Earlier this month, Paul Martin Jr. was transformed from heir apparent to ruler of Canada’s Liberal party. His swearing in was a Christmas present for some, and a “bah, humbug” for others.
In becoming prime minister, Martin made some ambitious yet appropriate promises. For example, he’ll pay more attention to the West, First Nations people and cities. He symbolized those commitments at his inauguration. He was “smudged” by a First Nations elder in an act of cleansing before he took his oath. He appointed two westerners to the most senior cabinet posts. The whole process really looked promising.
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Yet Martin is facing some hard political and human realities and he is sending mixed signals.
The political reality is that he has chosen to champion causes that are unpopular in many places. Consider a new emphasis on Western Canada. Power normally resides at the centre of our nation, the industrial heartland of Ontario and Quebec. The heartland is where the campaign dollars reside, the dollars Martin will need for the next election. If he pays serious attention to the hinterland of the Prairies, will he still enjoy the support of the heartland?
It is also important to note that paying more attention to the West is not the same as being more concerned about agriculture. Martin can be more western by focusing on the wishes of Calgary’s oil barons while ignoring farmers.
And in valuing the people and traditions of First Nations, he has chosen to side with those whom many Canadians feel have received too much already.
Martin must also deal with the basic human resistance to change. Medical people call it homeostasis, the body’s stubborn persistence in wanting to balance things out, to keep us as we are. “Better the devil we know than the devil we don’t,” people say. At least the known evil is predictable; it is the unknown, the unpredictable, that is truly frightening.
Even if Martin delivers on his promises, will Canadians be able to cope with the change? Or will we be cynically suspicious, making it harder for change to occur?
Has Martin pledged more than he can accomplish, or really cares to?
If so, is he raising false expectation and disillusioning those in whom he seems interested?
He may have. Especially when we consider his first official actions – cancelling major spending. He also confirmed tax breaks for major corporations, the kinds of companies Ed Broadbent used to call corporate welfare bums.
Is Martin’s real agenda business as usual or more for business?
Perhaps Martin can continue to uphold the values he has espoused, and build a moral economy where every voice is given consideration and the needs of all are balanced. If so, his arrival may be the Christmas present that thrills us throughout the year. If not, he may be the Grinch of 2003.
Rob Brown is a United Church minister now engaged in graduate studies on ethics. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of The Western Producer.
