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

A man apart

by Aaron Wherry on Thursday, December 2, 2010 1:01pm - 13 Comments

Stobo Sniderman spends a day with Michael Chong.

To this day, Chong has expressed no regret about his resignation. “Canada cannot survive as a jumble of nations. The role of the state is to focus on the qualities that hold us together,” he told me. He does not deny the existence of a Québécois nation, but he thinks the role of the Canadian Parliament is to create a multicultural future, not recognize historical facts. The question is not so much who we were, or even who we are. “The real question is what do we want to be.” Canada grows ever more multicultural and moves ever further from its three founding peoples…

“The nation motion reinforced otherness, increased divides,” he said. “I don’t see it bringing people together. These things have consequences decades down the line.”

Tags: democratic reform, house of commons, Michael Chong, Parliament, Quebec, Québécois, Quebecois nation, Question Period, Stobo Sniderman

More by Aaron Wherry

John D

“I don’t see it bringing people together. These things have consequences decades down the line.”

Won't get anywhere in politics like that kind o' fancy long-term thinkin'.
AM 2010

Chong was right! I would bet that many MPs probably felt the same way but voted instead to stay on the good side of their respective leaders.
Emily

The wrong people are leading the govt.

We need more far-sighted people like Chong doing it.
PeterboroDave

Why is he a Conservative? HOW is he a Conservative?

(Mind you, I don't think he'd fit in with any other party)

Lee_JD

Because he is an actual small-c conservative, and unfortunately there isn't a party to represent those people any more. Maybe he'll become an independent though! He seems popular enough in his riding.

MaggiesFarmboy

Awww, Mr. Chong, please stop making so much sense. It's too much fun nursing past grievances….

National Energy Policy! Churchill Falls! English-speaking staff in Simpson's! C'mon everybody, help me out…who's got another one?
FVerhoeven

“The nation motion reinforced otherness, increased divides,” he said. “I don’t see it bringing people together. These things have consequences decades down the line.”

Actually, the increased divides come about as a result of the contradictory elements within the allocation of "nation". By defining "nation" in this new way, namely by pretending it can be both (a nation and yet not a nation) hollows out the meaning of the form "nation". If we collectively can no longer see forms we must hold in common, unity will be harder to come by.

I was against granting Quebec "nation" status, exactly for the above mentioned reason.
kcm

“The nation motion reinforced otherness, increased divides,” he said. “I don’t see it bringing people together. These things have consequences decades down the line.”

As Bliss said at the time [ para] ' If a Quebec is a nation within Canada , how long will it be before someone wonders how much more of a nation they'll be outside of Canada.' These things have consequences indeed. The Parliament of Canada should be ashamed of its craven resolution that day.

Mike T.

The question had been asked long long before the day.

While the criticisms of the motion are valid, I don't even see it as craven gesturing so much as going along to get along.

kcm

I think i'll stick with craven. As i recall it wasn't even necessary to reply to Duceppe's provocation at all. It was an opportunist move from Harper and cravenism from the libs in particular. It may well blow up in our faces yet. As Dion wisely said at the time : One should not play symbolic politics. Symbols have power and resonance, even if the're often irrational.

SamDavies

Considering the state of uncertainty with public transit in Toronto, I wish Chong would chime in.
He wrote a great article on the need to expand transportation: http://www.michaelchong.ca/articles.asp?ID=120
tedbetts

Trudeau lives! And his name is Michael Chong.
gottabesaid

'These things have consequences decades down the line.'

The only consequences that need consideration by today's party leaders are the ones that will or won't get them elected in a few years time. Further, our party leaders want cheerleaders, not independent thinking individuals like Chong.