The Ottawa Citizen has two great takes from columnists Dan Gardner and Susan Riley on the “Canada 150” conference, organized and hosted this weekend in Montreal by the Liberal Party of Canada.
Gardner sets the Montreal gabfest against the historical record of its predecessor, the conference in Aylmer, Que. in 1991, a conference that preceded Jean Chretien's big victory in 1993:
“Aylmer really wasn't what it has become in political lore. What's more — and more relevant — the circumstances then are remarkably similar to the circumstances now: Those gathered in Montreal really should take a quick look backwards before they start talking about the future.”
Susan Riley puts Canada 150 in its current context, looking at it against the background of Michael Ignatieff's leadership and the current political environment:
…will the ideas survive the withering contempt of the Conservative hit squad, Michael Ignatieff's timid and drifting leadership, or inevitable editing by drafters of the next Liberal campaign platform? Bold ideas have a habit of turning into minor tax credits, or small monthly cheques, or short-lived millennium scholarships once they've been through the reductive spin cycle of campaign politics. (Especially once they're costed.)
The precedents aren't encouraging. Everyone — especially Liberals — remembers what happened to the last Big Idea. Stéphane Dion's green shift included a carbon tax, but also offered personal income tax cuts and enhanced support for poor families and seniors. It was more ambitious and less threatening than portrayed — but it was doomed by poor marketing and opposition vitriol.
… Liberals need more than ideas. They need a leader who doesn't treat his caucus like wallpaper. (Liberal MPs and senators are explicitly not invited to this weekend's wonkfest.) They need answers to their own daily questions. What would they do — never mind the government — if the Americans ask us to leave 600 soldiers in Kabul after 2011? How would Liberals pay down the deficit, fix the isotope shortage, regulate greenhouse emissions?
Mostly, they need a leader who is liberal by conviction, not just in name.
Two of my Canwest columnist colleagues are here in Montreal this weekend: Don Martin of the Calgary Herald/National Post and Barabara Yaffe of the Vancouver Sun. Looking forward to reading their perspective.