Meili not helping build Sask. NDP branding
Awkward odyssey through public life raises questions about his leadership
From the day he was chosen five months ago as Saskatchewan’s NDP leader, Ryan Meili’s odyssey through public life has looked awkward.
Frequently disregarding the basic rules of political issue management — relevant, consistent and frequent messaging — Meili has not resonated.
Even on his political persona, there’s a contradiction. The earnest, almost nerdy inner-city physician ministering to society’s disadvantaged gives off a smug “smartest guy in the room” vibe when lecturing others on social justice, his opinions on health policy or his world view, which is significantly to the left of many New Democrats.
The mild-mannered activist, when a medical student in 2001, travelled to Quebec City for the Summit of the Americas protests which, according to CNN, saw 6,000 police officers using water cannons and tear gas “while demonstrators lobbed rocks and bottles at the officers.”
Meili says he was arrested during a “peaceful protest” and received an absolute discharge, which means no criminal record. But it also means he admitted guilt, though he hasn’t explained what part of his peaceful behaviour attracted criminal charges.
Earlier this summer, Dr. Meili also gained notoriety on my radio show when he coined a new expression, “Angry Gormley Listeners.”
This came as he condescendingly lectured me that some of the “campers,” as he called them, at the Legislature’s Indigenous protest camp had been disturbed and “spent their night dealing with angry Gormley listeners who were coming around to the camp.”
Besides the obvious question whether it’s common for total strangers to introduce themselves as “angry Gormley listeners,” this was an odd tack for Meili to take. As an activist, he was surely trained on the protest strategy to pick a target and to “personalize it and polarize it.” But smear jobs are usually the work of political minions, not leaders.
Accomplished leaders keep the base vote strong and unified while simultaneously reaching above it to build bridges by embracing the broader public.
Good leaders don’t overplay their hand, pander to their activist base or behave presumptuously.
Some people come to realize that elected politics is tougher than it looks. It takes a certain personality to empower others and to patiently consult, pull people into the virtuous circle and to finesse agendas and guide outcomes, all the while being humble enough to let others think that they’re the smart ones.
Then there’s image. This week, parade goers in Saskatoon got a look at Dr. Meili, resplendent in shorts and orange Pumas, zipping along on a skateboard.
In an awkward “Stockwell Day wetsuit moment,” the question was asked: a guy in his 40s on a skateboard — is this a serious person? Also query what a medical doctor was doing riding without a helmet on a skateboard.
Political leadership is about brand. In particular, a serious and credible person sets out to confidently convey their ability to manage a disparate team at a high level and to be the CEO of a multi-billiondollar enterprise called Saskatchewan.
It’s difficult to imagine NDP premiers Allan Blakeney, Roy Romanow and Lorne Calvert — all serious and focused people — mugging for the crowd on a skateboard. Ditto for the Saskparty’s Brad Wall or Premier Scott Moe.
Issues management can be rehabilitated by better staff. But something deeper may linger when so few NDP MLAS in the party caucus supported Dr. Meili’s leadership bid.
While this month’s Mainstreet poll shows Saskparty voter support 17 points ahead of the NDP, it also highlights a leadership challenge. Premier Scott Moe, who has led his party just a month longer than Meili has led the NDP, posts a net favorability rating (approval minus disapproval) of plus 23.3 per cent. Meili’s approval rating is minus 6.7 per cent.
Meili can expect to be closely critiqued in the coming months, including by more than a few “Angry Gormley Listeners.”
John Gormley is a broadcaster, lawyer, author and former Progressive Conservative MP whose radio talk show is heard weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on 650 CKOM Saskatoon and 980 CJME Regina.