Change in political weather

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come to office riding a wave of optimism and espousing the “sunny ways” of positive politics. The Opposition, under interim leader Rona Ambrose, has responded in kind, promising a more conciliatory tone from the Conservatives.

It’s a refrain we’ve heard before, but we hope both sides are earnest, not because we need a country fill of politicians who can’t stop smiling, but because we might have a rare chance at a better level of political debate.

The country is facing real challenges. They include those of interest to all sides of the political spectrum, from the economy, to security, to health care and taxation. What we need to deal with them is a better climate for debate less filled with negative rhetoric and replaced instead with frank, substantial arguments. A positive tone and collaborative attitude from politicians help foster that debate.

Canadians are intelligent citizens of a country in which people have many different views on the best way to approach problems and issues.

Those who disagree deserve to be heard. The new government will reach its potential by being held to account by media and by opposition parties.

Ambrose has signalled that when the Conservatives express their opposition, it will be on issues of principle rather than needless question-period theatrics.

Reasonable people will disagree about what it is we want to accomplish politically and how we’ll get there — that’s where party lines are drawn.

But if all parties scale back the rhetoric and embrace their own version of “sunny ways,” we might all be glad for the change of weather.