An Open Letter to the Honorable Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Sheer:
Good day, sir, and congratulations. You don't know me and I didn't vote for you so forgive my presumption as I offer you some free advice - don't be a warmer Harper when you ascend to the place of prime minister.
Please, for the love of God Almighty and this "True north, strong and free," do something to put this nation back on a sure footing again. Help us be something to be proud of.
I exhort you with these words first because it must be said that incrementalism is not inherently virtuous. Mr. Harper was a competent administrator, but his legacy has been all but washed away by Trudeau and his admirers on the Supreme Court. He should have acted boldly when he had the chance or made his changes unassailable through better political strategy. As it stands, the only thing that will last is a lower GST, a pathetic, expensive ploy to win over the kind of voters no one should ever try for.
Our nation turns 150 this year, and in the half century periods it has changed gradually for the worse. A nation bursting with potential gave its all at Vimy; 50 years later it succumbed to a pathetic, ahistorical vision of its place in the world; and in our present age, it teeters on the edge of oblivion with untold liabilities, a national image that is deeply confusing and state-subsidized saboteurs in its media, academia, government, Crown corporations, etc. We will never recover if we continue on this trajectory.
That's where you come in. A family man, a principled individual, a politician who knows the rules of the people's House. John A., Borden, Bennett, and Dief - I believe you are capable of matching these men in stature as well as governing excellence. To that end, I'd recommend the following steps:
First, its time to start talking like Trudeau is already out of 24 Sussex. He is the biggest liability that the occupiers of the government bench have and it is time to say that unequivocally in every bullhorn of media that modern Canada has.
Trudeau's fumbles are numerous and easy to highlight thanks to the many caught on camera. Let the interns run with these as far as legally possible.
Second, it is probably best to keep your Speakers' hat on and referee the wings of the party that have shown themselves to be strongest: libertarians, social conservatives and a few Red Tories. There is a way to keep this coalition together and it is really as simple as letting the smart people do all the work.
Indeed, I believe Canadians are actually ready for government by cabinet in practice - do your best to give it to them by letting the tribes of Tories that came out to play last weekend conclude their own deals under your chairmanship. Then turn the best ideas into planks for an election platform.
Fourth, it is important to emphasize as other leadership candidates did, that this country is at a crossroads.
Our family trees are upside-down, our economy resembles little more than a make-work project, our infrastructure is crumbling and our national identity is beginning to schism again. These are not small problems and they cannot be defeated all at once. But neither can they be dodged. This will require leadership, not deck shuffling, if you and your party are truly to be the party of the grown-ups.
Fifth and finally, you cannot let the neo-con war-room specialists whisper sweet orthodoxies in your ear about voting percentages and battleground ridings. This party doesn't need five per cent or seven per cent or 10 per cent more for a majority; it needs to work for a smashing 51 per cent of votes cast to show the opposition and the world that this country is ready for a truly liberating vision of its future based on conservative principles. This is an attainable goal - but, again, it requires real, principled leadership to achieve.
It is my sincere hope that you win in 2019 and I wish you all the luck in the world. But let me again forewarn you against becoming "Harper with a smile."
I mean, it's not like this leadership election was the direct result of a certain someone resigning, right?
