COLUMN: View from the Legislature – Canadian leaders demonstrate a better kind of leadership

With the return to Ottawa last week of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and many of those who were in and supported his government, there was a bit of a nostalgic feel in the nation’s capital. Many people, of all political stripes, commented that, regardless of what they felt about the tenure of the Harper government, it did feel like a simpler time. This is probably a common sentiment when people look back at earlier times in their life or career, but there is also some objective truth to the feeling that we are in a world where things that were previously taken for granted no longer seem to be certain.

But quite apart from the feting of the former Harper government, there were other things that were remarkable about the week that spoke well of all political parties in Canada and about the state of Canada itself. At the unveiling of the portrait for former Prime Minister Harper, the current Prime Minister Mark Carney was in attendance and the two shared complimentary comments between them. None of it felt contrived or insincere. Later in the week, Harper sat on a panel with former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien where, again, the discussion was focused on what was good for Canada and not political divides. It is difficult to imagine, in the current environment, a similar event taking place in the United States.

Observers might be quick to add that it is much easier for politicians of different stripes who are not currently elected to engage in these types of discussions that rise above the political fray. And while that may be true, it doesn’t change the fact that they are happening less at a time when we might need them even more.

Not only do they often provide very important strategic considerations, both Harper and Chretien demonstrated that, in their discussion on the current state of relations with the United States, an important signal is sent to Canadians that our political system is based on something greater than pure partisan politics. There was a sense of a greater common good.

It is worth noting that, also last week, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre had an official meeting in the office of Prime Minister Carney were they apparently looked for ways that Parliament could agree and pass a number of initiatives that are important and where there is common ground. Without question, this meeting understandably seemed filled with a bit more partisan tension than exhibited in the others described, but the mere fact that it occurred sent an important and reassuring signal to Canadians that there is some stability in a time that seems particularly unstable.

While the bi-partisan events of last week were not unprecedented, they are not common either. Nor should we expect them to be weekly occurrences. But there is value, and Canadians see the value, of current and former political leaders of different political persuasions getting together and seeking common ground. It does not damage the respective standing of any party but, in the eyes of most Canadians, likely has the effect of increasing the standing of all political leaders and our political system.