The Leadership Question

 

Yasser Harrak

Martin Chemers - a prominent social psychologist - describes leadership as "a process of social influence in which a person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Political leadership is not about  strong rulers who dictate others. It is about a leader who engages others in reaching a common goal. A national leader is that person who puts the national unity and the territorial integrity of his country in the top of priorities. In lights of this we can understand a lot about leadership based on what is found in the record of the main political opponents running to lead Canada in the 2015 federal elections.

Pro Harper broadcaster Ezra Levant - who hosted a daily program on the Sun News Network from the channel's inception in 2011 until its demise in 2015 - made fun in several occasions of Justin Trudeau's emphasis on engaging others in the political process. The conservative Party leader Stephen Harper even failed in engaging his own MPs who represent the voice of citizens. Ex-Conservative Eve Adams joined the Liberal Party describing the conservative leadership as a "mean-spirited leadership". Ordinary citizens can try themselves expressing their concerns to a conservative MP or minister. It is more likely that they will get an auto reply with no follow up rather than having someone engage in dealing with their concerns. When it comes to media, according to the Hill Times' Laura Ryckewaert, Soon after Mr. Harper won power, the Prime Minister's staff started deciding which reporters could ask questions, skipping those they suspected weren't in the government's favor. Mr. Harper ,inspired by the worst form of conservatism, seems to engage one man only in the political process, and that is the man he sees in the mirror every morning. 

There is nothing wrong about the fact that the NDP leader Thomas Mulcair has dual citizenship and is both a Canadian citizen and a French citizen. What worries Canadians is the fact that he expressed readiness - if he wins in the upcoming elections - to negotiate the separation of Quebec from Canada with a 51% yes vote.  Reiterating his support for this NDP policy that eases the path for Quebec to split from the rest of Canada in the start of elections campaign suggest that Mr. Mulcair's goal is to be elected as the prime minister of Canada with or without Quebec.  The conservatives and the leftists are half way into breaking this country. Phase one was completed when the conservatives recognized Quebec as a nation. Phase two will be completed after the NDP forms a government and Quebecers vote 51% yes for independence.  Breaking this wonderful country called Canada now is easier than ever given the set precedence by the conservatives to recognize communities leaving in Canada as nations. Recognizing French Canadians as a nation in Quebec opens the door for recognizing Ukrainian Canadians as a nation in Alberta, or perhaps recognizing Scottish Canadians as a nation in the Maritimes one day. It will be just a matter of a 51% vote for independence and an NDP government in Ottawa. The conservatives did what they could to break Canada psychologically through the politics of fear by exploiting selected tragic themes from the history of humanity. They exploited current themes such as international terrorism to fulfill the dream of militarizing the Canadian economy and becoming a major exporter of bombs, tanks and even soldiers. Mr. Harper’s team did what they could to break Canada psychologically through the politics of “us and them” and the politics of “brownies and whities” that prove to Canadians especially those of color that they were right every time they voted for the liberals.  At the end, no one would expect the party of  “brownies and whities” to recommend someone like Michaëlle Jean to Queen Elizabeth II for appointment as the sovereign's viceroy. 

 Mr. Harper served the Quebec separatists' agenda to the degree that led Pierre Karl Péladeau - head of the Parti Québécois - provide the demised conservative channel Sun News Network with unprecedented support. The Sun News Network project was very similar to the American Fox News in terms of ideology and mandate.  Important Quebec separatist politicians like Mr. Péladeau , former CEO of Vidéotron,  would not support a federal politician like  Stephen Harper except if they help in advancing the separatist cause.  

For the Balkanization of Canada, Stephen Harper has proven ready to recognize nations within this country and Thomas Muclair has vowed to let every nation in Canada get away with a 51% yes vote. Justin Trudeau , on the other hand, and the liberals’ commitment in general to a strong ,united, and inclusive Canada is beyond questioning. Justin Trudeau’s success in making everyone in his team feel special made members of other parties leave the mean-spirited leadership to come and join the engaging leadership. 

National leadership as defined through engaging others and holding one’s country united and strong makes Justin Trudeau the only reasonable choice for those who will cast their vote in October 2015.  Those who are committed not to risk dividing this great country and who are willing to regain the citizen’s sovereignty have no other choice I am afraid.