Barrel Strength

Many of the gripes about Stephen Harper’s tight-fisted control of the government agenda and its communications channels have focused on his seeming ideological pliability. These tend not to square with the stark realities of managing a minority government. One lives or dies by every budgetary and other confidence measure, yet advances can be made through the ongoing work of sound appointees within the machinery of government.

But the gains through incremental change could be all for nought if the fundamentals of government are not handled properly. The Gary Goodyear fracas has demonstrated that the PMO can only control so much of regular governance. It is bad enough that Harper is content to micro-manage at the expense of having marginally competent ministers and advisors in portfolios. Do we have to sacrifice worthwhile policy ground when one of his “carbon blobs from Sector 7-G” drops the ball?

Science and technology should not be regarded as an after-thought by conservatives. Creating the optimal conditions for a knowledge economy allows the best and brightest the freedom to succeed. As we have seen in the past year, decreasing our dependence on a volatile resource-based economy makes greater sense. And this approach includes basic science. Where do the Tory wonks think applied science comes from?!

Another failure of this Army of One is its fixation upon the Inner Party. Must Conservative supporters rely upon second-hand accounts of Harper’s address to a Manning Centre conference to learn where he wants to aim the party in the future? Can we expect more from him than the unceasing emails pleas from Irving Gerstein for more donations?

Governing in economically difficult times is challenging for any political leader. That does not excuse deficiencies in obvious areas like fielding a competent cabinet and reaching out to the real party base. Seeing that many of us do not rely upon the beneficence of Ottawa for our livelihoods, are we so ready to weep for those who may lose theirs through their growing hubris and ineptitude?