One of the very first lessons children learn in kindergarten, and often in preschool too, is to 鈥減lay nice with others鈥�, and the importance of learning how to share toys and play spaces.
Perhaps a class (taught by kindergarteners, maybe?) should be held for the newly-elected MPs of Canada鈥檚 Parliament before they reconvene and begin a new term of governing.
It鈥檚 clear some of the federal leaders don鈥檛 like to play nice, and with the maddening, frustrating results of the federal election, the West will feel more marginalized and ignored than ever before.
The Liberals were not just handed a minority government, which undermines Justin Trudeau鈥檚 declaration that they have been given a 鈥渃lear mandate鈥� (which is obviously not the case), but they were given a sharp, clear message: the West doesn鈥檛 like him, and he had better listen or there could be real trouble brewing in Parliament and in Western Canada.
Trudeau said in his election night speech, in a comment directed at Saskatchewan and Alberta, that he apparently has heard the frustration and promises to work to address those.
Saskatchewan鈥檚 Premier Scott Moe responded that the words are nice, but they need to be backed up with some action to address the real concerns with the policies and actions that the Liberal government have put forward. These are actions that formed the basis of the defeat of long-term MP Ralph Goodale, who up until now had been the sole Liberal MP in this province.
The evidence of Trudeau鈥檚 arrogance and inability to play nice was seen first in the English language leaders debate, when he talked over Andrew Scheer refusing to let him talk or be understood, and then on election night, when he walked up to the podium and began speaking two minutes after Scheer had started his own speech 鈥� very, very rude.
Even kindergarteners know that it鈥檚 important first to be nice, and secondly to take your turn. Clearly lessons on decorum and manners are in order.
On a serious level, however, it鈥檚 not just a matter of decorum in the House of Commons, it will be a matter of Trudeau actually telling the truth for once and actually represent everyone in Canada, not just his buddies in southern Ontario and Quebec who voted him in and decided the election on their own.
The people of Saskatchewan and Alberta are, to the Liberals, a non-entity and disenfranchised, without any representation whatsoever. That cannot stand, and needs to be addressed.
The concerns and needs of the West, which range from a marginalized energy sector that has been openly attacked by most of the parties, to farmers who have not even been mentioned in the campaign, need to be heard, and acted upon.
