Here we are losing one of the few intelligent and thinking parliamentarians left in Ottawa and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau wants nebbishes to replace him. Trudeau is too wet behind the ears to understand that we have to have mavericks in caucus to keep Liberals honest with themselves and their constituents. Irwin Cotler helped keep Liberals honest.
And the Liberal caucus will miss Irwin Cotler after he steps down as a Member of Parliament for Mount Royal next year.
What Justin Trudeau knows is that he cannot tell Irwin Cotler what to think. He has his own ideas. He has principles. And he stands on his principles.
And we need more of that type of candidate next year. As it stands, Trudeau is telling candidates what to think and weeding out the thinkers through the party’s candidate selection process. And he insists on keeping the right to not allow a candidate by not signing the official nomination.
It might seem like a novel idea to Mr. Trudeau but Members of Parliament are supposed to represent their constituents first and their party second. We already know that Prime Minister Stephen Harper thinks that is the wrong approach but look at the quality of what is behind him in Ottawa. And then you might check out some of the accidental MPs appointed by the New Democrats who are backing Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair.
The Liberal Party’s Green Light selection process is still the major barrier to allowing party members in the riding the right to select their candidate without interference. The process takes too long, is too onerous and is too invasive. It fails to serve the ridings.
As the song says, ‘Please come back Mr. Cotler.’
-30-
Copyright 2014 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to [email protected]