around, to select nominees for important Cabinet positions a trifle more carefully than the first time. He had some notable successes and some truly dismal failures.

Mr. Harper's coldly aloof and very unhelpful relationship with the Parliamentary Press Corps came back to sting him badly, throughout the election; neutrality in election reportage waxed and waned, and he took more than his share of bruises.

The small-mindedness of some provincial leaders was an unwelcome revelation, Danny Williams' stentorian 'Anyone But Conservatives' campaign painted him as petty, greedy, childish. His once have-not province, now wallowing in commodities wealth, insists it is still owing equalization payments, and as a rebuke to a government that rationally points out the obvious, votes were withheld, from a Conservative province to a federal Conservative.

But it's all over now, no hard feelings; point made, the goose laid its lead egg. Bygones will be bygones, and Newfoundland and Labrador should not suffer because they chose not to send a Conservative MP to Ottawa. Should they? And Quebecers, who chose to withhold their votes in triumph against the evil culture-bashing Conservatives, will still hold out their hands expectantly, pan-handling as usual for advantage.

Stephane Dion, that poor deluded, and utterly misguided man, will return meekly to Academia, which should embrace him and comfort him and treasure him. The Canadian public found his inability to enunciate his platform clearly and unequivocally to promote their understanding of his sterling qualities, too difficult to contemplate. He was a remarkable self-promoter, a self-absorbed cheerleader, so rare in an academic, but his followers were as uninspired by his promise as the electorate.

Jack Layton's bombastic denunciations of the Conservative agenda and its mean and evil intent, along with his denigration of the Liberals' devout belief in their inherent right to rule, entertained the faithful, and was of tepid-to-no interest to the greater public. We so badly miss leaders of the ilk of Ed Broadbent. Bill Blaikie, Howard Hampton, it's so dismal that your potential talents as inspired and inspiring NDP leaders were overlooked.

Elizabeth May's arrogance in insisting that she had every right to run in Peter MacKay's riding, and her certainty that she would prevail, simply pointed out her inadequacy as a leader of sound judgemental ability. And why Canada respects and gives credence to a party like the Bloc Quebecois, whose terms of reference reside solely in Quebec, which has no national presence, yet is chivalrously recognized as a legitimate 'national' party only speaks to a deranged apprehension.

Here's hoping that Prime Minister Harper took some lessons from the stresses and difficulties presented to him personally throughout this election. He comported himself well, as why should he not? He is still young, has much to learn - adapting himself to the reality that ours is a functioning democracy, not a benevolent dictatorship, among them.

He is of sound mind and good heart, an honest and trustworthy person in whom Canada has invested another term of office, his to do with as circumstances will permit him. And much depends on his maturity in advancing the best interests of the country, above and beyond ideology.