Stop The Games

Like millions of Canadians, I watched the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Olympics on the tube last night. My kids from Africa had never seen anything like it, and the focus on this country's natural beauty entranced them. We all take away personal moments from such occasions. Mine was watching Romeo Dallaire humbly joining other Canadian notables in carrying the Olympic flag. He's played a huge role in putting a conscience and a heart on the Canadian image overseas, so it was only right that he be honoured for it at home. The hearts of my wife and I swelled with pride at watching him.And then I awoke this morning to news that Heritage Minister James Moore bemoaned that fact that the opposition parties were "playing politics" in these pivotal days when the world's eyes are upon us. I actually didn't quite understand what he was talking about. I think James is one of the solid Conservatives and has developed a reputation for being able to work with those from other parties, so it came as a bit of a shock to me. I like James but I don't take to his partisan conclusion on this one.The only real stink that has come out of all the fuss about the Olympics in Ottawa has been the tickets to the venues and how they were apportioned. This is a minor issue, and, personally, I don't see why the Prime Minister or other key ministers have to pay for their own tickets. James knows that it was the Chretien Liberals that got these games and that it's been the Conservatives who have paid important attention to detail to make them a success. Hats off to both parties for passing the torch in a symbolic continuum. They deserve to be there.Let's be clear. I've been in Ottawa a lot in these few weeks and not once in any caucus meeting or in any conversation with Liberal, NDP or Bloc colleagues has there been one word said about using the Games as a means for criticizing the government. To be sure, some will play it that way, but there's be no pre-determined plan to do any such thing. I watched James on the news a couple of days ago and I was proud of him and for the work he and his colleagues have done. I'm not alone and the vast majority of all MPs, including Conservatives, have refused to play games with the Games.The reality is that the Games became an issue when the Harper Conservatives opted to prorogue the House in order to, in their words, concentrate on the Games. Nobody bought that. This is a grand country and running it requires diligence in all parts of it, not just in Vancouver. If anything politicized the games it was that decision. It spoiled the broth and made the run-up to these marvellous athletic and cultural events more complicated. But this is not an issue now and the Heritage Minister, if he can't acknowledge his party's own political designs (think of the Conservative's own blatant promotion of it's Canada Action Plan commercials during the festivities), should just let it go.Michael Ignatieff and Jack Layton spoke eloquently of the Olympic Games in the last few days, staying above the fray. The PM comported himself respectfully and well yesterday. It's not the time for politics but for Canada and the best we have to offer. Let's take off the orange, green, blue and red colours and just comfortably slip on our Team Canada jerseys. All's forgiven James. Just enjoy these days because the rest of us are and you've done great to get us to this point.