Canadian, not Conservative

Okay, so let me get this straight. Heritage Minister James Moore spoke out a few days ago about how the opposition parties were using the Olympic Games for partisan purposes - something for which he could only draw little support. He believed the Olympics should be about sport and the Canadian spirit and not some kind of platform for political ideology. We agreed then as we do now.Then today, a new Conservative ad came out, in the form of a video. Senator Mike Duffy suddenly appears on the screen touting, not so much our Olympic athletes but the Conservative Party of Canada. In a supporting email he states: “Thank you for taking a few minutes during this busy time to reinvigorate our Canadian pride, by listening to the Conservative story – Canada’s story. Our athletes’ success on home soil makes us think about the Conservatives incredible track record of historical firsts.”  Say what? I found myself wondering what Mr. Moore would think about that.And then came the saddest part of it for me. Born and raised in Calgary, I often used to travel to ski in Rossland, British Columbia. It was the sentimental favourite of many who loved the slopes because it was the hometown of Nancy Greene Raine, one of our greatest Olympians and a true hero to so many of us. When she suddenly walked on camera and stood with Mike Duffy, I did a double-take. My family loves this woman - what's up?  In truth, I'd forgotten she was a fairly new senator. You can't blame my forgetfulness; after all, it's Olympic season and that's how we best know her. All at once the great Olympic champion had become one of the key partisan voices during these Games. When she alludes to "our strong leader," and follows up with, "With our strong leader Canada will continue to compete with the world's best," something just didn't seem to fit.  Duffy, puffed with pride, added, "We Conservatives are champions in our own right."Well, not of the Olympics you aren't. In one commercial, Nancy Greene Raine went from Olympic hero to a partisan player. Don't do it Nancy. Oh sure, as a Conservative senator you have every right to present your political point of view. But these are the Olympics and they're on right now. You would have despised Pearson or Trudeau if they would have done something similar on those occasions where you won your medals in the '60s. You were - and still are - a champion in your own right. You'll always be my favourite female skier and many still believe you are the greatest of all time. It was in the Olympics where you transcended yourself from a Canadian champion to a skiing legend. Don't scupper it now by playing politics with the very venue that endeared you to us all. And with Mike Duffy? It would have been better if you had stood next to Conservative Senator Hugh Segal. At least he continues to stand above the hyper-partisanship of Ottawa and knows the Games are Canadian, not Conservative. Save it for the post-Olympics Nancy; you'll get sullied with the muck of it all soon enough. But not in Vancouver. You're our champ and if you carry the same grit, grace and determination to the Senate that you've evidenced on the slopes, you'll be a credit to the institution. Don't begin it this way. You still enjoy the respect and admiration of all of us. You've earned it, but, please, don't waste it on something like this. James Moore wouldn't like it.