If leadership is about one thing and one thing only, it is about accountability. This sentiment was made famous by President Harry Truman’s aphorism, “The Buck Stops Here.” Canada is a country that is in the midst of a financial crisis, we are involved in a war in Afghanistan, and there was an inquiry into our role in turning over Afghan detainees who were subject to torture. Part of the reason we are at war, rightly or wrongly, is to help bring some semblance of democracy to Afghanistan. To prorogue Parliament at this time is not only not democratic ─ it sends the wrong message to our children about what a democracy is, how it should operate, and why they should exercise their right to vote and be an integral part of it.
If there were a valid reason to prorogue Parliament at this time, it hasn’t been communicated to us. One of the reasons that is being cited in the press is because the world is coming to Canada for the 2010 Olympics and proroguing Parliament will stifle debate on important and controversial issues. The result is designed to make Canada look better in the press. However, this is a case of short term gain for long term pain. In his seminal book, Real Leadership, Harvard’s Dean Williams said that real leaders solve real problems and use valuable resources wisely, whereas counterfeit leaders solve false problems and waste valuable resources. Canada needs real leadership ─ we and our children deserve nothing less.
