The Lack Of Political Leadership In Canada Is Appalling

"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things." –Peter Drucker

A few years ago, a young woman named Jane Creba was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between rival gangs in downtown Toronto on Christmas Eve.  She was an innocent bystander doing some last minute Christmas shopping at the Eaton Centre when the shooting erupted.

Understandably, public reaction was both horror and outrage. The government was pressured to do something and then Prime Minister Paul Martin did. Despite the fact that the shooting was gang related and involved illegal weapons; despite the fact that illegal weapons were pouring into the country through any one of the 30% of Canada’s border crossings that were unattended between midnight and six x in the morning. Mr. Martin’s response was to enact the Gun Registry, an unnecessary and pointless piece of legislation that targeted farmers and hunters.

This is typical of what passes for political leadership today.

In Ottawa, legislation is being passed to ban smoking in pubic parks. Meanwhile the same city government that is enforcing this bylaw stands idly by while illegal drug use, physical assaults and rape occur in the Occupy encampment at Confederation Park. The mayor is quick to point out that the park is federal land and passes the buck to the National Capital Commission who remains silent. The Ottawa Police Force does nothing about the crime in the park and focuses instead on cracking down on distracted drivers. The RCMP which patrols federal property is missing in action.

This would be the same mayor who after proposing the naming of the city’s new archive building after former mayor Charlotte Winton, ran for cover when a Jewish group accused her of being anti-Semitic.  Not only did he lack the courage to defend his choice, Mayor Jim Watson lacked the intellect to look up former Mayor Winton’s record. If he had, he would have discovered that not only was she not anti-Semitic, she was named Woman of the Year by the B’nai B’rith in the 60’s.

In Calgary, the mayor sends another warning to the Occupy Calgary movement. Having ignored the first warning without repercussion, it is difficult to believe that anyone believes this second warning is of any use.

In Vancouver, police were caught completely off guard by a riot following a hockey game and the mayor and council of the city ignore the health and safety of its citizens as the current Occupy encampment attracts rats, illegal drug use and violation of city ordinances.

It is the same in cities across Canada and in the United States.

The Premier of Ontario stands silently with a deer in the headlights stare while aboriginal radicals not only occupy private property in Caledonia in defiance of a court order but assault local citizens. The Ontario Provincial Police refuses to enforce the court order.

The list is virtually endless but the point is made. The lack of political leadership in Canada is appalling. These people claimed they were leaders when they ran for office and would defend our laws and our communities. They postured and preened but they have not kept their word. Any idiot can pretend to be a leader when things are smooth. True leadership is how you act when it gets challenging.

Almost to a person, our mayors and premiers have demonstrated a lack of leadership that is not only appalling, it borders on cowardice.

Government is very good at cracking down on and harassing tax payers who for the most part are law abiding citizens. Where the political leadership fails in this country is in its complete unwillingness to get tough on criminals, drug users, protesters and gangs. It takes courage and determination to make our communities safe. Our political leaders have shown they have neither.

I’m tired of the empty promises of mayors and premiers and prime ministers who talk tough but who lack the courage of their convictions. I’m tired to the political gamesmanship and the political correctness that is allowed to interfere with upholding the law.

And I am tired of watching our communities be over run by those who have no respect for them or for the people living in them.

It is a political leadership that has abrogated its responsibilities as leaders, quick for a photo op to take credit for something but which hides at the first sign of difficulty. It would include law enforcement that refuses to enforce court orders or who turn a blind eye to real crime and instead focus on traffic violations. It would include Municipal Health & Safety Officers who are quick to enforce smoking bans but who remain silent on the health and safety issues in Occupy camps. 

We don't have leaders in this country we have mediocre managers masquerading as leaders. We don't need politicians attempting to manage situations, we need real leadership and we need it now more than ever because we aren’t getting it from the people pretending to lead us now.

© 2011 Maggie's Bear
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