LES VRAIES AFFAIRES
Eighteen months ago, Quebecers accepted Philippe Couillard’s call to focus on “les vraies affaires” instead of wasting their energies on sterile, even damaging, debates about sovereignty and identity.
In Thursday night’s French-language debate among the leaders of the five major parties contesting the Oct. 19 federal election, some similar choices were on offer. Yes, we heard plenty about what the various leaders would do to improve the economy, even if the brief speaking times allowed little opportunity to go beyond slogans. And yes, the leaders broached important topics like climate change, federal health-care funding contributions, squaring security and civil liberties, Canada’s role in the fight against the Islamic State, and arms sales to human-rights abusing Saudi Arabia. But the evening also offered a stark reminder that there are some issues that are better left alone.
The last thing that any sensible Canadian leader should be aiming to do right now is to reopen the Constitution, but that is what NDP Leader Tom Mulcair effectively proposed in advocating the abolition of the Senate. Please, no. The Senate has had its flaws, both in theory and in recent practice, but an attempt to abolish it right now would be a cure that is worse than the disease. No sooner had the topic been raised than Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe declared that any constitutional talks would have to address Quebec’s (and aboriginals’) demands. Duceppe wasn’t especially advocating Senate reform, but took the opportunity to remind Quebecers that the Constitution was never accepted by the National Assembly, and to make a pitch for independence.
Mulcair has been taking pains to portray himself as a mature, sensible leader; reopening the Constitution would be reckless.
Then, there was the niqab. In that discussion, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and Duceppe were trying to score points with the distressingly high proportion of Quebecers and other Canadians who believe that the face-covering garment should not be worn at citizenship ceremonies, and in so doing, fanning the flames of fear and intolerance. Fortunately, though, rights issues in this country are dealt with in the courts, not by opinion poll. Still, it was astounding to hear Duceppe suggest that the first thing he would do in Parliament would be to propose an anti-niqab law. Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau were on the right side of this one, as was Green Leader Elizabeth May.
Voters are always faced with an array of policies, promises and personalities to consider when they go to the polls. As we consider our options, let’s focus on “les vraies affaires.”