SOMETIMES, the only way to understand Parliament is to see it as political theatre. It has a serious purpose of course, where the government is accountable, laws are made and political ideas clash.
But it is also where Canada’s national political actors strut their stuff, trying to give life and form to the public opinion they represent.
Ironically, the political theatre often becomes most effective in the dying days of a parliamentary session when the theatre of the absurd takes over. Political partisans crank up the antics to draw final attention to their causes before the lights go out.
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These final, desperate pranks often tell much about what ails the political system, even if they are a bit over the top.
Last week, as the parliamentary session wound down and the long summer break started, the circus moved onto Parliament Hill. And through the antics, some truths were visible.
Tuesday noon: MPs staged an anti-Senate rally on Parliament Hill, complete with an actor dressed as a “senator” hard at work asleep. It was silly but there was a visible truth: for all its worthy members, the Senate is a democratic eyesore that must be changed.
Wednesday morning: two Prairie Reform MPs staged some theatre by setting up a television in front of the Liberal caucus room where all government MPs would have to pass. It showed scenes of southern prairie flooding.
The visible truth: the Liberals have been slow to react to the tragedy of more than three million prairie farm acres under water. Once again, agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief has shown himself uncomfortable with the political game and stupidly partisan in his decisions to exclude rival politicians from flood aid talks.
Wednesday morning: Manitoba Reformer Jake Hoeppner announced he would challenge Preston Manning’s leadership. The visible truth: Hoeppner is not a serious challenger but Manning has weakened his core by writing off the party before many partisans are ready.
Wednesday, 2:50 p.m.: Manning leads his caucus in a retreat from the House of Commons after prime minister Jean ChrŽtien refuses to produce evidence that he is not guilty of conflict of interest in government grants to local supporters.
It is a staged event but there is a visible truth: ChrŽtien’s defence of his integrity, like the entire performance of his post-election second government, has relied so much on “trust me” and so little on “here is what we are doing” that he appears more like a caretaker than an engaged politician worthy of respect.
Wednesday, 3:10 p.m.: NDP leader Alexa McDonough chastises B.C. maverick MP Svend Robinson because he did his job and presented a petition from 1,000 Canadians calling for God to be taken out of the constitution. McDonough says it is inappropriate and the NDP believes in God.
The visible truth: The NDP have become so politically irrelevant in this Parliament that the “God” episode is one of the best media events in weeks.
Now, Parliament is adjourned for the summer. MPs return home to tell voters the truth as they see it.
Watch for the visible truths behind the rhetorical theatrics.
