The sky has not fallen

In the aftermath of the recent federal election, I was struck by the number of comments from friends and colleagues expressing shock, disgust and disbelief at the results. A number of people seem to believe that Canadians entered a state of temporarily insanity or were somehow tricked into voting a majority Conservative government, something that I strongly don't believe to be the case.

The sky has not fallen. On the eve of his electoral victory, Harper did not finally reveal his dastardly plan to repeal gay marriage, outlaw abortion and generally declare a military state as some of the fear-mongering would have had you believe. In fact, conversely, Harper made what many commenters on both sides of the aisle are calling his most prime-ministerial speach to date. His tone was conciliatory, he made a point of congratulating his opponents and of speaking about working together with the opposition for a better Canada both for those who voted for him and those who did not.

This has been a surprisingly eventful and historic election after many, myself included, initially predicted little or no change to the make up of parliament. Despite my earlier critical posts of the NDP, I think Jack Layton deserves strong congratulations for an unprecedented win for his party placing them in a position to behave admirably as a strong and thoughtful opposition.

Equally, if not more remarkably, this election has rung the death knell of the Bloc Quebecois. I see this as a profound victory for Canada, and for Quebec as well. It shows a mature electorate invested in building a country together that will be better for all Canadians and hopefully putting to bed the pettiness of the past. Congratulations to Quebec and to the NDP in their mutual victories.

Finally, as I initially mentioned, the Conservatives have been granted a majority and I repeat this is not due to Canadians somehow being tricked, but rather is due in large part to the shrewdness of Stephen Harper and what have been for the most part quite centrist policies. I do not pretend to admire or support some of his actions regarding contempt of parliament or the press, but I do believe that the majority of his policy decisions have not been indicative of a hard right government and certainly not one beholden to social conservatives.

My dream for the next session of parliament is one in which Harper strikes a more conciliatory tone, not because he has to, but because it would cement his reputation and just maybe lay to rest the wild accusations that arise from time to time. I hope that Layton and many of his very young and inexperienced MPs make use of their historic opportunity to influence the government neither through petty fighting nor ankle-biting, but instead through the kind of sober collaboration evident in the First Nations apology that he and Harper worked on together. I hope for a Liberal party that takes this loss as an opportunity for renewal, a chance to finally lay to rest the detestable notion of being a "natural governing party", a title that no party in Canada deserves. Rather, perhaps, a vibrant renewal of ideas, policy, and candidates will lead to a party that will be more representative of Canadians and one that can reclaim the nobility of ideals that the party has held in the past.

Ladies and gentlemen, the sky has not fallen. In fact, if all parties, leaders, and MPs make the most of this opportunity, we might just bear witness to a refreshing wind of change that will restore the pride of a nation to the chambers of parliament, once more demonstrating the vibrancy and beauty of a truly democratic nation.