Do Canadian politicians like to be known as battlers and bruisers?

Listening this past week to various national news correspondents in Ottawa, I wondered if the politicians really liked to be known as “Battlers” and “Bruisers”. It almost sounded as if when parliament was reconvening we were being prepped for round two of the “Battle of the Gladiators”. It is a good thing that a boxing ring has four corners because the leaders are going to use all of them.
If that were the case, rather than let them joust indoors, maybe Canadians should insist that their elected members all square off on skates in the Rideau Canal and put on a fierce display of bare knuckle hockey fighting. Maybe they could knock some sense into each other.
Even on Sunday, after a cooling off period of six weeks, liar, untrustworthy, were being used to paint the prime minister and his government.
It doesn’t bode well for this parliament. The rhetoric that is building up does not reflect a need for cooperation.
There was a time when being a politician was considered an “Honorable Profession”. We judged our elected members for their abilities to lead by listening, questioning, presenting alternatives and acting with civility and honour. We expected our elected members to be diplomatic, concerned, and available. We expected them to be trustworthy, able to compromise and that their word was true.
Today we evaluate our politicians as fighters. Today, the public has come to judge politicians very lowly. Where once politicians debated ideas and programs, today the debate is rancorous and personally vindictive.
Our new member John Rafferty already finds himself in a quandary. While his leader Jack Layton has let any news gathering company know that the NDP will vote the budget down regardless of what is offered, John Rafferty has told his constituents that he will review the budget document and make up his mind independently of the party. I wish him luck should he choose not to tow the party line should he choose that route.
Maybe I am misreading the build up. I would like to believe that the collegial cooperation that the members share individually in committee and over lunches and dinner would find its way into the House of Commons.
Maybe our politicians can make the population proud of parliament and its members. Maybe those members can encourage Canadians to aspire to being elected to the House of Commons and choose to get involved in politics and voting.
And maybe the fresh start will happen this week. I am not hopeful.

–Jim Cumming,
Publisher