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Perhaps Dion Should Visit Sweden
Mona Sahlin has revitalized her nation's 'natural' ruling party.
Cartoon by Ingrid Rice.
Sweden's Social Democratic Party has a lot in common with the Liberal Party of Canada.
Both were considered for decades to be the "natural governing parties" in their countries.
But in recent years, each faced challenges from rightist political organizations. In Sweden, a four-party alliance -- commanded by the conservative Moderate Rally Party -- spent years planning a comeback. In Canada, a merger ultimately led to the creation of the Conservative Party.
Now, the Swedish Social Democrats and the Canadian Liberals share something else. They are out of government, pushed aside in two elections held in 2006. Sweden rejected giving another term to experienced Prime Minister Goran Persson, who was criticized for his inaction after 500 Swedish adults lost their lives in the December 2004 tsunamis. Canadian voters precipitated the retirement of Paul Martin, who was unable to hold on to his brief minority administration in an election marked by the sponsorship scandal.
The similarities continue. Persson and Martin left the helm of their respective parties, and leadership battles ensued. In a year filled with discussions about global warming, two politicians perceived as environmentally friendly eventually took the reigns.
Revitalizing Swedish centre-left
The Swedish Social Democrats selected former sustainable development minister Mona Sahlin as their new leader in January 2007, seeking a contrast with business-friendly prime minister and current leader of the Moderates Fredrik Reinfeldt.
Canada's Liberals required 11 months to select their leader: former environment minister Stéphane Dion. Both Sahlin and Dion headed to their respective conventions as long shots, only to emerge victorious.
But that is as far as the resemblance between the Swedish Social Democrats and the Canadian Liberals goes.
Sahlin has effectively capitalized on a series of blunders by Reinfeldt and his coalition -- including revelations that ministers did not purchase their television licenses, and paid domestic workers under the table -- to place the Social Democrats well ahead in voting intention polls. Sahlin has focused on job creation, welfare and foreign policy, and has secured a slight edge as the most trusted political leader in the country.
The latest survey places her party at 43.3 per cent, well above the governing coalition of rightist forces and -- counting on the support of the Left Party and the Greens -- with enough backing to form the government in the next election.
Sahlin cannot bring down Reinfeldt unless the current coalition crumbles, but 2 1/2 years before the next legislative election, the status of her party has been restored, and the incumbent government seems destined to be regarded as a glitch in the long history of dominance by the Social Democrats in Sweden.
Dion's sputtering leadership
Dion's story has been different. His approval rating as opposition leader has dropped dramatically, even in the face of a Conservative minority government that has provided plenty of openings, from the isotope controversy to the allegations of misconduct over the vote of Chuck Cadman. Dion has failed to connect with Canadians. The standing of his party -- four points below its 2006 election total -- is a product of traditional allegiance, not to the sentiment of change that his election as leader was supposed to generate. Even the environment, Dion's perceived favourite topic, has fallen behind health care as the most important issue facing the country.
After more than a year as opposition leader, Dion has very little to show for it. Jack Layton has become the main protagonist in the House of Commons, providing the few questions that have forced the government into awkwardness.
The behaviour of the current Grit opposition is a far cry from the last time the party played the role of second fiddle in the lower house. When Brian Mulroney enjoyed large majorities, the Liberals found a way to keep the pressure on, particularly with the tactics of the so-called rat pack: Sheila Copps, Don Boudria, Brian Tobin and John Nunziata. If anything, their antics found their way into the nightly newscasts. Dion, on the contrary, has become well known for what he hasn't done.
Related Tyee stories:
- Memo to Dion: It's Not Working
Why the Grit green gambit won't whip Harper. - Reading Stephane Dion
Reviewed: Straight Talk: Speeches and Writings on Canadian Unity and other works - Martin's BC Boys Back Dion
Key BC Liberals helped Paul Martin overthrow Jean Chrétien and take control of the party. Now many have joined another team.
![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
- BC snuffs out AirCare test program
- AFN national chief Shawn Atleo to launch re-election bid
- Citizens group releases video to fight undead Bill C-30
- Conservative MP says he might vote against budget, then 'clarifies' his position
- Genetically modified plants won't take root with councillors in Richmond, BC
- Hundreds at Vancouver rally to support Quebec students
- Could Fort Mac become an eco-tourist hotspot?
- Rick Hansen's Man in Motion anniversary tour concludes in Vancouver
- The Gem of Canadian Science that Harper Killed
- Who Mowed Down the Premier?
- Canada's Economy, Deconstructed (by a 12 year-old)
- Death in Remand: a Tyee Inquiry
- Now Is the Time to Talk up Big Ideas
- Bill C-38: the Environmental Destruction Act
- Sexism Tinges Criticism of Teachers' Job Action
- Death In Remand: 'A Gut Feeling'
- Bias in BC's Pesticide Decision? Follow the Bouncing Verbs
- The Ethics of Addiction Studies
- The Gem of Canadian Science that Harper Killed
- Sexism Tinges Criticism of Teachers' Job Action
- Now Is the Time to Talk up Big Ideas
- The Ethics of Addiction Studies
- Bill C-38: the Environmental Destruction Act
- Alberta Fills Pipes with Corrosive Denial
- Bias in BC's Pesticide Decision? Follow the Bouncing Verbs
- How Our Immune Systems Exaggerate Fear
- BC biotech company seeks approval for GM apple
- What's Behind BC's Doors?
- Double lung recipient dances on Ellen show
- ISS astronauts grab DragonX space capsule by the tail with Canada Arm
- Metro Vancouver gas prices peak at record levels
- Ottawa posts $9-billion deficit in March despite pledge to avoid spending spree
- BC phases out AirCare to focus on fighting bigger vehicle emissions
- Tsunami senors to be dropped into deep sea off of Vancouver Island
- Student groups file court challenge against Quebec protest law
- ...while on the streets, pirates and ninjas put aside mutual animosity to join student protests
15
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no1important
4 years ago
The only thing that can save
The only thing that can save the Liberals now is if Dion steps down and the Liberals get a new leader before the Oct 2009 election.
There will not be one sooner as the Libs are too scared to go to the polls and the longer they keep Dion and the more he supports the conservatives the worse it will get for the liberals.
Even if the majority of Ontario votes Liberals Harper will get a majority whenever the next election is called as long as The Liberals have Dion. Even the NDP will be lucky in BC to hold on to 3 or 4 seats.
People will be sorry if Harper ever gets a majority and it will be Dions and to a lesser extent Laytons fault.
I have always voted NDP but the left is on life support in Canada. Jack wants to spend his effort winning in PQ and forgets about us.
Skookum1
4 years ago
Huh? Canadian voters did WHAT?
Uh, what precipitated the retirement of Paul Martin and why he was unable to hold on to his brief minority administration was not Canadian voters exactly, it was the RCMP releasing volatile (and baseless, as it turns out) information to undermine the Liberal campaign. The sponsorship scandal precipiated the election, but the election was "precipitated"by the political rainmakers in the RCMP. The phrasing used sounds like a CanWest/BlackPress twisting-of-truth, the same way you'll hear "Canadian voters endorsed the FTA" (when only Quebec and Alberta did) or "BC voters endorsed Bennett's Restrain program" even though we didn't know what that program was, or that it was a program, until two months after the election.
Maybe it's just journalism students in this country learn catchphrases and pat descriptions/cliches like this one too readily. Or use thesauri a little too casually, who knows exactly why. But it was jarring to see such a terse condensation in that context.
Canadian voters don't do much, in fact; once every so many years they're allowed to vote. And then all kinds of things are invoked that were supposedly the reasons why they voted the way they did. Even though it might have just been the weather, or even when some other unrelated boondoggle is what influenced the vote; in this case, helped along by the Horsemen's political meddling, same as they did in BC to the Clark regime (and which they're either too bumbling or corrupt to do to the Campbell regime).
To precipitate something, unless you're a random event, you need to have the power to make things happen. Canadian voters don't.
realisticman
4 years ago
Good Idea
Sure, Dion should go to Sweden. In fact, one can be sure that many Liberals would be happy to finance the trip; although there's a question as to whether the ticket they buy would be a round-trip or a one-way.
There are a few similarities;
Published: 3 Apr 08 07:06 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/10872/
Social Democratic Party Leader Mona Sahlin is worried about her shrinking party.
* Social Democrats continue to lose big city voters (29 Mar 08)
* Poll: Sahlin gaining ground (14 Mar 08)
* Sahlin: 'Tell refugees where to live' (11 Mar 08)
“If developments continue, this party won’t exist in 10 to 15 years,” she said to the labor organization Unionen in Gothenburg on Wednesday, according the Göteborgs-Posten newspaper.
The Social Democrats lost 19,000 members last year. The 16 percent drop is the largest in more than 10 years.
At the close of 2007, the party had a total of 101,158 members, compared with 120,091 one year earlier.
Membership has been cut in half since the 1990s.
Government parties also dropped thousands of members last year.
“The problem for all political parties can be illustrated by the fact that the national organization of pensioners (PRO) has more members than all of the political parties combined,” said Sahlin, who maintains that difficulties in recruiting new members and age demographics are facts of life.
“Just the fact that I am included among the younger members of the party says quite a lot,” said the 51-year-old party leader.
Van Isle
4 years ago
If the liberals did as the
If the liberals did as the author suggests, the CONservatives won't be sitting around. The conservatives have hidden agendas and if the liberals are in a state of "leadershipping" (confusion), that'll just give the cons the greenlight to do whatever they want to do. The liberals have time on their side. Just wait for the US recession to start to have a real effect in Ontario and Quebec and the conservatives will be lucky to even win as dogcatcher. The worse Harper looks, Dion will start looking not so bad.
alive
4 years ago
yeah but!
Since when does a social democratic government look or act like our federal liberals?
People is Sweden have a good system in place, thanks to that Socialistic party. What do we have?
We have a system that favours the rich and it has been put in place and secured by both of our neo-con parties!
What is happening is that the Swedes realize they have achieved what seem impossible in most capitalistic countries, and that by now they can benefit by allowing more flexibility for industry.
The difference remains that before you "help" the middle class you want to be certain that NO-ONE is going to be left behind!
A lesson that goes for deaf ears around here.
Frank
4 years ago
I'll second that
Mr Canseco is making a mistake to compare the Liberals with Sweden's social democrats. They were both natural ruling parties but the outcomes in the two countries make it pretty clear that policy-wise they couldn't be further apart.
ME2
4 years ago
Quebec
The key to winning a Canadian Federal election is usually winning the Quebec vote.
Can Dion deliver Quebec?
realisticman
4 years ago
Quebec
Oh how that passionate horde were so enervated when the much loved wunderkind slipped up the middle. That was then, this is now.
Mar 28, 2008 04:30 AM
Chantal Hébert
MONTREAL—In a general election held between now and Canada Day, Stéphane Dion would lead the Liberal party to a historical defeat in Quebec, or so believes the bulk of the province's federalist establishment.
http://www.thestar.com/Canada/Columnist/article/404817
rangergord
4 years ago
Dion a disappointment...but
The liberals would be wise to wait out the opportunity for an election until at least after November. If the US goes back to the democrats as looks possible, how good will the CONS look to canadians then? Canadians did not elect the CONS, they kicked out the liberals. When the canadian economy is officially in recession and maybe even a depression, let the CONS collect their dues as Canadian vote them out and choose the least of the evils, the Liberals. The chances that Dion will suddenly come up with a credible and popular election platform look slim to none. I voted NDP but I regret it more each day. No other choice at this point. How about the NDP's Kill the Penny Bill? Talk about idiots. Yeah institutionlize price inflation even more. How about some measures to restore value to our money? Hmm... lets see Kill the Bank of Canada and let the government issue currency directly to citizens. Fix the value of the dollar. Back it up with gold. Kill NAFTA. Cut military spending. Lots of good ideas out there, none of them on the table.
Budd Campbell
4 years ago
I WONDER WHO ...
I voted NDP but I regret it more each day. No other choice at this point. How about the NDP's Kill the Penny Bill? Talk about idiots. Yeah institutionlize price inflation even more.
I wonder who wrote this? Could it the Liberal Party tag team of Terry and Ian ? Just thought I would ask.
I heard yesterday that the Conservatives have decided to go after McGuinty because they're afraid that if they press the attack on Dion, the Liberals may decide to replace him and they will have lost their best target.
realisticman
4 years ago
rangergord
Not sure what you mean. Since the Conservatives were elected the Canadian dollar has lost about 7% to the Euro but has gained about 15% to the US dollar. Where is the loss of value you talk of?
G West
4 years ago
Killing the penny
Is a great idea...done years ago in Australia, successfully - and it would be equally as successful here. It would provide a considerable savings in both metal use and wear and tear on pockets.
Damn fine idea.
As for Dion, he should go now - but he won't and Canada will get that Harper majority - as predicted.
Sadly.
Unless a few more of his ministers and backbenchers are revealed for the bigoted mindless thugs they actually are...as happened this week.
Scratch the surface of Harper's gang and out will tumble a whole lot of Tom Lukiwskis.
ME2
4 years ago
A Quebecois Prime Minister?
Over the years I've been consistently amazed by the command of English as seen in the diction and vocabulary displayed by European tourists visiting here and by various of their leadership.
For many of those years I've also shuddered as I listened to Chretien's mangled English, but tolerated it as I viewed his age, his physical handicap, and wanting accomodation with Quebec.
But I can't find it in my heart to do the same for Dion, nor would I be anything but embarrassed for him - and me - while hearing him communicate with foreigners who spoke far better English than he, who hails from a - nominally at least - bilingual country.
He reminds me of the immigrant British of my youth who upon arrival, suddenly adopted exaggerated accents which conferred upon them a cultural superiority over us "colonials".
For that, some will accuse me of intolerance, and I would agree with them if it was not so obvious that his version of English is a deliberately cultivated Patios intended to emphasise the cultural gap between a Quebecois and an Englisher.
One would assume that Dion has benefited from a better education than most, and so one is prompted to ask if the English he uses now is the same as he was taught. All I can say re that issue is that I am sure that I would never have passed my 3 years of High school French if I had mangled it as badly as he does English.
I am equally sure that for the average non-Quebec voter who does not weigh the issues too heavily - and who remembers Chretien - that will be enough to tip the scale against him, and the Liberals.
G West
4 years ago
How about Louise Arbour
As a replacement for Dion?
She has strong ties to both Ontario and Quebec, speaks flawless English and French, has international stature and the beans to stand up to Bolton and Bush.
I think she hates Harper's guts and she'd chew the little fella up and spit him out in debate.
Her appointment to the UN is ending and I think she might be interested.
ME2
4 years ago
GWest
Excellent suggestion, Garth. But my guess is that she would decline the invitation.
It is well-known that many such capable, honest people refuse to enter politics because of the taint it would bestow upon their name.
But yes, she'd be a shoo-in if she accepted.