Justifying the Liberal party’s existence

By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 9:00 AM - 0 Comments

Michael Den Tandt proposes a dozen policy directions for the Liberal party.

Make the first $25,000 of income for anyone earning their livelihood as artist, or a farmer, tax-free…

Design a system of proportional representation, perhaps based on the Australian model, that works for Canada. Draft accountability reforms that restore the traditional powers of MPs in the House of Commons, and that cannot be scrapped or ignored if you get back into power…

Declare that the Indian Act is racist, an abomination in modern Canada. Dedicate yourself to its speedy and complete abolition in a way that respects First Nations concerns about losing even more than they’ve already lost. Wherever possible, and if local people approve, give title to existing reserve lands to the people who live on the land, to do with as they please.

Politics and violence

By Aaron Wherry - Friday, September 7, 2012 at 4:38 PM - 0 Comments

Jonathan Kay cautions against finding too much political significance in the shooting outside the Parti Quebecois victory rally this week. Michael Den Tandt says you can’t separate politics from the crime. Montreal’s Saint Jean Baptiste Society says the English media is partly to blame.

The Globe editorial board calls the shooting “an attack on the Canadian belief in the primacy of discussion and debate.” The Montreal Gazette quotes a reader.

A letter-writer to The Gazette puts it equally eloquently: “I would propose that all Quebecers become honourary members of the Parti Québécois for a day to show solidarity and respect for the democratic principles upon which our political system functions and, I am sure, are fully espoused by the overwhelming majority of Quebecers. Our hearts go out to the families of the deceased and injured as well as to all PQ supporters, who duly elected their party to govern in Quebec. All Quebecers must denounce such acts and advance the healing process by standing together with the PQ at this critical hour.”

The laying on of hands

By Aaron Wherry - Monday, August 20, 2012 at 11:53 AM - 0 Comments

Justin Trudeau shakes hands with Michael Den Tandt.

Trudeau entered this potential career ender, not to huzzahs and acclaim, but battling for the nomination against fellow Liberals. He won the nomination by knocking on doors and standing in metro stations, selling party membership cards, says Luc Cousineau, the riding association president. “Justin was organized. He worked hard.” Come election time, he did the same. In 2011 he extended his margin of victory. “It’s being present at 7 in the morning and sometimes at 10 or 11 at night, for the whole of the campaign,” says Cousineau. “It’s going door-to-door, doing interviews, pressing the flesh. These are the things good politicians do. He does it. He’s very good at it.”

How good? Justin Trudeau does not shake your hand; he inhabits it. The wrist cocks out and up, the fingertips down; the elbow shoots off to his right; the shoulder rises slightly. Then a friendly grin dawns as he delivers a firm but not crushing grip, looking you in the eye, with a twinkle in his own. The effect is of someone who is warm, slightly embarrassed by the fuss, almost goofy, and genuinely happy to meet you. It is likely that some of this is practised; he would have spent his early social years deflecting other peoples’ preconceived ideas about class and snobbery. Either way, it is effective. The man is genuinely, immensely likable.

Schoolyard tripe! Poisonous! Demeaning! Anti-American!

By Aaron Wherry - Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 12:07 PM - 93 Comments

The critics are raving. Continue…