There have been conflicting opinions about whether Stephen Harper is going to stay on as prime minister to fight another election. In some cases, his expected departure might just be wishful thinking. While there is well reasoned logic as to why he might step aside at this juncture, the truth is that it is his potential replacements that would give him pause.
Leadership characteristics do not seem to be prominent in the current Conservative gene pool. Canadians should hardly forget that Stephen Harper took over from Stockwell Day as leader of the Canadian Alliance. And it was Peter MacKay who allowed the Conservative Party to be absorbed into the Reform/Alliance. The party of Sir John A. Macdonald has gone downhill badly over the past 140 years.
But that is what you get from centrally run political parties. The rigid control that Harper has wielded over the Conservative Party since 2003 has produced a government caucus of drones and sycophants. No Conservative is allowed to challenge the leader. No Member of Parliament elected or appointed as a Senator is allowed to think in or outside the box. It leaves a very poor choice of successors to ‘The Boss.’
Take B.C.-native, Industry Minister James Moore, for example. While he might have a following in the party, it is his lack of judgement that does him in. Sure, he apologized profusely for his ill-considered remark but it was only when his recorded statement threatened to go viral. Obviously someone who knew voters told him that you cannot say “Is it my job to feed my neighbour’s child? I don’t think so.”
That is pure James Moore. The truth is that is how he thinks. You can hear that cant wherever Conservatives gather. Even if he does not like school breakfast programs for needy children, they are a reality in a country where the government puts tax cuts for the wealthy ahead of the needs of children.
And then there are the Bobbsey Twins: Most often mentioned as possible successors to Stephen Harper, Foreign Minister John Baird and Immigration Minister Jason Kenny set their own unique standard for Conservatism. Canada’s international relations have never been worse and the only place where it is easy to get a job in Canada is in Minister Kenney’s Calgary electoral district.
We are never sure which of the Bobbsey Twins is Freddie and which is Flossie but we do know that Mr. Kenny is no favourite of Finance Minister Flaherty. Mr. Kenney was saying something derogatory about Toronto’s mayor recently and Mr. Flaherty used quite unparliamentary language to tell him to shut up.
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Copyright 2013 © Peter Lowry
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