A Healthy Response

"Openness under pressure." That's the best way I can describe Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq's handling the news of the entire new flu strain that is racing across borders and states, leaving a troubling series of deaths in its wake. It's the kind of thing that can test the emergency readiness of an entire medical system like Canada's. And not necessarily the kind of file you'd wished handled by a rookie minister in the Conservative government.And yet that's what she was - a rookie, and a very quiet and respectful one at that. We hardly notice her in the House. She takes few questions and delivers no barbs in the manner in which her colleagues lob their grenades every day. I passed her in the hallway once a month or so ago. She smiled kindly, then looked down in a shy manner. We hardly ever mention her in the Liberal caucus and I think that's because she has refused to play the game that the other cabinet ministers, or even the opposition critics, undertake with such theatre and bombast. In other words, she doesn't really seem to fit.Until yesterday that is, when the House suddenly discovered that a shy demeanour doesn't necessarily suggest a timid spirit. I first got wind that something was different when Carolyn Bennett, a normally combat-ready former health minister for the Liberals, stood in the House in Question Period and opened by thanking the rookie minister for phoning her the day before (Sunday) and appraising her of the emergency. Furthermore, she solicited Bennett's advice. That got everyone's attention. Two questions later, another MP got up and praised Aglukkaq's willingness to contact her as well, effectively keeping her in the loop.Look, this is serious stuff - the kind of thing that could crush a new minister being swamped by a fearful file. In Ottawa, loud yelling often substitutes for effective action, but not in this case. This impressive minister, under the gun and receiving conflicting news of the seriousness of the situation, opted to be inclusive. She didn't rush out a press release, somehow blame the opposition or even willingly embrace the limelight. She just did her job, but in such a way that she drew in other MPs and formed a consensus. I've never seen it done quite this way in my short time in the Commons.The danger is still real and the possibilities of a serious health risk in Canada are a possibility. But in all her inexperience at the federal level, Minister Aglukkaq behaved more like an pro than many in that same place who use their ministry as a whipping post. This is parliament as it should be. And this is a minister who reached out when she could have pulled in. When you're confronting a health scare that could have the same implications as the earlier SARS crisis, you want someone who is transparent and not too proud to bring in the opposition as part of the response team. That is exactly what we got with this new minister. Harper made the right choice. Who knows, perhaps her diplomatic and professional handling of the situation could bring a little bit more health to the House of Commons.