A healing prescription for Liberals

By JOHN MANLEY

Thursday, January 26, 2006 Posted at 4:01 AM EST

From Thursday's Globe and Mail



In the aftermath of the elections of 2004 and 2006, Conservatives are savouring a victory, albeit a slim one, that they had not expected to come so soon. Liberals are wondering why and how their dominance of the Canadian political scene has ended so quickly, and what they must do to restore the trust of Canadians, which has been lost.

If Liberals believe that better campaign tactics and strategy were all that stood between them and continuing in government, we will fail to undertake the self-examination that an electoral defeat should cause. As a Liberal who hopes for the early return of a Liberal government, I believe there are several steps that are essential to the renewal of the party.

First, Liberals must, with humility, acknowledge the breach of trust that occurred with the Canadian people. Like it or not (and I don't), Canadians had their fill of a governing party that was seemingly always under investigation. In addition, the Liberal Party's belief that its values were closer to Canadian values than those of the Conservatives, and that the country would never elect Stephen Harper was not only arrogant, but a strategic error.

Second, Liberals must move quickly to heal the wounds within the party. The divisions that have been with the party since Pierre Trudeau's time have only been papered over. The belief, in the past two years, that the party's dominance over the opposition was so great that some Liberals were expendable was an error of gigantic proportions. If Liberals do not show respect for one another, how can the public be expected to respect Liberals?

The Liberal Party should be a political home for those who are socially progressive, economically responsible, and who possess a vision of the future of Canada that comprehends the challenges of competing in a world of giants. This is no time for Martin-Liberals to be fighting Chrétien-Liberals. Rather, it is a time for unhyphenated Liberals to work to renew their great political institution.

Third, the party must use this time outside government to focus on the big challenges of the day and prepare a program that appeals to moderate and progressive voters. Mr. Harper's successful wooing of many Ontario middle-class voters should be a reminder to Liberals that it is not enough to talk about "Liberal values" and good economic statistics. Middle-income Canadians have benefited from a healthy economy. However, their sense of personal safety has been affected by tragic and high-profile crime in our cities, and their sense of economic security is threatened by higher energy prices and job uncertainty, especially in the manufacturing sector.

Middle-class urban and suburban voters needed some indication that their leaders were listening. Instead, they got a "beer and popcorn" response that could only be seen as arrogant. This is a sure indication that it's time for policy renewal in the Liberal Party as we seek to secure Canada's place in the 21st century. I very much hope to be part of this renewal and believe that the choice of a new leader must not shortchange the need of the party to renew its ideals and reaffirm its beliefs.

Finally, the party must seek new leadership in the aftermath of Paul Martin's gracious announcement of his intention not to lead the Liberal Party into the next election. The first task of the new leader will be to unite and heal the party. She or he will then need to restore the sense of purpose and the idealism that are part of the Liberal tradition. (While I hope to play a role in the renewal, healing and unification of the Liberal party, I have decided for personal reasons that I will not be a leadership candidate.)

All of this is a tall order for a party whose supporters no doubt feel somewhat dispirited and bruised. But the work must be done. Canadians have shown that they want the ability to choose between alternative governments. The task of the Liberal Party is to pick itself up from an electoral defeat and be prepared to offer a clear choice to Canadians whenever the next election may be held.

John Manley, an Ottawa-based lawyer with McCarthy Tétrault LLP, was deputy prime minister to Jean Chrétien.