12.18.2014 06:00 PM

In Friday’s Sun: the best of times, the worst of times

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. And this year, the worst moments inadvertently resulted in some of the best moments, too.

As 2015 beckons, and 2014 recedes, Sun News Network asked some of us to assemble some thoughts about the year’s best and worst political moments. As we did so, this thought occurred: in 2014, the best and the worst were inextricably linked.

THE WORST MOMENT: On October 22, 2014, terrorist Michael Zehaf-Bibeau shot and killed Corporal Nathan Cirillo at the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa. Two days before, extremist Martin Couture-Rouleau drove his car into Canadian Armed Forces members in Saint Jean sur Richelieu, killing Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent. The murders of Cirillo and Vincent shocked the nation – and the attack on Parliament Hill left every Parliamentarian shaken. For Canada, that terrible week in October signaled an important change in our politics, and the national mood. Our preoccupation with other issues diminished – and our focus on terrorism, and the just and apposite effort against ISIS, greatly magnified. But out of that grim week came something good, too…

THE BEST MOMENT: Anyone with a passing acquaintance with Question Period comes away disenchanted, or worse. The antics that go on there, on a regular basis, have helped to contribute to too many voters turning away from democracy. But, in the wake of the tragic deaths of Vincent and Cirillo, Parliamentarians – appearing in shock and therefore human – set aside partisan differences and came together. Many of us never thought we would see Messrs. Harper, Mulcair or Trudeau agree on anything. But there they were, embracing one another in the Commons, and appearing – for once – at a loss for words. It showed them in a deeply emotional moment, and it reflected well on them all.

THE BEST DECISION: The decision of Liberal leader Justin Trudeau to eject MPs Scott Andrews and Massimo Pacetti from his caucus in the first week of November could not have been easy. After summarily expelling Liberal Senators from his caucus in January, he did not have many caucus members left to spare. But the allegations of sexual misconduct – coming from victims Trudeau would not identify, about allegations he would not specify – was a singular moment in the young leader’s tenure. There was no political “upside” in making the decision he did – except that it made him look decisive, moral and therefore Prime Ministerial. It was, to date, his finest moment. But out of it came…

THE WORST (IN)DECISION: The inability of Parliamentarians to deal effectively with two cases of alleged sexual harassment – they, the very people who dictate codes of conduct to everyone else – was appalling. It was a disgrace. And, in the wake of Trudeau’s shining moment of clarity, came the muck and grime of accusation and counter-accusation by Opposition MPs. As the affair spiraled ever-downward – and as Andrews and Pacetti remained in a lawless limbo, and their alleged NDP victims were demonized by anonymous sources – Canadians could be forgiven for shaking their collective heads. Only Prime Minister Stephen Harper seemed to emerge unscathed from the sordid mess.

THE COMEBACK: It is hard to point to a single policy decision that accounts for it – but Harper ends the year as many Canadians’ favoured choice for Prime Minister. The polls indeed lie, these days. But many polls, taken together, do not: the Conservatives leader, once a goner, is back in contention.

THE FALLEN-BACK: Thomas Mulcair is no Jack Layton, and Justin Trudeau is no Pierre Trudeau. As Harper (but not his party) has edged upwards, Trudeau (but not his party) has edged down. As the Liberals have grown more popular, New Democrats have become far less so.

All of it makes for a year that was simultaneously inspiring and uninspiring. Let’s hope that 2015 – an election year – sees a lot more of the former, and far less of the latter.

6 Comments

  1. davie says:

    Ah, another one! Okay, I’ll take a crack at this one, too.

    Worst moment: Two soldiers murdered in Central Canada and the federal government uses this to talk up how they keep Canadians safe, and to rationalize legislation that they claim will keep Canadians even safer. Meanwhile, two kids named Fontaine and Harper are attacked, one murdered, one almost murdered, prompting calls for a national inquiry, and this is met by federal government silence. A guy could wonder which Canadians the government is talking about when they say they are keeping Canadians safer.

    Best moment: The people who, knowing some shots had been fired, rushed to help Cirillo, and the construction workers who found and helped the Harper kid in Winnipeg.

    Best decision: NDP leadership people who decided to go prosecuting attorney in question period last spring. It likely will not win an election, but it sure has a few more people looking differently at the NDP leader, and considering his prime ministerial possibilities.

    Worst decision: Speaker’s 2 decisions are a toss up, between rejecting the Green leader’s privilege when she challenged time allocation imposed on major bills, and the handling of the NDP leader’s appeal regarding the answering of questions to enable government accountability. (It’s not called ‘answer period’ – haw haw – gotcha there…)

    Comeback: Conservative Party escaped what could have been a sticky mess by hanging all the election fraud allegations on one local party worker. The judge suggested there ought to be more to it all, but there won’t be. The Conservatives whistled through their Fair Election Act and are ready to run another ethical and clean election campaign.

    Fall back: Elections Canada lost ground with the Fair Elections Act, got very little credence from the trial, and have to be somewhat demoralized. As well, Canadian voters fall back- are losers- because now they get to see the 3 major political parties, knowing what can be done with impunity, turn the upcoming federal election into a grubby, desperate farce.

    (Geez…now I’m in a bad mood…and I didn’t even let get to let loose about well heeled Nova Scotia scions in dental school…)

    • smelter rat says:

      For me the worst decision is the one by the CSC to not ban unlimited solitary confinement in Canada’s prisons, especially for mentally ill people, a la Ashley Smith. Let’s call it what it is – torture.

      • Ronald O'Dowd says:

        smelter rat,

        I seem to remember some guy in your neck of the woods saying categorically that the mentally ill do not belong in prison. Ah yes, his name — the honorable judge, Vic Toews, in a previous work life.

  2. graham watt says:

    There is nothing harder to stop than a trend.That is not good for SH but promising for JT.

  3. Jim Keegan says:

    THE BEST POLITICAL SPIN: Warren’s efforts to turn the (alleged) tawdry sexual misconduct of two Liberal MPs – normally a PR disaster – into Justin Trudeau’s “finest moment”. Brilliant.

    “…..and if the Liberal Party of Canada lasts a thousand years, men will still say ‘This was his finest hour'”.

  4. Blake says:

    Interesting read.

    I believe Justin is doing far better than the latest polls, especially in the GTA where there is a desire for change.

    As long as the Wynne government avoids some huge scandal Toronto and the GTA are going for Justin in huge numbers. Bet on it.

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