Ottawa Sun
Published: Thursday, June 10, 2010

Politics an honest job

During the hanging of former prime minister Jean Chretien’s portrait in late-May on Parliament Hill, political observers were treated to two rarities in federal politics.

We saw a room full of happy federal Liberals. And on a serious note, Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered a gracious and respectful homage to the guy who thrived on a divided and dispirited conservative opposition for more than a decade.

In turn, Chretien — who can never be accused of getting into politics for motives of money or fame — in his remarks was spirited in his defence of elected public service and specifically, Parliament, where he served for nearly four decades of his life. 

He rightly pointed out that our politicians aren’t thieves or crooks; the all-too common refrain from a cynical electorate. In addition, he noted that MPs “work hard, very hard.” He is categorically right on both points. 

For over 20 years of my adult working life I have interacted with MPs and senators of all stripes and am proud to count several of them as friends. To a tee, they work hard and long hours, some travel from great distances and their lifestyle is not easy. Moreover, the stresses placed on their relationships, marriages and families are likely only surpassed by those with family members in the Canadian Forces or serving on the front lines of public safety like policing, fire, ambulance, etc. 

Yet our politicians must shoulder the plurality of blame for the present public mistrust and dismay directed toward them. As well, the media and we as individual citizens also must take a look in our own proverbial mirrors. Finally we must accept that our politicians will always be at odds with each other to varying degrees.

Starting with this last point, the design origins of parliamentary democracy inherently foster, at times, difficult debate, expose clear differences and force decisions that will not please everyone. This is a reality of our system of government. 

But returning to our politicians, the excess to which some excel in belittling their foes and pushing the bounds of parliamentary immunity to mercilessly attack opponents in the absurd theatre of question period and other fora has to stop. This behaviour is something that no politician would either accept from or condone in their children. Politicians must also and always remember that elected service is a privilege not a penance and that they are in office of their own free will and enormous efforts. 

The national media must also, to use the vernacular, up its game. The growing focus on the 140-word Twitterverse of what just happened, who said what and check out this latest link is eroding the crucial role that our fourth estate must play in providing greater thematic and historical context to the events of the now.

Finally, we as voters must change our expectations. The demands that groups and citizens make of all politicians from school trustees through to federal MPs are overwhelming. They simply cannot attend every event or solve every problem. And we should actually be wary of those who habitually sacrifice their own health, families and rejuvenation time to respond to the crisis or ask of the moment as it inevitably leads to harsh words, bad decisions and poor government.