If the name "Michael Ignatieff" sounds familiar to Americans, it's because he was at Harvard for some time. He came back to Canada a couple of years ago, sucked back home by a power vacuum in the Liberal party. He's served his penance for his American credentials--as Deputy Liberal Leader to Dion (a smart man without an ounce of political charm who bears an odd resemblance to my father, but that's another story).
Now that we know who the players are, we can go back to the message.
So attention, coalition or splintered members thereof: here is your message.
In times like these, Canadians deserve politicians who work together to get things done. We propose these concrete measures that complement the actions of the U.S. "car czar" and these others that will ensure that Canadian pensions are protected. To protect what we consider to be fundamental human rights, we put into place these incentives and investments in healthcare and safe water. And while we're at it, we'll fund incentives so that individuals and companies that re-tool their lives with green technologies get a tax break.
And here's what you don't say, even though it's true: Stephen Harper's divisive rhetoric and "us vs. them" mentality is so five minutes ago. (Rather like the phrase "five minutes ago.") Both main parties have made mistakes in the past, and even the Ontario NDP didn't perform too well when it woke up and found itself in charge. Sure, we would be in better fiscal shape if Harper hadn't spent the surplus, but the Liberals didn't invest a whole lot in infrastructure or energy research. Let's just say that fingers can be pointed all day.
Seriously, we don't have the time nor the energy to care about the past.
These past few weeks have been difficult for Canadian politicians in Ottawa and in the provinces. But compared to the rest of us, you've had it easy. We gave you guaranteed jobs. Now do them--get to work for us.
