He Said WHAT?!

"We've never been wealthier as a country than we are right now. Never been wealthier."
"Certainly, we want to make sure that kids go to school full-bellied, but is that always the government's job to be there to serve people their breakfast? Empowering families with more power and resources so they can feed their own children, I think is a good thing."
"Is it my job to feed my neighbour's child? I don't think so."

"In response to a question from a reporter last week, I made an insensitive comment that I deeply regret. I apologize."
"Caring for each other is a Canadian ethic that I strongly believe in -- always have and always will. Of course poverty is an issue that concerns me, and concerns all Canadians."
"All levels of government, indeed all members of our society, have a responsibility to be compassionate and care for those in need. Great work has been done to tackle poverty and the challenges associated with poverty."
"And while more work is needed, I know the cause of fighting poverty is not helped by comments like those I made last week. For that, I am sorry."
Industry Minister James Moore

Well, there you have it. As a fairly well seasoned politician, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper as a mentor in dealings with the press that can do and always will on occasion go awry, Mr. Moore has resigned himself to the reality that perception is reality. He had no option but to appear contrite, remorseful, saddened by his inexcusable, flippant remark on a subject of great national angst; under- privilege and hungry children.

He likely knew instinctively that could not, should not, and would not, offer the explanation that the last sentence of his comments were 'taken out of context'. That what was perceived by minds honing in on the seemingly personal denial of responsibility, and extending it by implication to government and further still to the public arena, was insulting to the compassionate nature of Canadians. The explosive reaction to what it was popularly believed he stated was well earned.

What he said is that Canada is a country of great wealth. What he implied is that there are more employment opportunities now in a recovering economy. What he mentioned is that government has an obligation to ensure that families can manage their expenses, and that families in turn have an obligation to ensure that their hungry children are fed before they're sent off to school. What the public heard was nothing of the aforementioned, obviously.

What they heard is that the Minister of Industry made the shocking statement that it is the responsibility of every parent to look to the primary needs of their children. In the case of giving a child a breakfast before sending that child off to school, whose responsibility is it if not the parents'?
Government at every level tries to do their part. Welfare, social services, are the responsibility of the provincial government. Child support payments to families is the responsibility of the feds.

He did not say, as B.C. NDP Member of Parliament Jinny Sims was swift to denounce that "child poverty is not his problem". A "heartless" statement, Ms. Sims was delighted to make much of. Mr. Moore was responding to a question put to him by Vancouver radio station News 1130, relating to British Columbia's high poverty rate. Mr. Moore could have pointed out that national child poverty rates have been reduced significantly of late.

He would also have had to point out the obvious, however; that any amount of child poverty regardless of how dwindling, is dreadful, regrettable, and something that society is determined to the best of our collective abilities, to correct. He happened in this instance to over-remark himself. Who among us has not? None of us would be pilloried for that unfortunate slip in concentration on how best to convey our true opinion on a particular subject.

But then, none of us is the Minister of Industry. Who has learned a lesson he will not soon forget.