Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Hide your ambitions

by Aaron Wherry on Friday, July 2, 2010 4:08pm - 11 Comments

Alison Loat considers Samara’s first report on the MP experience.

More than anything, these narratives may well be important observations on our political culture. Perhaps our politics attracts underdogs. Or maybe we, as citizens, feel more comfortable defining ourselves that way.

The narratives may also indicate that politics is something for which it’s inappropriate to admit ambition, even after the fact. If that’s the case, it’s no wonder that potential candidates don’t generally think about politics, and that they claim to stumble into political life accidentally. This says something about the state of political leadership in Canada.

The Globe editorial board wonders if we don’t need a few more insiders.

Tags: Alison Loat, house of commons, MP, MPs, Ottawa, Parliament, Samara

More by Aaron Wherry

http://intensedebate.com/people/Stewart_Smith Stewart_Smith

I was impressed by Alison Loat's headline

"Many Canadian politicians claim they ran for office quite by accident. What does this say about the state of political leadership in this country?"

It is precise, correct and provocative. It would be great if all researchers accurately distinquished between what their research proves and what it is suggests.
Mike T.

I was born to a family of limited means [immigrant if possible, esp. European] who came to Canada hoping for a better life. I applied myself diligently to my studies [although, you will note, not so much that I would be considered bookish]. Although the path my education and professional life have taken would give the impression I seek money and power for its own sake, in life my chief desire has always been to help and serve others, in a way which glorifies me in a tangential manner only I feel, and which I must say humbles if not downright embarrasses me every time I am praised for my achievements. I have always taken a deep interest in the politics of my country, as a child in fact one of my heroes – along with, and I may be dating myself here, heh heh – [famed hockey player] – was [JOhn Diefenbaker/Lester Pearson/Robert Stanfield/Pierre Trudeau/Tommy Douglas]

Yet never did I feel it would be appropriate for one so perfectly normal, so obviously one of your own, to seek such high office. It was only through the constant and unsolicited urgings of my well paid and extremely influential friends that I first began to consider the idea.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

I particularly enjoyed "so obviously one of your own"

So sincere! :)

Mike T.

Hmmm, the biggest "insiders" have probably been Paul Martin and Peter MacKay, the two most careerist politicians Joe Clark and Stephen Harper. So I'm not sure either factor produces particularly great results.

Anon 001

and the next generation is Justin Trudeau and Pierre Polievre. So not much promise there either.

The Real Jan

Does Polievre come from a political family?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Stewart_Smith Stewart_Smith

I commented on a similar theme in an earlier thread about the Samara report. If one goes through the parliamentary bios, it appears party leaders, the cabinet and the shadow cabinet tend to be much closer to the stereotype. Lots of lawyers, went to politics early, come from political backgrounds etc while the backbenchers are exactly as Samara report reports. This is perhaps a reason why successive Liberal and Conservative governments have treated their backbenchers with disdain, they are distinct populations of politicians.

Wascally Wabbit

Having been a member of a search committee for politcal candidates – it has been fascinating to see potential candidates who appear naturals – strong record of (non political) public service – recognized by the community – declining the invitation – for a variety of reasons – but the most obvious – politics has become such a partisan blood sport – that they did not wish to get into it. The games played by party central offices figures high in the interview responses – leaders parachuting "their choice" candidates into the fray – pushing aside local grassroots choices – really is what makes part members seeth.
I have been critical of the cynicism and opportunism of many "career politicians" – poli-sci grads who go straight from university politics into a member's office and thence into elected positions. How can they possibly understand their communities when they have never had "real life experience"…
Anon

I call BS on Samara's report.

As has been stated by others earlier, I don't think Poilièvre, Baird, Clement or even Harper have done anything in their lives except politics.

Chrétien's recent speech at his portrait unveiling showed his opinion of non-politicial experience.

Say what one will about Paul Martin but he at least led a life and built a business before he entered politics.

The public in poorly served when people likethose Mike T. and Wascally Wabbit describe "decide" to enter the fray. These politicians love to talk about "hard working Canadians, who play by the rules etc." but they have hardly ever actually worked directly with them.

I think the worst example was the Québec election in 2007 when Québecers were presented with three leaders who had never done anyting in their lives but be in politics; Charest, Boisclair and Dumont. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

http://twitter.com/AlisonLoat @AlisonLoat

Hi Anon,

You'd probably enjoy the Globe article, which argues for a balance between "insiders" and 'outsiders." Aaron links to it in his initial post.

Our report was based on two hour, in person, one-on-one interviews with 65 former Members of Parliament who left public life during or just after the 38th and 39th Parliaments. You can see who this included here: http://www.samaracanada.com/Participating_MPs

Save for Paul Martin, none of the MPs you mention participated. Martin, in fact, was one of the few who came from a political family – his father served in the federal cabinet during the 1940s and 1950s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Joseph_James_Martin). So Martin, in fact, grew up quite aware of politics and what it entails.

As Stewart Smith points out above, it'd be interesting to see if there's a distinction between those who serve as MPs widely and those in cabinet. If nothing else, the Samara work highlights how the backgrounds of our MPs are much more varied than is generally considered. Here is the summary of the "Life Before Parliament" section: http://www.samaracanada.com/Life_before_parliamen… and a glance at their careers illustrates this diversity further: http://www.samaracanada.com/Careers_before_Parlia…

Anon

Ms. Loat,

Thanks for for your reply. By calling BS I was maybe being a bit rash. I didn't mean to suggest that your methodology was faulty or even taht the responses you received were manufactured but more that it is just so at odds with much of what can be seen in Ottawa and the almost complete bubble that exists in terms of the "political class" (with a fair bit of media complicity).

Wascally Wabbit's last paragraph describes to a "t" what is a far too common occurance (throw in having been a member of the "Young" whichevers before that).

Of course I know that Paul Martin is the scion of a political family, I just meant that he did something on his own before getting into the "family business."

I agree that there might be some merit to Stewart Smith's point and that might be a good bit for further study by Samara.

Thanks again.