Concerning Mr. Trudeau

                                           By Kenneth Bagnell      

    There’s much that’s good about Justin Trudeau, from his good character to his good manners, and yes his good looks. But recently Mr. Trudeau has revealed one thing that can’t be said of him:  that he’s an expert when it comes to political strategy. His decision to exclude any future candidate for the liberal party in the next election if he or she doesn’t support “pro-choice” (that is a woman’s right to abortion) was not only highly autocratic and deeply divisive, but sets the table for something I’m surprised hasn’t been seriously dealt with by journalists and analysts. I mean this fact: Canadian Catholics have a democratic right to rally the devout and their votes, leaving Mr. Trudeau and party in backwaters, maybe for a long time. To me that’s too bad indeed.

    The lack of media analysis of the impact of the so-called “Catholic vote” in the next election may be due to the waning influence of traditional religion in the public square. Hence less interest from the media. (On the other hand, you’d never know it from the admiring coverage of Pope Francis here and everywhere.) In any case, the fact is that in the last national census, one in three Canadians gave expression to their faith affiliation: Catholic. Their number is not declining, indeed now stands well ahead: by far the largest faith group in the country. Almost 13 million. And as friends who are Catholic priests have underlined for me in my past and present when I’ve been a bit provocative on the issue: abortion is one matter on which the Catholic Church will never change. Never! “Every Catholic,” one Cape Breton priest used to tell me, “is a devout Catholic.”   I can’t help wondering what the Cardinals and Bishops are quietly thinking about, indeed maybe praying about, these days (a) concerning Mr. Trudeau and (b) their counsel and guidance to the faithful as the 2015 federal election nears.

       There are many reasons why his authoritarian decision — so unlike the man he appears to be — are wrong headed. One is that it overlooks the value, indeed in a democracy, the necessity – of philosophic diversity. Back in 1951, one of the most valued economists in American history, Canadian born John Kenneth Galbraith, wrote a book that dealt with economic matters, but applies more broadly. Its subject was “The concept of countervailing power.” In Canadian politics just now, we need to be re-educated to that value – that ideas are to be tested by criticism and debate, thereby sometimes dismissed or accepted but almost always refined. If my failing memory serves – and I go strictly on memory here – a renowned Protestant theologian of the 20^th century Reinhold Niebuhr, (I interviewed him many years ago) put it this way: a church, like a trade union or a political party, should have its right, its left and its center.  Mr. Trudeau — surprising for a Liberal — is working against that clearly wise and reasonable principle. His unfortunate action, has made him appear what he is not: an anti-democratic leader. (We don’t need another — we already have one.)

    One of Mr. Trudeau’s reflective MPs, John McKay of Scarborough, Ontario, did have the courage to speak up telling the media people, “I think a democracy is helpful when you get other views especially in a caucus.” Absolutely. Doesn’t Mr. Trudeau realize that his Draconian measure will bar any devout Catholic from bothering to seek a Liberal nomination to run in a federal election?  (Thus one of the party’s most estimable members from the last caucus, Dan McTeague, (also a committed Catholic) who did great service for young Canadians in trouble abroad, will not  be able to try a comeback for the seat he once held.

        You can’t but wonder what led Justin Trudeau – an honorable man in my view – to this almost no-win policy. In part, it’s because, on this matter, he’s an idealistic person. Moreover the right to choose — as abortion rights activists call it — is to be respected as many current MPs will attest to.  But sad to say, being only honorable is not the doorway to success in politics and especially the forthcoming as “rough-as it – gets” public campaign. I have no outright objection to the now common:  woman’s right to choose.  It should be taken seriously, but I have reservations when it is carried so far it is an absolute, the proverbial litmus test for being permitted simply to stand for public office. It’s as if a sign were posted reading: “No serious Catholics need apply.”

         This has wider implications than are apparent at first glance. One is that Canada’s current political culture demands a new ethical concern, that Justin Trudeau might well have brought.  There is no need to list the evidence to back up the barren nature of ethical sensibility on Parliament Hill. On this matter wise words were spoken many years ago by a great man of parliamentary democracy, India’s Jawaharlal Nehru, when he meditated on political life: “Failure comes,” he said, “when we forget our ideals, objectives and principles…”  That needs no amplification.

     Nonetheless, public life today is vastly different than public life yesterday. Thus moral character – and Mr. Trudeau projects it – is deeply needed. It’s far from a minor aspect of a politician’s life. Nonetheless, it’s not enough. It needs to be accompanied by other qualities, including wisdom, prudence and, yes, shrewd judgment. Years ago, one of Canada’s finest political observers, journalist Richard Gwyn, called American President Jimmy Carter perhaps the most ethical man to hold high office anywhere. Sadly, we know what happened to Jimmy Carter: he didn’t have that second term, the gold standard of approval for US Presidents. Our own political culture is — as most now know in the wake of the scandals — tainted by ever deepening cynicism.  Many of us have seen Justin Trudeau as an antidote to the cynicism of Ottawa’s cynical culture. Maybe there’s still hope. The state of things reminds me of what a now long deceased and quite cynical Toronto PR man once told me about politics: “If you’re a politician, ethics and $2:50  will get you a ride on the subway.”  Tragic.

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All my past blogs are archived on my website: your comments are welcome there: www.kennethbagnell.com.