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

‘It always gives you more than one opportunity to prevail’

by Aaron Wherry on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 1:28pm - 4 Comments

Stephane Dion accepts the 2011 Couchiching Award for Leadership in Public Policy.

Reading Couchiching President Gwen Burrows’s good-news letter, the first thought that crossed my mind was how fortunate we are, in a democracy such as Canada, to be allowed to fight for our convictions, safe from any political system threat to our freedom and wellbeing.

How fortunate to be free to accept an award from an independent and non-partisan institution, an institution shaped by a diversity of people – Liberals like me, but also others – Conservatives, New Democrats, Greens…! Men and women who might not have voted for me or supported my policies, but who give me credit for having fought for my ideas, my ideals and my fellow human beings. It is institutions like this that make Canada a better democracy.

Democracy. That is the theme that underlies my address today. You have been kind enough to say that I have showed leadership. What I know for sure is that whatever leadership I might have shown was inspired by the democratic ideal, an ideal that pushed me to fight for a united Canada, a better Canada.

Tags: carbon tax, Couchiching, democracy, policy, public policy, Stéphane Dion

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Anonymous

Dion should now move up to the world level, instead of remaining in local politics. I realize ‘green’ isn’t his only interest but it’s something the world needs help and leadership on and he’s ideal.
Anonymous

While through my various comments here it is quite obvious that I am an unabashed fan of M. Dion one just has to read his speech to see what a genuinely compassionate and truly great man of integrity he is.
Anonymous

Monsieur Dion is a true statesman. No use crying over spilled milk, but one can’t help but wonder what could’ve been. In a democracy, the people are always right, but still… His contribution to the public discourse in this country is without peers in the past couple of decades, as both his allies and adversaries have to admit in all good faith. Let’s hope his contributions continue for a good long while yet.

Félicitations, M. Dion, et continuez votre excellent travail!
Anonymous

What a fantastic speech. And he wrote it himself, unlike most politicians these days.

I still wince when I recall that his opponents attacked his loyalty to Canada because he holds dual citizenship. I