It was an interesting week in politics, for those that find politics interesting, as we should. Red Deer appears to have set a national record for attendance at a political gathering with the UCP annual members’ convention at Westerner Park. This included a leadership review. There was 91.5 per cent support by members for Premier Smith, outdoing NDP Leader Nenshi’s 86 per cent first ballot results in his recent leadership contest. The Premier was not running against anyone, unlike Nenshi, just against expectations. Nonetheless, 91 per cent seems pretty good by any standards.
Days later, the US Presidential election made history of its own with President Trump’s return to power. A garbage truck, an SNL appearance, a hit song about eating cats and dogs - few can outdo the showmanship (almost show-womanship) of US politics.
Truth be told, both results made it a not so good week for Prime Minister Trudeau. He has had a few of those of late, although Trump’s criminal convictions and the assassination attempts (plural!) would make most sane people run in the other direction from public service. When they get around to printing the DSM-6 guide to psychiatric conditions, running for political leadership could be up for classification as a new psychiatric disorder.
In the ol’ days (I am not deluded in thinking they were “good” in comparison), being diagnosed with the few psychiatric conditions then listed was considered a negative. Nowadays self-diagnosing a good half dozen or so conditions seems normal (which might suggest there are too many labels). People will freely kill themselves through drug and other addictions, so leadership addiction might be a better condition of the choices. At least we, the citizens upholding democracies, can vote an individual out of this illness, especially if they become disruptive to society, in true democratic fashion.
A running theme at the UCP Convention was “less Ottawa”. At least implied in that, and more often expressed, was - “less* (*sometimes a stronger word) Trudeau”. His father passed the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Alberta Bill of Rights introduced at the convention could have been briefer with a Freedom from Trudeau clause. Bringing history full circle.
In the late 1970s, I moved west with my mother and siblings from Quebec’s Trudeaumania to Alberta’s Trudeau visit with his middle finger salute, and realized that sometimes our politicians are the most divisive citizens among us. Trudeau Part 2 has seemed as divisive for the country, including the foreseeable inevitable backlash from voters. Need we even bother to hold a federal vote? The playbook seems written.
President Trump gets to be his own Part 2. VP Kamala Harris lived in Montreal for a while so might relate to Trudeau and Canada. Trump is, shall we say, not fond of Trudeau, and it seems like Canada is going to pay a price. Alienating the leaders in the west and to the south may not bode well.
The old Confucius curse: “May you live in interesting times” is the first to come to mind, when you consider politics of late. I decided to fact check this quote. Apparently it was not from Confucius’ lips, not even Chinese, but an English saying falsely attributed. That it actually is in English should have been the first hint perhaps.
Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, was also a politician (think Polievre) and teacher (think Trudeau). I don’t imagine philosophizing pays anyone’s bills now or then. Thinking is not something our society seems to value, unless you set it to some good rap music or create a meme. Unless it is more fake news, Confucius said this best: “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” Ain’t it the truth.
Donna Purcell, KC, (aka Lady Justice) is an Alberta lawyer and Chief Innovation Officer with Donna Purcell QC Law. If you have legal questions, contact dpurcell@dpqclaw.com.
