PM must set better example

As a Canadian, I was deeply saddened by a recent exchange in the House of Commons between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of the opposition.

Trudeau said, “Conservative Party members can stand with people who wave swastikas. They can stand with people who wave the Confederate flag.”

In fact, interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen had delivered this message to protestors: “Please remain peaceful. Call out and denounce any acts of hate, racism, intolerance or violence.”

In response to Trudeau’s statement, Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman, herself a descendant of Holocaust survivors, asked for an apology but did not receive one. Her colleague Dane Lloyd asked Trudeau for an apology three more times but he simply responded by going off on political rants each time.

In discussing this issue with my

Grade 12 students, I stated, “You will be voting in the next federal election. We, as Canadians, have a right to expect more civil and respectful behavior from our elected representatives.”

In fact, even though our Parliament has always had the appearance of an unruly classroom, Canadian politicians have traditionally been civil toward each other.

I remember being very moved when Justin Trudeau delivered the eulogy at his father Pierre’s funeral in 2000.

He spoke of how his father corrected him as a child when he made and unkind comment about another MP. In French, Justin told how his father explained that we can disagree on issues but one must always respect the person. Pierre then introduced his son to the person he’d derided and his daughter, and Justin found them to be very kind, pleasant and congenial.

Canada has become a great country not because any of our leaders were perfect, not because any one person or any political party had all the right answers, but because we listened to and respected one another. This ideal has resulted in much good legislation in our Parliament.

As a country, our diversity is our greatest strength. It is by listening to each other that we generate our best ideas.

It is important to expect exemplary behavior from our elected representatives and we also need to demonstrate it ourselves.

Disagree with ideas, but always respect the person. That is the Canadian way.