Until Now

One of the abiding frustrations of being in politics is that optics are often preferred over opportunity and politics sometimes takes priority over people. There were plenty of examples of such frustrations I could list from my time in Ottawa, but a more recent circumstance is perhaps more relevant.The locked out workers at ElectroMotive in London have frequently ruminated on why it is that some politicians feel no qualms about visiting the line in East London, bringing coffee and encouragement, whereas others feel no such inclination. “What’s the difference?” they ask. “Why the distinction?” They ask because they think I’ll know, when in fact I can’t understand it myself. Some hide behind a kind of jurisdictional “smoke and mirrors” argument, whereas others just blow by that kind of rationale and just want to show their concern. The hesitation and willingness are as complex as politics itself and the people who are its representatives.I have been heartened to see certain city councillors make the effort, while others seem to think Caterpillar is just doing what is necessary in its pursuit of profits. While government MPs have been AWOL, Irene Matthyssen, MP for London Fanshawe, has been a solid supporter and presence. Provincially, all three of our MPPs have made an appearance and offered support. But when it comes to leadership, neither the Premier or the PM made that sacrifice.Until now. When a few days ago I mentioned to Chris Bentley, MPP from London West and the Minister of Energy, that it would be good if Premier McGuinty could visit the workers when he came to town, the response was cautious but Bentley said he would look into the possibilities. We met again for breakfast yesterday morning and he assured me he was trying. I accepted that from Chris because he’s always been honest with me.“The Premier is giving an important speech at lunch and I want you there, Glen,” he told me. I demurred because I don’t enjoy large events very much. Plus I told him I would be on the picket line with the workers and didn’t want to disappoint them. “There’s something you need to hear and you should come,” he retorted. I relented, and looking back on it now, I am grateful for his prodding.In his speech, the Premier introduced the ElectroMotive situation, notifying his audience that he was taking a stand on the issue. After acknowledging that both the company and its workers needed to bargain in good faith, he reminded Caterpillar’s leadership that Ontario had worked hard to provide an attractive investment climate for the corporate sector and that business had by and large responded to that overture by either moving their companies to the province, or maintaining them in their present location despite difficult economic times. But Caterpillar’s heavy handedness was unusual, even alarming in a fragile recovery. He challenged the company’s leaders to return to the table and take collective bargaining seriously.Given that the audience was largely business in nature, it was a gutsy move. Yet I looked around to see many business leaders I know quietly nodding their heads. Profits were important to them, but so was fairness.Yet when it was over, it was still tough to hide my disappointment – the workers still wouldn’t get their visit.When the Premier approached me at our table a short while later, he took my hand, pulled me aside, and said, “Glen, if you can think of any way we can do more, you need to tell me. Keep me informed through Chris. We’re watching this closely.” I wanted to say, “Then just go to the line – please. It’s about humanity and right now those workers need some of it.” But I felt I had already said my piece.I came home feeling as though I failed. Not that I’m anyone important anymore, but I could sense empathy in the man when we spoke and I had hoped that it would carry the day.I was putting on my coat to head to the worker’s line when Chris Bentley called. In the next few minutes I learned that he, Deb Matthews provincial health minister from London North Centre, and the Premier had privately met with some of the workers, including members of their negotiating team, following the lunch.What do you say? The Premier and his team had done what? Acted courageously? Moved imprudently? Put politics aside? At that moment the only thing that mattered was that he had moved as a human being in response to others who had fallen on hard times. That’s all this has been about for me from the beginning – our own are suffering and all of us should be reaching out regardless of how we feel about the negotiations, or lack of them.Should this thing fall apart, many of us are working on contingency plans to assist. But good politics – good citizenship – moves in advance, in preventative steps to alleviate the sufferings of the present. We had a bit of that today and, strangely, my own pain for those on the lines was partially alleviated because some good politicians looked through a human lens rather than an expedient one. To all of those political representatives who have shown that kind of courage and humility in a very difficult time in our town – thank you. We will continue to look to politics for solutions, but right now we are looking at people hard on their luck and just want to be there. Thanks for joining our community in its own hour of need and confusion.