| By Randall
McCauley, Special to PoliticsWatch.com (July 17, 2001)
 Did
Stockwell Day really take Randy's advice? You be the judge ... Read Stockwell
Day's statement, as printed in The Globe & Mail.
If
you believe newspapers, television and radio (BIG IF), then you
subscribe to the theory that Stockwell Day likes advice about as
much as I like Brussels sprouts. He doesn’t want or need any,
and if he has to accept small doses, he will make a funny face and
pretend he’s enjoying himself.
With
that thought in mind, I decided to draft Mr. Day a brief
statement (short enough to be carried live and reprinted in papers
to reach as many Canadians and Alliance supporters as possible)
when (not if) he resigns as Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal(?)
Opposition.
The
goals of the speech are twofold. First,
to let Mr. Day appear to take the high road and look
magnanimous and altruistic (I know, I know, a tall order for even
the most brilliant speechwriter, let alone someone of my modest
talents.) Second, to reveal party dissidents as small minded,
petty sore losers.
You
be the judge, here is Mr. Day’s text:
Ladies
and Gentlemen, my year as the first leader of the Canadian
Alliance has been filled with incredible highs and lows.
From
the highs of being chosen leader by ordinary party members and
being given the opportunity to travel this great country and meet
thousands of the dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly for this
party to give Canadians an alternative to the Liberals and Jean
Chrétien to the lows of recent months, where I have witnessed the
future of the Canadian Alliance put in jeopardy by individuals who
put personal agendas ahead of collective goals, something I refuse
to do.
It
is because I desperately wanted to see the Alliance succeed that I
gave up a successful career in provincial politics and convinced
my family to join me in making the jump to federal politics. I
still believe the goals of the Alliance are attainable and that
this party can be the party to unite the right and take on the
Liberal government.
However,
I have decided to resign because a small group of people have
decided that risking the party’s destruction is better than
putting theirs noses to the grindstone and working together,
everyday, in every region of Canada.
I
am not bigger than the party, nor are the dissidents that have
attacked my leadership, and by extension their own party. It is
because I believe the Canadian Alliance has a life outside of
personality, personal advancement or personal attacks and because
I want to see it grow and improve that I am resigning in advance
of next April’s convention and leadership review.
The
true test of a political party is whether it can survive
adversity, not bask in victory. The Liberals have shown that –
they chose a leader in the 1980s and suffered a huge electoral
defeat, but managed to work together for the good of the party,
put their differences aside and improve their standing. We have
failed that test.
I
hope that by resigning the Canadian Alliance can put its troubles
to rest and move forward to the real challenge, bringing together
people and ideas - offering Canadians a viable alternative in the
next federal election. No one would be happier than I, to see a
stronger, more united party emerge from the chaos and confusion of
the last several months. Ideas and principles are what matter and
if those ideas can find a home under new leadership then I will
not be disappointed.
To
the dissidents who have left the party, I say come home, work with
the Alliance team to build a better party and a better country.
Don’t let differences of opinion destroy our common goals.
Don’t let personality win out over perseverance. Think long term
and work together, that is the only way to ensure the Canadian
Alliance will become Canadian’s choice for their next federal
government.
(Repeat
in French.)
Thank
you, I will take any questions you may have.
Expect none of the above from Mr. Day when he resigns ... he doesn’t
seem to be able to find the high road.
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