It has always been a hallmark of political rhetoric that when her majesty’s government proposes a policy or a plan, her majesty’s loyal opposition must then oppose that plan, poke holes in the concept and debate its shortcomings at as great a length as possible. That is how the parliamentary system we have inherited has worked, unless we find ourselves in times of unique crisis and unity government is the order of the day.
This has proven to be useful, because reasonably often there are shortcomings and holes that need to be explored in any government’s agenda, compromised by realpolitik and bureaucratic agendas as such policies so often tend to be. But lately, it seems, this loyal opposition has gotten a bit out of hand.
Now this observation is not to single out the current opposition or to defend the current governments at provincial or federal levels, because the “oppose at all costs” blinders that seem to be afflicting our political discourse these days seems to spare no one from their effect, and at the federal level at least, we have recent examples of the other party’s approaches and they did not vary appreciably from the present norm.
As useful a part as opposition may play in a parliamentary system, opposition for opposition’s sake games the system for partisan purpose and to no good effect when it places roadblocks to the generally agreed upon good of the nation. Peace, order and good government are the founding Canadian government principles, and digging one’s heels in at every turn on general principle do not forward that agenda.
The issue of the current state of the state regarding opposition and the adoption of good policy by all players was highlighted this week during a visit by Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner, who described the futility of his role in attempting to play the role of honest broker between the various parties at Queen’s Park. Despite all parties having found agreement on a way forward, none could bear to have themselves be seen to be in agreement on something that would make its way into government policy.
Gamesmanship and obfuscation were the hallmarks of the Harper government in opposition, they even published an internal party document on the subject of foiling the government of the day’s agenda at all costs, but they were by no means the inventors of the art form—they just took it to a whole new level.
It is long past time that parties on all sides of the halls of power step back from the temptations of gamesmanship and pure partisan approaches to policy. If something proposed by the government is good policy, then support that policy and tackle the government where its Achilles Heel lies. It is an approach that will lend credibility when the inevitable worm turns and the loyal opposition finds itself in power.
To do otherwise is to sell your political soul for a pittance, while saddling your party’s future with statements from which backing down will prove difficult. In the meantime, we could all use a rest from the mindless partisan drivel that seems to have taken the place of reasoned debate on critical issues that impact Canadian’s everyday lives.
Instead of crafting tidy partisan tirades that poke at the ulcers of our cleavages, of which Canada still has far too many, politicians should spend that time finding innovative and productive policies that will make the lives of Canadians just a little bit better and perhaps forge pathways to solutions to some of the embarrassing blots that stain our national conscience.
