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The evolution of centralization
Governments in North America have become very centralized around the party leader’s office.
Over the decades that I served as a Member of Parliament, I worked under six prime ministers. From my first leader, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, I could see that a lot of power was concentrated in the PMO. Some of Prime Minister Mulroney’s ministers, however, were decisive and influential and developed policy on their own. But it was very much the “Mulroney Government”.
By the time I got to my fifth prime minister, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, virtually all decisions and policies were made in the PMO, and often caucus wasn’t even advised, much less consulted. I remember one day in 2006, Mr. Harper came into caucus and went right to the microphone and announced to us, “Over the weekend, we decided to make a billion dollars in spending cuts. Some of these cuts will affect your ridings… but if anybody complains about them, you will suffer severe consequences to your future as a Conservative Party of Canada Member of Parliament.”
Then he sat down. He did not even tell us what the billion dollars in cuts were. We only found out about them when the agencies which lost the funding started to speak out.
My point is that the caucus members and party members had little say about the policies and direction of the party. It was interesting that Mr. Harper wanted the members and the press to refer to his government as the “Harper Government” … not the Conservative government. And it was truly the Harper Government.
When Prime Minister Trudeau was elected, there was a slow progression of power into the prime minister’s office again. Mr. Trudeau’s focus and policies were on needed social issues mostly. These included child poverty, gender equity, indigenous issues, and environmental issues such as the carbon tax. These policies and resulting legislation came right out of the PMO and reflected the interests and goals of Mr. Trudeau. He saw issues that needed attention, and he dealt with them. One could call this the Trudeau Government.
Certainly in the U. S. A., all of the national policies and direction are coming from one office… not the members of congress or party members. It is truly the Trump Government.
On the Canadian Opposition side, CPC leader Pierre Poilievre’s policies and directions are coming from the CPC leader’s office. They are very different than those of his predecessor, Erin O’Toole. Mr. O’Toole supported a price on carbon, a promise to help those most in need, a promise to take inequality seriously, etc. These policies are almost the opposite of Mr. Poilievre, although they both lead the same CPC Party. One could call the current CPC party the Poilievre Party.
So, when people say that the Liberals are going for a fourth term, it may be technically correct, but everything about the policies and programs will be different.
Mr. Carney started his first term as prime minister by making a quick trip to France and England to shore up economic ties and cement defence relationships. Then, to my amazement, Mr. Carney stood on a Halifax wharf and talked about replacing our obsolete submarines and building new icebreakers. He then pledged to increase recruitment for our armed forces. These would not be top of mind in the Trudeau Government’s approach.
My point is that this is not the 4thterm of “a government”. As I see it, the last government was the Trudeau Government’s third term. If elected, Mr. Carney will lead the first term of the Carney Government. I am confident that he will consider input from all sources and take advice from experienced people. However, the final decisions will reflect the unique experience, priorities, and approach of Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Over the decades that I served as a Member of Parliament, I worked under six prime ministers. From my first leader, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, I could see that a lot of power was concentrated in the PMO. Some of Prime Minister Mulroney’s ministers, however, were decisive and influential and developed policy on their own. But it was very much the “Mulroney Government”.
By the time I got to my fifth prime minister, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, virtually all decisions and policies were made in the PMO, and often caucus wasn’t even advised, much less consulted. I remember one day in 2006, Mr. Harper came into caucus and went right to the microphone and announced to us, “Over the weekend, we decided to make a billion dollars in spending cuts. Some of these cuts will affect your ridings… but if anybody complains about them, you will suffer severe consequences to your future as a Conservative Party of Canada Member of Parliament.”
Then he sat down. He did not even tell us what the billion dollars in cuts were. We only found out about them when the agencies which lost the funding started to speak out.
My point is that the caucus members and party members had little say about the policies and direction of the party. It was interesting that Mr. Harper wanted the members and the press to refer to his government as the “Harper Government” … not the Conservative government. And it was truly the Harper Government.
When Prime Minister Trudeau was elected, there was a slow progression of power into the prime minister’s office again. Mr. Trudeau’s focus and policies were on needed social issues mostly. These included child poverty, gender equity, indigenous issues, and environmental issues such as the carbon tax. These policies and resulting legislation came right out of the PMO and reflected the interests and goals of Mr. Trudeau. He saw issues that needed attention, and he dealt with them. One could call this the Trudeau Government.
Certainly in the U. S. A., all of the national policies and direction are coming from one office… not the members of congress or party members. It is truly the Trump Government.
On the Canadian Opposition side, CPC leader Pierre Poilievre’s policies and directions are coming from the CPC leader’s office. They are very different than those of his predecessor, Erin O’Toole. Mr. O’Toole supported a price on carbon, a promise to help those most in need, a promise to take inequality seriously, etc. These policies are almost the opposite of Mr. Poilievre, although they both lead the same CPC Party. One could call the current CPC party the Poilievre Party.
So, when people say that the Liberals are going for a fourth term, it may be technically correct, but everything about the policies and programs will be different.
Mr. Carney started his first term as prime minister by making a quick trip to France and England to shore up economic ties and cement defence relationships. Then, to my amazement, Mr. Carney stood on a Halifax wharf and talked about replacing our obsolete submarines and building new icebreakers. He then pledged to increase recruitment for our armed forces. These would not be top of mind in the Trudeau Government’s approach.
My point is that this is not the 4thterm of “a government”. As I see it, the last government was the Trudeau Government’s third term. If elected, Mr. Carney will lead the first term of the Carney Government. I am confident that he will consider input from all sources and take advice from experienced people. However, the final decisions will reflect the unique experience, priorities, and approach of Prime Minister Mark Carney.