Why I would support Trudeau in an election — again

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/11/2024 (480 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I sincerely wish Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would graciously step aside and make room for someone else to serve in the prime minister’s position and as leader of the Liberal party.

However, if he does not, I will vote for the Liberal party again because the alternatives are not appealing.

I will vote on their record despite its many shortcomings. I will vote for their platform, unless they do a reversal, on the issues I think we Canadians should care about. I will vote for my local current member of Parliament because of his personal and political integrity. I will do so even though I believe Trudeau has made some serious errors in judgment.

I have always believed we should have term appointments for politicians and that no politician should serve more than two terms in office. I do know that not many people will get the opportunity to be prime minister, or even serve in any elected government capacity. I also know that some people serve us so well that we hate to give them up.

However, surely in a country of over 40 million people, there are many more people who are capable of being prime minister or MPs, and some very competent people willing to do so for the right reasons.

Finally, I have reservations about career politicians being able to put their personal ambitions aside for the interests of others, their constituents and their country.

It appears that our tendency is to fixate on our governments’ failings and our politicians’ shortcomings, I prefer to celebrate our achievements as reflected in parliamentary initiatives and accomplishments including individual contributions.

Parliaments and prime ministers have demands which seem endless and impossible to satisfy. Indeed, because they often are called upon to appease diametrically opposed interests, they may find themselves in no-win territory. In my view, this Liberal government has served us well in some particularly sensitive and contentious areas, all of which many people might deem disappointments or, worse, broken promises.

Knowing full well that I will miss matters of importance and this list is by no means exhaustive, I nevertheless can think of significant gains in a number of critical areas.

There are seemingly small victories, like diversity and gender equity in cabinet, and support for the rights of LGBTTQ+ people, very meaningful for those directly affected. There are strong beginnings on clean water for First Nations communities.

While much more needs to be done on health care, housing and school construction, much progress has been made in the funding of First Nations education.

These are opening salvos, not nearly what is needed or hoped for, on other justice issues like universal dental care and access to pharmacare. And, whether we like the carbon tax or not, at least it acknowledges an environmental and climate crisis. These are all matters which matter to me, and hopefully to more Canadians than not, and I hope they will remain parts of the Liberal platform.

Contrast that with the platform of the official opposition, the Conservatives whose whole premise is that Canada is “broken.” To remedy that they would defund the CBC, eliminate the Bank of Canada, not attend the G7, and “axe the (carbon) tax,” among other measures which have not worked in the past.

These efforts amount to control of the media, politicizing the central bank, negating globalism and denying global warming. They have made no credible commitment to Indigenous reconciliation and have, without evidence, adopted the American strategy of blaming immigrants for housing shortages, crime and raising the cost of living.

I am always wary of those whose whole strategy is tearing down and making false claims instead of operating from evidence, compassion and truth. I wish it were not so; I really do wish I had the luxury of considering, possibly supporting, an honourable alternative considering what’s at stake, but this platform offers no potential for betterment.

A big disappointment for me from all political parties is the desire to make the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict a partisan political matter, attempting to use them for domestic political gain. I must say I am more comfortable with the Liberal position that the violence against ordinary people, and wanton destruction of health and education infrastructures, in the Middle East must be paused than I am with the Conservative’s call to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites as a way to end the very real threat to Israel from Iran and the terrorist groups it supports.

On the foreign affairs front, I also believe that Trudeau has helped Canada punch way beyond its size at international tables. I must also admit, I was glad to see him stand up to India and China when domestic interference, murder and human rights were on the line and to do so in the face of criticism from the opposition that his actions jeopardized economic relationships.

To my knowledge his presence in the international arena, both aid-wise and trade-wise, is welcome and appreciated.

To be fair, he has exercised poor judgment regarding some of his political friendships — the torpedoed contract with WE and the acceptance of a gift from the Aga Khan are examples.

I also wish he had not sacrificed his marriage on what appears to be a personal choice based on political self-importance. I make no excuses for him.

Finally, unless things change significantly, I will cast my vote for my current Liberal MP who has skilfully navigated the above contentious issues with understanding, integrity, even-handedness and grace. If I am to be represented for what I believe is important to Canada, I can think of no one better. I believe I can do so with eyes wide open and without shame knowing what I know about our political system and its frailties and impossibilities.

Given that our politicians are just fallible humans like the rest of us, I choose to vote for someone who, in spite of his shortcomings and hubris, does not spout negativity, foolishness and animosity when given a public forum.

John R. Wiens is dean emeritus at the faculty of education, University of Manitoba.