The winds of change we wrote about prior to the federal election swept in a new government.
The enormity of the change, however, was something few suspected.
With a Liberal majority the country is definitely moving in a new direction. For us, the outcome of the Liberal victory will neither be as bad as Conservatives think, nor as great as others wish. The realities of governing will settle in.
Already the promise to run deficits in the ensuing years to build infrastructure has hit a snag. The size of those deficits will be far greater than what was promised based on a worsening economy – according to a CBC report earlier this week. Simply put, borrowed money mortgages the future for generations and is akin to households running on credit cards. The bills eventually have to be paid.
We hazard to guess other promises will require some massaging to implement because that seems to be the way it always works. It is so easy to promise when not in power. Luckily, the Liberals do have some very talented, experienced people in the background who will hopefully keep a handle on the reigns when it comes to overspending.
We have thought long and hard about the demise of Stephen Harper. In fact, we were overseas when the News of his defeat was announced, giving ample time to ponder the situation.
Never in our time watching or covering politics have we seen someone so controlling and so short-sighted. Friends who describe Harper as a dictator were on to something.
While we aren’t prepared to go that far with our assessment, hubris played a role in Harper’s defeat. He was there too long, a lifetime really in federal politics. But more tragically his need to control and manage all affairs resulted in defeat and now has left the Conservative party in disarray.
Successful organizations and groups we have had the privilege of working with are far better when leaders lead through other people. Encouragement, reward, research and experience are all facets to making a good team of people better. When the leader fails to coach and improve others the organization or team stagnates.
With luck, an opportunity now presents itself for the less dogmatic progressive wing of the Conservative party to play a larger role in policy choices. We hazard to guess many average Conservatives felt it too difficult to hold their noses and vote for Harper this election, hence the national outcome.
There’s a new day on the horizon. Let’s hope it all works out.
