For What It’s Worth: Promises, promises from not so long ago

By Cash Moore on August 19, 2021.

Six years ago, Justin Trudeau began the night’s election victory speech with the now famous words “Sunny ways, my friends. Sunny ways.”

These words are derived from Aesop’s Fables of Ancient Greece. The fable can be summed up as a conversation between the sun and the wind. The wind states: “Whoever can get that man to take his cloak off is more powerful.” So the wind huffs and puffs, but the man clung to his cloak tighter. The sun follows by shining his rays onto the man, convincing him to remove the cloak in the warmth.

This story has a place in Canadian history where former prime minister Wilfred Laurier used it as a basis of his political ideology. In a political context, to be “sunny” is to be open and transparent, respectful and compromising with opposition, having a positive vision over fear mongering and not infringing on rights and freedoms.

These ideas were all prominent in Trudeau’s 2015 campaign and were major factors in helping the fresh-faced leader score a large majority. Moreover, the Liberal campaign hammered home the point that Stephen Harper represented wind’s bluster with his tight-lipped and iron-fisted approach to politics.

The Justin Trudeau of 2021 appears to have become the very opposite of what he campaigned on in 2015. From scrapping electoral reform to the SNC Lavalin scandal to Bill C-10; one could fill a novel with a list of actions the Liberal government has made since 2015 that show a sharp diversion from the sunny ways philosophy that first got them into power.

The fact is the Justin Trudeau of today governs in a style far closer to Harper than that of Laurier. Much like his predecessor, Trudeau has become an opportunist who constantly seeks ways to weaken his opposition and capitalize on the fears of society to push his ideological goals.

In a vacuum, it’s tough to fault Trudeau for this. This is simply the way politics is played nowadays.

In today’s hyper-stimulating society, many don’t have the time or the inclination to pay attention to the complex processes and fine details of government. Instead, they latch onto and pick their respective side of the current hot-button wedge issue the media has served up and simplified.

The result of this is an underdeveloped understanding of current affairs and an increasingly divided population. In order to be elected, politicians play into this reality by taking un-nuanced positions while simultaneously drumming up the dangers of the opposite side’s view. Politicians have little incentive to bridge and compromise between ideological gaps because there is little appetite for it in the general public.

The two other party leaders aren’t much different from Trudeau in regard to embracing the wind. Tory leader Erin O’Toole’s positioning thus far has not shown much vision aside from, “We aren’t Trudeau.” Meanwhile the NDP and Jagmeet Singh have shown to be largely interested in playing identity politics.

What makes Trudeau interesting compared to these leaders is he campaigned so hard on an idea of “positive change” and bringing in a new style of governance.

After six years it is clear promises of sunny skies have given way to a familiar windy bluster.

Cash Moore is a political science student at the University of Alberta from Medicine Hat. Feedback for his columns can be sent to letters@medicinehatnews.com

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