Bridging the Gap

Above policy and the particulars of a campaign, there needs to be a theme that can be clearly communicated, an overall message that sets the course for all further discussions. For The Liberal Party of Canada, I think that theme should be “Bridging the Gap”.

As I talk with my friends and neighbours about the state of our country and the challenges we’re facing, I’m becoming more and more aware of a distance between all of us. We’re being encouraged to set ourselves apart as separate demographic groups, or regions, and forget the shared greatness that we have as a country. Rural citizens are being told that Urban voters are against them, taking away their rights and programs that protect them. People living in the northern part of the country feel distant and estranged from their southern counterparts. Quebec is told that the rules are different for them than they are for the other provinces, while some accuse  Alberta of bringing harm to Ontario by simply having a prosperous resource economy. All of this divides us against ourselves, and makes it difficult to address the real issues.

Instead of relying on a politics of division and alienation, we need to be the party that brings the different groups back together.

  • The partnership between rural and urban citizens is fundamental to our overall success, and the Federal government should work to make sure that the partnership has the infrastructure and support needed to thrive.
  • The challenges faced by Northern residents are markedly different, and the Federal government needs to acknowledge those differences with informed policy and collaboration.
  • The Federal government must make it very clear that Quebec has a distinct but equal part in the future of Canada, and the rules that apply to them apply equally to all.
  • The Federal government should work with Alberta, and any other region that enjoys resource-based prosperity, to ensure that future development meets the paired goals of economic benefit and environmental responsibility.
  • And the Federal government must remember the legal and moral obligation Canada has to honour the treaties and rights of the First Nations. As Canadians, we all share the responsibility to uphold the promises that our leaders of past generations gave to the First Nations people. We also have to recognize that, in making good on our promises to the First Nations, we create conditions of prosperity that will benefit not only the First Nations people, but all of Canada.

We are all made stronger by our collective effort, and when the country of Canada is united, we are a nation that can accomplish great things.

From One dad to another

Time. The one thing every parent wants more of. You want to devote every waking moment of your life to your kids, but you know that there are other needs and obligations that you have to meet. I’m lucky to spend as much time as I do with my 4-year-old Max, but I feel the pull of other demands on my time as I fight to maintain balance.  It’s tricky, because I know that my other pursuits make me a better parent, even though they take me away from direct parenting.

I can only imagine the degree of stress that a dad like Justin Trudeau is under. His kids are 3 and 5, so he’s seeing the same creativity and growth in his kids that I’m seeing with Max, and it makes spending time with them wonderful. Justin’s job as an MP has already taken time away from his family, and running in the leadership race would keep him away from home for months.I think I understand how difficult the decision to run, or not to run, must be.  He wants to give his children the best of himself, to nurture and care for them and share the experience of learning about the world and themselves. He wants to care for and support his wife, and share the work involved in raising two young children. He wants to be there for them.

But he also knows that dads have a duty to do the work that needs doing. He knows that dads have to help make the world a better place, not just for their own kids, but for all kids. Dads have to set the example. Dads have to lead.

It’s a hard choice to make, especially with the massive crowd of people asking and pleading with him to run, and I won’t add my voice to that. I support Justin, no matter what decision he makes. And if his travels take him to southwestern Ontario, Max and I would be glad to host a playdate for the kids.

Naming Rights

With the expiration of the first naming rights contract for our downtown arena, we say goodbye to the name “John Labatt centre” and hello to “Budwieser Gardens”. The name change has brought some sounds of displeasure and unhappiness from some of the city’s residents, and I understand their dislike of the new name.It isn’t a great name, and certainly has no historical or cultural connection to our city. The local Labatt brewery (which is owned by Belgian-based mutli-national brewing conglomeration Interbrew) does brew a lot of Budwieser (a brand originally brewed in the U.S. and still strongly identified as an American beer) but that’s hardly a great wellspring of civic pride and identity.

You might argue that the citizens have a right to decide on the name of the arena: the city did invest a considerable amount of taxpayer money, directly and through reduced costs to the builder, towards the building.  The argument is valid, as long as you keep in mind that the naming rights are worth a lot of money. To keep the right to name the facility would cost the community upwards of a million dollars a year (a very rough estimate). With a tight budget and an aversion to raising taxes, that million dollars is sorely needed revenue.

But consider this: what if the citizens had a way to buy the naming rights themselves?  The online funding platforms like Kickstarter and indiegogo making it possible for anyone to organize and start raising money for a project. The idea itself is an old one-communities used to fund almost every capital project through the issuance of municipal bonds.In this case, you set the goal amount and a deadline, and start asking for cash. If you hit the goal, then the naming rights are yours. If not, then the community has spoken.

This might be an idea to consider for the various capital projects that are being talked about around the city, like the construction of a new performing arts center. A kickstarter project that raised 25% of the total cost would speak more loudly about the community’s desire to have the facility built than any one meeting or rally could.