New opposition

Last weekend didn’t turn out the way we thought. We planned to spend two nights in a rustic cabin on a frozen lake but Mother Nature had other ideas. Thin ice makes everybody nervous.

I had to switch to Plan B. That’s the embarrassing part. I hate to admit it but I spent two days watching the NDP leadership race. At first I tuned in as sort of a joke – you know, the way you get a few laughs by watching city council meetings on cable. 

I thought I might see a local celebrity at the convention but when I innocently scanned the bleachers for a familiar face I got drawn into the unfolding drama.  Like most other Canadians I have been ignoring the NDP since Jack Layton’s death but this little taste of reality TV was tantalizing.

The candidates were strangers to me but the eventual winner, Mr. Mulcair, got a lot of attention. He was promoted as the next Prime Minister and did his best to appear prime ministerial. In spite of his reputation as a pit bull he was a perfect gentleman. He didn’t display any unruly behaviour over the weekend but clearly, Stephen Harper has been served.

Mr. Mulcair refused to perform as anticipated and he didn’t deliver the rollicking oratory everybody expected. His initial thunder was stolen by some overenthusiastic drummers but when he delivered his acceptance speech it was clear the new leader had chosen a more subdued approach. He appeared to be, for want of a better word, somewhat prime ministerial.

By the time the country met the new Leader of the Opposition the battle lines had already been drawn. The Conservatives took the first shot in a press release during the convention. They called their new political foe an opportunist with blind ambition and a divisive personality.

The role of Debbie Downer was played by Conservative MP James Moore who was attending the convention as an invited guest and observer. Mr. Moore repaid the courtesy by smearing the new NDP leader as a prickly, grizzled old crank and labeling the party as a bunch of high taxing, soft on crime, job killing hacks. That’s gratitude for you. 

Conservatives never pass up an opportunity to stick a finger in their opponent’s eye. Mr. Mulcair has been served right back. It looks like business as usual.

Mr. Mulcair didn’t seem bothered by the name-calling, at least not yet but he will get his chance to defend himself in Parliament. Some say the PM has met his match. Time will tell.

Now let me see if I have this straight. The NDP, under Thomas Mulcair, will be attacking the Conservatives and the Liberals. 

The Conservatives, led by Steve the terrible, have already stepped up their attacks on the Liberals and the NDP.  The Liberals are forced to take their medicine but they won’t disappear quietly and would love another title shot. It’s more exciting than ultimate fighting.

As feeble as they have become, the smattering of Liberal guests at the convention still took their licks at their NDP hosts.

They were quick to point out the low voter turnout among card-carrying NDPs although they were much nicer about it than James Moore.
Mr. Harper was preoccupied during the convention but he will soon be back in the house to personally welcome the new Leader of the Opposition. 

I’m sure he left instructions for his henchmen to soften up Mr. Mulcair until he gets back to finish him off.

Mr. Harper still has the coalition card up his sleeve. He already has the country spooked by the prospect of the Liberals and NDP getting back together formally or otherwise. The PM will double dog dare the opposition to do it again.  Will they take the bait or call his bluff?

It just so happens that Thunder Bay has two silent party members representing us in the House of Commons. 

I briefly saw one of them in the crowd on the weekend but alas, he wasn’t interviewed by Peter Mansbridge. It will be interesting to see how our MPs behave themselves now that they have been given a sniff of power. Will they be forgiven their past transgressions?

As for the Prime Minister, he knows there is a new challenge in the House. Will he be able to handle the new Leader of the Opposition or just like our March fishing trip, will he soon find himself standing on thin ice?