MPs watched in disbelief last Wednesday as Conservative House Leader Peter Van Loan faced-off against his NDP counterpart, Nathan Cullen, and Party Leader Thomas Mulcair.
Right in front of the Speaker, just to one side of the aisle down the middle of the House of Commons, they went at it hammer-and-tong. No actual punches were thrown, but on both sides, the crude insults and the aggressive body language were decidedly “unparliamentary”.
The altercation followed a fairly minor procedural argument. But it reflects a deeper problem.
Since the last election, both the Conservatives and the NDP have pursued a strategy of partisan polarization. Their explicit objective is to drive all other participants off the political playing-field, so they can have it all to themselves. You see that strategy unfolding every day in the bitter polarizing tactics they both employ.
They argue that polarization would make politics so much “simpler” for Canadians. Every issue would be reduced to a mutually-exclusive two-way choice. No bothersome complications or nuances. No need to compromise. Everything would be straight-forward — right vs left, black vs white, good vs bad.
Simpler? Maybe. But better? Not so much.
A classic illustration of what you get from polarization can be seen south of the border. Americans are deeply divided between the Tea Party mentality on the right and the Occupy Movement on the left. Their political atmosphere is toxic. Decision-making is paralyzed.
Accommodation is seen as weakness. Even on the most critical issues — like their looming “fiscal cliff” — polarized politics in the U.S. makes them incapable of finding solutions that rise above divisiveness to earn broad-based support.
That’s because polarization is all about driving wedges, not building bridges. It’s about pushing people apart, into fiercely opposing camps, not pulling them together in common endeavour. It feeds off searing conflict. It gets personal. You learn not just to oppose the other side, but to hate them. Your goal is not just to defeat them, but to destroy them — because polarization teaches you that you are “righteous” and the other guy is not.
And here’s another damaging consequence. The deep-seated conflict that lies at the heart of polarized politics truly appeals to only a small number of the most extreme partisans, on one side and the other, who relish the constant fight. People like Van Loan, Cullen, Mulcair and Harper — it turns them on.
But it also turns off large numbers of Canadians generally. They don’t hold extreme views. Perpetual campaigning is not their thing. They don’t like polarization or the hatred it breeds. So they just drop out of the political process altogether. They are the ones who stay home on election day.
But here’s the good news!
Canada is far too complex a country — too subtle and nuanced, too fundamentally decent, too full of hope and ambition — to be content for very long with the polarizing wedge politics of division, greed, fear and envy.
People will look for something better. The greater Canadian instinct is to want to pull together to achieve goals that are bigger and more worthy.
The future will belong to those who blaze that trail.
Ralph Goodale
” A classic illustration of what you get from polarization can be seen south of the border. Americans are deeply divided between the Tea Party mentality on the right and the Occupy Movement on the left. Their political atmosphere is toxic. Decision-making is paralyzed. ”
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For sure the political atmosphere in the U.S. is toxic. That’s the outcome of a two party system.
Canada has 4 or more political parties at the federal level. Each with it’s own ideology BUT with no clear PURPOSE of PRINCIPLES of how to govern for “all” Canadians.
Occupy Wall Street is a leaderless grass roots resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. They have no government representation. I see them center left. Pretty much were Liberals like to be seen.
The Tea Party Movement (TEA is an acronym for Taxed Enough Already) who have fielded political candidates within the GOP. They’re right of right.
I don’t see the comparison.
The day our Prime Minister of Canada condoned his House Leader saying “Lying is a form of free speech Mr. Speaker”….reflected our House of Commons in Stephen Harper’s eyes as a place no different than a circus. Anyone watching the past year and a half to how he handles question period would see for themselves this is a PM of ignorance and emotional immaturity when it comes to reporting on matters of State. It’s a joke to him. Political spin and clever posturing. No Prime Minister in Canadian politics as far as I know has purposely desired to bring in attacks at all costs more than Harper. If there’s an opportunity to deny any member opposite the ability to speak…they do it. (Denying Ms. May’s request to make a speech on Remembrance Day is one example of using their majority with contempt to Parliamentary traditions). He’s taken his majority and oppresses any voice not seen as necessary in his eyes. That of course includes in his good judgement, the Senate (dictating to them to pass his bills not respecting their individual capacities for deliberation, Parliamentary Budget Officer, General Auditor of Canada, controlling which questions are tolerable by the media, muzzling scientists working within the government by any legal means possible, members in his own caucus. As far as Peter Van Loan charging aggressively across the floor the way he did…..is to me the behaviour of someone trained to attack a little to well by not his Party Leader but his “master” Stephen Harper. Harper’s caucus have no freedom…..to act freely from conscience or represent the concerns of their constituents. The only option they do have is to “attack”. Every answer in question period for the past year and a half is filled with an absence of any coherent answer…and a guaranteed “attack” to supposed stands by members opposite. They have communication or talking points given to them. Controlled responses reviewed by Harper. How any self respecting MP would allow themselves to be regulated as such astounds me. Even Harper himself, like someone appearing in court that’s been coached on what to say and what not to say….instead of a Prime Minister showing competency on his own policies. It would be funny except it’s matters of national well being with growing examples of harm to Canadians….directly due to his incompetency. Shortage of medicines (painkillers included)…ignoring FDA warnings to the Health Canada then claiming the incident had nothing to do with the Federal Government. He’s not interested in good governance….he’s got one agenda…to do all that he can as PM to ensure his free market friends get what they want. Safety and well being of Canadians…or their democratic rights is a political side bar to likes of Stephen Harper. I use to be upset with Mr. Harper…now i’m more upset with everyone that complies and willingly allows the Canadian people to be abandoned, the integrity of Parliament to be redefined to his dictates…..which is right up there with “Lying is a form of free speech”. Such talent in this country…people of great expertise capable and desirous of working with the government to ensure best policy making and what’s best for Canada and everyone in it…all pushed aside. This government isn’t about good governance, it’s about “pushing”.
My long winded way of absolutely agreeing with Mr.Goodale’s post. It’s been not easy to hear recommendations on fiscal policy by him and others in the Liberal Party…attempting to co-operate with the Harper government in good faith bringing up realities in Canada with good solutions continually being dismissed. These are exceptionally well experienced members of Parliament bringing their talents to policy making…suggestions about addressing growing inequality in incomes for instance, completely dismissed by Harper and his caucus. He’s absolutely correct in pointing out there is a very dangerous love of self righteousness to the point of not being able to take any positive contribution from members opposite. And even Canadians from all levels of society appearing in committee. Plenty of good testimonies regarding areas of short sightedness in his crime bill….all ignored. Amendments to the massive changes to environmental laws hidden in his budget bill….all turned down. Win at all costs…is for most of us in the real world the very kind of incompetency that leads to real tragedies….ones that could have been prevented. The absence of any provisions to address poverty in Canada in the budget, student unemployment, cuts to successful youth programs, lack of addressing the actual concerns of victims of crime, the attack on information and data from research stations or Stats Canada….is the loss of our government to be powerful or effective and actually a block to true progress. Economic prosperity requires an investment in the people and institutions dedicated to unbiased public well being……National Roundtable on Environment and Economy, powers of the National Energy Board, the ones running programs that allow record low crime rates…not the reward of mega styled prisons contracts to U.S. companies. Harper made it clear years ago….he’s against the Canada Health Act. He represents the interests that seek to gain greater profits by the dismantling of public institutions be it healthcare or education. It’s in complete harmony with the policies entities such as ALEC promote in the U.S. Professionals dedicated public well being have gone to great lengths to show public health care as cost efficient and far more widespread in its ability to tend to public well being and is completely ignored by Harper. Instead he promotes the necessity and moral obligation to provide privatized medicine. And of course the good governance of shutting down Healthcare facilities of First Nations….veteran hospitals. He acts care free and confident….because he genuinely is free from any care to Canadians. Polarized politics is one thing…in my opinion Harper is just plain “intolerant” to any kind of disobedience to him….perceived or real. Nothing more unintelligent than thinking you are the only one “intelligent”. Harper in a nutshell.
Canadians are tired of the conservative/reform party trying to pit one section of the country against another.
Harper has insulted the maritimes,Quebec, Ontario and BC.
He keeps on about how he is a proud westerner. Well, you were born and raised in Ontario. Or did you conveniently forget that fact?
He thinks lying is a form of free speech.
Winning is all that matters to Harper and he will do anything and everything it takes to achive that win.
These are NOT the characteristics of the western provinces. I wish Harper would stop insulting them by pretending to be one of them.
Dear Ralph Goodale,
I would gladly contribute enough money but I need to see your game plan. Think of it like an offering memorandum soliciting funds for Project Financing. So dear Sir let us see the Big Picture and disclose why you need the funds and what are your objectives.
If the opposition slanders the people of Canada or the Liberal Party, use the law to take the Bast….to court and seek justice.
Be honest with the Canadian people, put political ideology & rhetorics aside and focus on genuine buy-in of your vision for Canada & its people.
Build relationships that are based on trust rather than fear or hot air.
Pay attention to the process as well as the desired outcome.
Use strategies in combination that are characteristic of effective and efficient leaders who have a direction and can make decisions that benefits Canada’s society.
In addition get an office Manager that can manage communications like the phone system.
Without appearing to insult you I think that your days as a politician are numbered. So do the right thing now and let younger minds have a go at your seat.
Sincerely
John Bannach
I think John Bannach means “if the GOVERNMENT (Not the opposition) slanders the Liberal Party use the law to take them to court and seek justice.” This has to be the primary goal. Harper has made a farce of parliament, the committee system and every other aspect of democratic governance. The Opposition parties must unite to take strong coordinated action to counter this. We can’t assume that we will get rid of them in 2015 and we must mitigate the damage to democracy, the economy etc. The Harper government has broken parliamentary tradition, the social contract that made our democracy work. The opposition parties should therefore not let themselves be bound by this eligitimate government. Pretty much every committee is now held In Camera. This is not legitimate democractic governance. The op parties should fight back by banding together to tell us what is going on in these committees. Lies in parliament, eg., cap and trade being called a carbon tax over and over and over again – walk out until they agree to stop. Stop pussy footing with the dictator. Drastic times require drastic measures.
Dear Linda!
Yes, I agree with your comments and clarity of meaning. My thinking when I used the word “opposition” was along the lines of the government’s refusal to acknowledge its past actions was met with opposition.
I do like the way you think. We need more like you, who are willing to take a stand against clandestine meeting so that we the people are better informed how the Government spends our hard earned dollars.
It must be pointed out that our current “polarized politics” simply comes down to a “mutually exclusive two-way choice” at the ballot box. Both our current “first-past-the-post” voting system and the proposed “alternative vote” can be blamed for creating polarized politics in each single-member riding, where there can be only one winner among the top two contenders.
In my opinion, the best way to build bridges among Parliamentarians is to adopt a more proportional voting system similar to that of Germany or New Zealand. Under proportional voting, co-operation becomes a virtue for political success.
Don’t blame the actors, blame the system!
Dear Ray!
Who created the system?
A Government is unable to be better than the people who elect it.
You made an excellent solution.
Cheers
John