Notwithstanding is Us: I love living in a country where a stirring political cry, akin to “You’re either with us or against us,” is: “I will not use the notwithstanding clause.” (Paul Martin in the leaders debate.) It’s Canadian code, like “Son of Meech” or “elimination of partial de-indexation of old-age pensions,” which roiled souls in past campaigns. It’s remarkable how it can flummox a right-winger like Stephen Harper, who would clearly love to use the damn preposition, or whatever it is in that clause, to override same sex-marriage, abortion rights, etc.

But he feels intimidated by public pressure. So he bumbles around muttering that he has no “intention” to legislate on those items. We hardly have a left-wing political culture — you can’t get elected without signing a stupid anti-tax pledge — but an odd Canadian zeal to tolerate human differences is able to make even deep ideologues hesitate.

Quebec loves Harper: Harper got a positive response in Quebec for his inoffensive performance in the French debate. He was compared to John F. Kennedy, well-liked there because he came from New England, where many Quebeckers migrated. What accounts for the welcome? Well, Stephen Harper may be seen, with his anti-federal, provincial-firewall enthusiasms, as good for the prospects of a separate Quebec. Jacques Parizeau once backed Canada-U.S. free trade solely because it would “hasten the end of Canada.” The enemy of my confederation is my friend.

I wonder if Quebeckers, especially media folk, do it partly because they think it will bug us. That’s us in the sense of an imagined central-Canadian, Trudeauite, anglo elite, terrified by the Harper prospect. Never underestimate the pettiness that English-French relations can achieve. “We lost our independence dream in the ’80 referendum,” a separatist once told me, “so you ought to lose yours over free trade.” Maybe they feel that if they have to suffer Jean Charest, the least we deserve is Stephen Harper.

Vote for Gilles: Based on the debates, I would. Gilles Duceppe was the only leader who brought a human presence, in the sense that he seemed right there, listening to what was said, and responding not with a “message,” but with a response. What he said was specific, pertinent and useful, whether you agreed or not. He provided that rarest of sights on TV: a person thinking on air.

Another reason I warm to Gilles Duceppe: He began political life as a radical Maoist, became a more conventional Quebec sovereigntist, then leader of the Bloc. But 10 years ago he descended into political hell, caught, as it were, in a hairnet he put on at a factory during a campaign stop. The moment was replayed, and haunted him until now. Who hasn’t felt such mortification, and prayed it would finally end with a mighty vindication?

Leftists: Prepare not to self-immolate. Here are some reasons why a Harper government, from a left viewpoint, would be less awful now than at other moments:

  • The U.S.-style, right-wing politics of Reform and the Alliance failed on their own, and required a merger with the PCs. This is not just a matter of uniting the right but, to some extent, adulterating it.
  • Harper, the right ideologue, was forced to take adulterated positions. He will not be able to claim a mandate for his real preferences, of the sort belonging to Mike Harris or Ralph Klein. It will be clear the country wanted a Liberal government not run by Liberals. That may not stop him from acting ideologically, but undermines the legitimacy of doing so. His fervent pro-U.S. bent, for instance, is clearly not shared by the country.
  • On social questions, such as abortion, he will be bucking majority opinion if he moves, and will meet strong opposition. (I sympathize with women who say they don’t want to refight those battles, but those battles must always be refought.)
  • On economic questions, the Harper position is close to the Martin record. No Liberal leader has ever been as right-wing economically, so less stands to be lost.
  • With a Harper government, the role of real opposition would likely shift to Ontario’s provincial Liberals, who are at least in place to consider the job.
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Rick Salutin

Rick Salutin is a Canadian novelist, playwright and critic. He is a strong advocate of left wing causes and writes a regular column in the Toronto Star.