It must have been the final political straw for Bill Morneau. After taking some of the heat off the prime minister in the ‘We charity’ imbroglio, the former finance minister is still being criticized for his naiveté. Not only is he being pilloried by the opposition in parliament and ridiculed by the news media, he is being charged with violating the elections act during last year’s election.
This is an inexcusable situation. Bill Morneau was just one more of Justin Trudeau’s elite choices for a key role in his cabinet. As a lamb to the slaughter, he deserved better. Trudeau used him and tossed him away when he was no longer useful.
The Morneau name meant more in the Toronto business community. It was also useful to have the connection with his wife’s family, the Florenceville, New Brunswick McCain’s.
But when you bring someone into politics like Morneau, you can hardly expect him to be flying solo as soon as his new political career is launched. This guy needed ongoing help and guidance and Trudeau and the prime minister’s office let him down. Morneau needed something more than a service dog to keep him out of trouble.
He needed one or two experienced people in that office to help keep him from the gaffs he made because of his lack of political experience.
But if Trudeau did not think he needed that kind of help, why should he expect his underlings to need it?
Looking at his staff working with him in 2015 election, was disquieting. There were actually two people working with him whom I was aware had as much or more political experience as Justin Trudeau. And one of them had to quit because of a conflict.
Trudeau had gotten rid of the old liberal party workhorses in the Senate and ignored the experienced people out in the ridings. He was running his own campaign. And, as luck had it, that was also what the Canadian voters wanted.
But, how often are you that lucky?
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Copyright 2020 © Peter Lowry
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