The Fifth Era

The Throne Speech today has likely ushered in the fifth great stage of parliamentary reform that we've seen since World War Two.  Regardless of whether this parliamentary session survives for any length of time, it seems to me that a significant seismic shift has shaken the House of Commons and only the coming months will reveal its true effects.The first stage directly followed the end of the Second World War. Canadians were optimistic as the middle class began taking firm root across the country. It was an era of expanding the franchise of entitlement and at its height during the St. Laurent/Pearson years witnessed the emergence of national healthcare, pensions, education and Canada's own flag. Much of its success came from a cooperative approach between provinces and the federal government.The second stage was one of efficiency. The Pearson/Trudeau administrations introduced a high quality of competence and professionalism into the civil service and, to a certain degree, Parliament itself. Perhaps the most obvious example was the remarkable competence of the foreign service - something that enhanced our image as a nation in the world.Third, the Mulroney, Chretien, Martin years, saw the advancement of individual MPs and their relevance. This particular era resulted in the election of the Speaker and committee chairs. The time of such positions merely being appointed by the Prime Minister of the day rapidly receded.The Sponsorship Scandal never was as seismic as many assumed.  Yet it ushered in the fourth era of reform - accountability, with Stephen Harper as its chief proponent. What will turn out to be the most surprising aspect of this time will be its brevity. The present political climate has become so poisoned that Canadians are increasingly just giving up on the system instead of making it accountable. It will no doubt be one of the great ironies of the Harper years that his attempt to make the parliamentary system more responsible to the people of Canada will actually have resulted in turning them off of politics altogether.But starting today, and with tomorrow's budget, we have entered into a tentative time of cautious cooperation and emerging non-partisanship. Numerous MPs who read this blog told me well over a year ago that non-partisanship was a pipe dream, never to be realized in Ottawa. Increasingly, the same public servants are now embracing this manner of consultation as perhaps the only thing that can make government relevant again. The Obama moment in America has made it profoundly relevant, but the Canadian equivalent appears to be now before us.Politics in Canada will never be fully non-partisan.  Nor should it be.  Yet the lack of a more cooperative view of politics in Canada has ushered in the influence of hyper-partisans and polarizers. I doubt few saw in the Prime Minister's non-partisan challenge in the Throne Speech today any real sincerity. But the reality is that even this great "divider" is being forced to hesitantly accept a new day of cooperation that the Obama administration has so willingly embraced.  The great fifth stage is now emerging. The challenge now will be to enshrine it, so that we never return to the dark days of the last few years.