When an apology is not an apology

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/10/2023 (712 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

By the time you read this, Manitoba will have made history.

And because the Free Press is the daily record of Manitoba life, let’s carve this into stone.

The people of Manitoba have elected Canada’s first First Nations provincial premier, Wab Kinew. Kinew was sworn in as premier on Oct. 18. Congratulations to Kinew and his new government.

Nobody in Manitoba has mistaken me for an NDP supporter. But I support democracy, and want my Manitoba family to be safe, happy and prosperous. So I want the government to be successful in helping to achieve those goals for all of us.

I make no apologies for beginning our visit with motherhood sentiments. I was a human being for three decades before becoming a political commentator and throughout those years, it didn’t matter to me who governed provincially or federally.

I cared only about my neighbours and whether the government was doing effective public service.

Anyone who comments for a living and only views politics as a bloodsport is missing democracy’s plot. Good government is a necessary vehicle to drive a good society. Anyone who roots for that vehicle to be broken or broken into is doing a disservice to the public that privileges them with their attention.

It’s impossible for this biweekly visit to move forward with provincial politics without tying up loose ends.

The current opposition leader of Manitoba, who was our premier for nearly two years, issued an apology of sorts before exiting her office at the Manitoba legislature for the very last time. Heather Stefanson, in an interview with former Free Press journalist Bartley Kives (now with the CBC) said that she was apologizing for the consequences of some PC campaign advertising.

This is mostly about the infamous billboard with the message promoting the premier’s decision not to search for the remains of two missing and presumed murdered young Indigenous women. (I’m using presumed out of respect for the rule of law. The women were killed. But we only officially call it murder once a trial judge brings down the guilty gavel on the killer.)

The premier may offer a more fulsome apology, if she ever chooses to write about this in a column, or perhaps in her memoirs.

But for now her three-step position is (1) the ugly ad was only about presenting herself as a premier who made a tough decision. (2) She wasn’t part of the creative process for the various ads. “I don’t get into the weeds” were her exact words. (3) There is no apology for the message itself — only for the consequences. Read that as injured sensibilities among Manitobans who saw the ugly message. Being human, they recoiled.

I have read many apologies from public figures.

This one from Heather Stefanson belongs in the Hall of Fame for sterile apologies. She might as well have said, “I’m sorry, if you were offended.” That never works, because the speaker is dodging personal responsibility, shifting blame for the injury on the injured.

Yes, I paid for the matches and gasoline. But I’m sorry if you feel sad about losing your house and pets. The outgoing premier’s apology belongs in that pile of junk. If you were offended by the “Standing Firm” landfill ad, it’s your fault. I’m sorry that you are too weak or too far below me in the food chain to fully comprehend the intent of my important message.

We cannot end this pitiful political chapter in the graceless apology affair, without saying this to the former premier of Manitoba. Ms. Stefanson, I knew your mum and dad.

They did not just praise others for community service. They delivered many services themselves.

They were dedicated to Manitoba and to their children. They imbued in you the value of public service. They also taught you good manners and strong values. They taught you to never dishonour the name of your province, political party, and family.

Someday when you are far away from polls, and Question Period at the legislature, and columns criticizing your actions, you may choose to refine your public thoughts and your Arctic-cold apology. You might say something like this: “I am deeply sorry for having abused the authority Manitobans granted me, by attacking my political opponents in a way that dishonoured the people of my province and my family’s good name.”

Heather Stefanson, thank you and you’re welcome.

Charles Adler is a longtime political commenter and podcaster.

charles@charlesadler.com