Time to put country before party
Justin Ling, Toronto Star
Justin Ling, Toronto Star journalist writes a superb article suggesting Prime Minister Mark Carney should prioritize country over party and avoid following Justin Trudeaus parliamentary playbook.
Carney won the election but failed to secure a majority, leaving Canada divided on key issues such as Donald Trump’s influence and economic challenges.
Ling suggests Carney should consider enacting the actions below to give Canadians a more success government than any the nation has had before.
He should empower Liberal MPs to debate and shape policy, even if they occasionally vote against his legislation. There is a good chance they might suggest policy ideas that are good for the country though they deviate from the Liberal party line.
Next, Ling suggests Carney actually form a ‘union government’ united with other parties so that the country has a government united in effort rather than one divided into political factions. If that is too extreme for consideration, he form a coalition with the NDP, offering them a cabinet post instead of just a confidence-and-supply agreement, thereby ensuring more committed support from an outlying party with enough seats to give the Liberals a majority.
Then he suggests Carney grant the NDP and Greens recognized party status, giving them more resources and in this way likely ensuring that they will be committed to working with the Liberals rather than opposing them as opposition MP’s.
After that, Carney should consider electoral reform referendum to address the flaws of Canada’s first-past-the-post system. As is, elections in Canada are distorted because of our first past-the post election process. Voters who want to cast their ballot for the NDP, Green, Bloc Quebecois or even the People’s Party are cajoled into voting for one of the two major parties out of fear of wasting their vote.
Then Carney should consider that creation of an all-party cabinet committee to unify Canada’s response to threats from the Trump administration. Canada presenting a united front is the best defence against Trump’s economic attacks and political ambitions.
Finally, Carney could consider strengthening parliamentary democracy by allowing opposition parties more power to introduce and amend legislation. Again, rather than fighting opposition parties, the government would have them supporting the government as they would be seen as a vital component of new legislative ideas.
Ling’s article is a proposal where government would be more democratic, collaborative, and constructive tackling Canada’s challenges more effectively. However, he is an idealist as the politicians we have are members of the old school, arguably in it for themselves more than for the nation.
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Read the full Justin Ling article -> TORSTAR
