Ontario Liberals need bold rebirth
We Ontario Liberals barely moved the dial. Government fatigue was a strong factor in the defeat of the Wynn Liberals in 2018. But how do you explain a devastating rejection of our party four years later? Even die-hard conservatives would be inclined to admit that Doug Ford and the PCs had not governed with much proficiency or accomplishment. That wasn’t even their reelection pitch.
The NDP have not a lot to be proud of, either. They lost many seats and a significant percentage of the vote. They were the Official Opposition during a tumultuous time and with all the Ford government missteps, the NDP did not lay a glove on them.
What are Ontario Liberals to do? Where do we begin? For two elections in a row, we have not achieved party status and that keeps us systemically challenged. Our participation in the legislature is severely limited, which impacts what information we receive, our contribution to debates and question period and how we can communicate to the public. Eight years is a long time to be in the wilderness.
The usual reflection process is under way in our party, as with other opposition parties. Why did we lose so badly? What was wrong with our policies and platform? Were we too left? Too right? Too centrist? Why did Ontarians decline to vote in such a historical low?
This all dodges the fundamental point. Ontario Liberals did not connect with Ontarians in a vacuum of apathy and failed to make the case as to why people should vote for us. They did not know who we were and neither did we.
Historically, Liberals, federal and provincial, have a lot to be proud of. National unity. Universal health care. Peacekeeping. The Charter of Rights. These things define us as Canadians. We embrace equality, fairness, tolerance and new approaches to new challenges in a courageous way. The Liberal Party must be more than a brand. It must mean something.
Political repudiation, particularly in Canada, is not the end. Dramatic party comebacks are in our tradition. So, where do we go from here? We need to reaffirm why we are Liberals and what we stand for and be champions for what we believe in. We need a Declaration of Principles to make it clear to all what defines us and what we are steadfastly devoted to.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
We Ontario Liberals, recognizing that the world has changed and that dramatic, bold and visionary action is needed on our many existential challenges, declare the following principles to be at the core of the Ontario Liberal Party and we shall champion them:
1 We shall be unrelenting in our commitment to combat climate change and protection of the environment.
2 We will never waver in our commitment to economic fairness, income support when needed, and affordable housing.
3 We will be the protectors of our rights, democracy and its institutions.
4 Our health care system must be properly funded, its workers supported and universal coverage preserved.
5 Our schools, universities and colleges need to have the budgets and tools to give our students the support they need for an unparalleled and successful future.
6 Equality, tolerance and fairness need to be at the core of every government decision.
We see it all around us. The world is floundering and so are we. Great transformation on many levels is needed because we are in a time of crisis. Our leaders need to have vision, courage and determination.
Ontario Liberals need a leader and a clear purpose not only for the party’s future but for the future of our province and our people … and we need to be prepared to win or lose on our principles. People crave for such leadership and when they see it, they will embrace it.