Interesting media reactions to Calgary's Ted Morton and his comment about the backroom influence on the PC Party by the so called Calgary Mafia. Consider the future of Alberta - all Alberta, if the Prime Minister comes from Calgary, the Premier comes from Calgary and Mayor Bronconnier - of Calgary - takes over the Liberal leadership...a highly expected probability in many circles. With so much power concentrated in three men in one city are we doing ourselves and a functioning representative democracy any favours?
Calgary is a great city but it is not all of Alberta, just as Alberta is not all of Canada. We already have a Toronto - we don't need another one or a replacement for that matter. What if the prevailing attitude in Calgary turned it into a "metropolitan David Dingwall" and they started to believe they "were entitled to their entitlements." With so much concentrated power, what is to stop that possibility? What good would it do? Prevention is possible. A cure may not be found before some serious damage is done to our society and representative democracy. There is more than one method to piss away a boom. Citizen's cynicism and indifference are amongst them.
By voting we consent to be governed by leaders and politicians who we select as a matter of choice. Failing, refusing or neglecting to participate in elections and party leadership selections is not granting an informed citizen's consent. Consenting to be governed by default due to citizen's indifference can have dire consequences...for everyone. The "chosen ones" to govern have an enormous concentration of power over our lives. Indifference is a luxury citizens cannot afford.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Dinner with Dion
Last week I had the chance to have dinner with Stephane Dion and some of his Alberta campaign team. The next day my business partner interviewed him on www.policychannel.com. The interview is almost ready for posting on that site - likely early next week. Check it out. We spent quite a bit of time together and I gotta tell you - he grows on you.
I have watched the Liberal leadership with passive agressive amusement. The characters are fascinting. Ignatiaff - a "Trudeauesq wannabe" expat American who is "fawning in love" with Canada, "honestly." (sic) And Bob Rae, "please forgive my past sins Ontario," and please believe me Canada that I have changed, "really." Then there is Volpe who a candidate with a guiltless guile, leading a Children's Cash Crusade, marching merrily towards yesterday. Those principles and values make him akin to a Groupaction mimic. I could go on but you get my drift.
Dion on the other hand is refreshing. He has intellectual heft, a commitment to a united Canada, a constant curiosity along with a conviction to do things differently. He has an appreciation for complexity and a suspicion of simple answers to the crucial questions. He could turn out to be a truly great 21st century leader. Here is a candidate talking intelligently and forcefully about the country, the environment and social justice. Here is a guy who understands the marketplace and its place. He also understands the role of good governance in creating the common good.
I like him at a number of levels. He has a serious agenda that is a challenge for all Canadians to consider. He has a message we ought to take seriously. He is someone worth watching as this campaign evolves. Progressives will find Dion to be their kind of candidate and they should get behind him now.
I have watched the Liberal leadership with passive agressive amusement. The characters are fascinting. Ignatiaff - a "Trudeauesq wannabe" expat American who is "fawning in love" with Canada, "honestly." (sic) And Bob Rae, "please forgive my past sins Ontario," and please believe me Canada that I have changed, "really." Then there is Volpe who a candidate with a guiltless guile, leading a Children's Cash Crusade, marching merrily towards yesterday. Those principles and values make him akin to a Groupaction mimic. I could go on but you get my drift.
Dion on the other hand is refreshing. He has intellectual heft, a commitment to a united Canada, a constant curiosity along with a conviction to do things differently. He has an appreciation for complexity and a suspicion of simple answers to the crucial questions. He could turn out to be a truly great 21st century leader. Here is a candidate talking intelligently and forcefully about the country, the environment and social justice. Here is a guy who understands the marketplace and its place. He also understands the role of good governance in creating the common good.
I like him at a number of levels. He has a serious agenda that is a challenge for all Canadians to consider. He has a message we ought to take seriously. He is someone worth watching as this campaign evolves. Progressives will find Dion to be their kind of candidate and they should get behind him now.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Don't Call Me Minister - Just the Local MLA
I have just read the July 20, 2006 EUB transcript of Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Guy Boutilier's testimony. Please do not confuse him with the Honourable Guy Boutilier, Minister of Environment for Alberta. Media quotes indicate he claims to have "turned off that half of his brain" - at least for these proceedings.
First he read his Resume into the record. Did he think no one would believe he really was the MLA for the Region?" Then he read a stump speech, even admitting he was not there to talk about the actual application that was before the EUB. So why was he there? Why did he want to intervene in the dying days of the hearing? What was so urgent that required his testimony, as the "MLA." Why was he granted intervener status as an exception to the rules? What exactly did he submit that was so critical and vital to the hearing. What compelled a Minister of the Crown, under the guise of "just being the local MLA," to personally intervene in a quasi-judicial regulatory process? Did he not understand, as a Harvard grad with a Masters degree in Public Administration, the potential risk and recklessness of his actions? Did he not consider that his request might be seen as political interference with the independence of the regulatory hearing process - even with his Minister's brain turned off. Did he seek any legal advice about the possible legal consequeces of his actions?
The locals will no doubt be asking themselves what he has accomplished for the Region since 1997, when he was first elected as their "local MLA" and the Fort McMurray growth explosion started to take off. In the hour or so he took to read in his resume, give his political speech and face two short cross examinations - he repeats that he is the local MLA 83 times. Too bad getting results has not been big on the local MLA's agenda too. One can only hope the EUB got the message... and can help get some results for Wood Buffalo.
First he read his Resume into the record. Did he think no one would believe he really was the MLA for the Region?" Then he read a stump speech, even admitting he was not there to talk about the actual application that was before the EUB. So why was he there? Why did he want to intervene in the dying days of the hearing? What was so urgent that required his testimony, as the "MLA." Why was he granted intervener status as an exception to the rules? What exactly did he submit that was so critical and vital to the hearing. What compelled a Minister of the Crown, under the guise of "just being the local MLA," to personally intervene in a quasi-judicial regulatory process? Did he not understand, as a Harvard grad with a Masters degree in Public Administration, the potential risk and recklessness of his actions? Did he not consider that his request might be seen as political interference with the independence of the regulatory hearing process - even with his Minister's brain turned off. Did he seek any legal advice about the possible legal consequeces of his actions?
The locals will no doubt be asking themselves what he has accomplished for the Region since 1997, when he was first elected as their "local MLA" and the Fort McMurray growth explosion started to take off. In the hour or so he took to read in his resume, give his political speech and face two short cross examinations - he repeats that he is the local MLA 83 times. Too bad getting results has not been big on the local MLA's agenda too. One can only hope the EUB got the message... and can help get some results for Wood Buffalo.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Alberta is "Republican"
So Premier Klein was recently in Washington reassuring the White House that Alberta is as "Republican" as it gets in Canada. Strong political rhetoric but short on reality. According to the social values research that Environics does, the most conservative social values in Canada are not in Alberta. The most conservative social values come from Saskatchewan and Manitoba, provinces with NDP governments. Go Figure.
In fact Alberta is 20% more progressive on some key social value measures than the most "liberal" American states like New York and Massachusetts. People are entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. I am tired of the red-neck reputation of Alberta that has become the "truth." It is unfounded - the Reform/Alliance consciousness we send to Ottawa notwithstanding.
For more political truths visit http://www.policychannel.com
In fact Alberta is 20% more progressive on some key social value measures than the most "liberal" American states like New York and Massachusetts. People are entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. I am tired of the red-neck reputation of Alberta that has become the "truth." It is unfounded - the Reform/Alliance consciousness we send to Ottawa notwithstanding.
For more political truths visit http://www.policychannel.com
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