As reported just recently, Andrew Scheer is resigning as leader of the Conservative Party. For those that know me, I’m what is referred to as a small ‘c’ conservative. In some ways very extreme in my views but also someone who takes queues from all political ideologies, not just restricted to one party or another. 

For the past decade, and more, there has been a growing movement towards power for the sake of power as compared to serving the public interest. While Andrew Scheer has had a very distinguished career in Canadian politics, his tenure as the Conservative Party Leader has been predicated on this assumptive premise that the Canadian Parliamentary system should be based on an ‘us-vs-them’ mentality such that the Conservatives must rise to the top irrespective of whether their policies are in the public good or not.

That may be a mischaracterization. People are often different in private when you get to talk to them one on one and you realise that their opinions are more nuanced than what it may seem. However, in point of fact, what matters here is the message that is being conveyed in the public eye, not what they believe in private. 

To say that the public face of the Conservative marketing machine, and by extension the public perspective of Andrew Scheer himself, is toxic would be a mild understatement. 

It would be unfair to lay the entire blame for the Conservative performance in the last election at the feet of Mr. Scheer. Political parties are a mass of political influencers, such as Stephen Harper who still, to the best of my knowledge, is one of the key controlling interests in current Conservative policy and decision making. 

As a Canadian, I’m tired of all the US style politics which is more focused on the exclusive acquisition of power as compared to public service. 

If the last election showed us nothing else, I feel it showed quite clearly that most other Canadians are fed up as well. The political antics of Stephen Harper’s era can no longer be counted on to win elections. And that is a very good thing. My only hope is that it continues.

We need to have real discussions on real issues regardless of which political party is promoting it as part of their agenda. Compromise shouldn’t be considered a four-letter word in the world of politics. Nor should listening and providing critical feedback, without having to resort to the phrase ‘when will the Minister resign?‘

I really do wish the best for Mr. Scheer in his future. I’m sure he is going to do extremely well for himself. But, his stepping down at this time represents a very real possibility for someone new, with the right attitude towards policy and public service to make a real difference. So long as they can separate themselves from the poisoned environment both Harper and Scheer perpetuated and can steer clear of exacerbating this notion that politics should be about power and not service.

Anyone who is in the job for power, shouldn’t be in the job at all.

— Kevin