For those who don't know of Arthur Kroeger, he was considered by many of those who work and study in the field of Canadian public administration to be the "Dean of Deputy Ministers" and one of the exemplary public servants to come from the "golden age" of the Canadian civil service in the 1950s & 60s.
A much younger generation of those interested in Canadian public administration (myself included) got to know Arthur Kroeger when he went by a different title - Chancellor. Not only was he the Chancellor of Carleton University from 1993 until 2002 but he was also instrumental in setting up the first undergraduate program in Canada specifically dedicated to training the next generation of public sector leaders. I was very fortunate to have been a part of the inaugural class of the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs and as such we got to spend more than our fair share of time with him over the four years that we were there.
Arthur Kroeger (far left) with four of the founding members of AKCESS (Arthur Kroeger College Educational Students' Society) at our first event
This afternoon as I was reading some of the coverage of his passing, I thought back to a reception that was held about 5 years ago for students, family, and faculty in honour of our impending graduation. I was asked to give some remarks on behalf of the students and I remember making the point that so many institutions end up becoming a very expensive tombstone for some great man or woman who once upon a time left their mark on society and then departed this earth long before getting to meet any of those who would benefit from the institution to which their good name was lent. And I then remarked that we were truly blessed that not only was the exceptional Canadian public servant for whom our institution was named still with us, but that he had taken an active interest in our aspirations and enriched our educational experiance in the process.
Around that same time, Arthur Kroeger asked the Carleton University Board of Governors to allow him to serve as Chancellor one last time on the afternoon of June 12, 2003. He made this request, which was of course granted, so that he could personally present diplomas to the first cohort of students to graduate from the college that was founded to celebrate his contributions to Canada and ensure that his legacy of public service would live on.
It occurs to me today that we have a lot to live up to.
I want to somewhat belatedly congratulate International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda on this announcement last week, specifically:
-------------------
Untying food aid
The Government of Canada has changed its food aid policy to remove restrictions on sourcing food aid allowing for greater flexibility in where Canada’s food aid can be purchased. Canada will increase the untying of its food aid from 50% to 100% this year, which will open up to 100% of its food aid budget to international procurement with a special emphasis on purchasing food in developing countries. Purchases from developed countries will be limited to countries with similar policies on untying food aid. By untying restrictions on where food is purchased, Canada is promoting the development of local and regional markets and more importantly, increasing the speed, effectiveness, and efficiency of Canadian food aid.
------------------
One of the professional accomplishments that I am proudest of is the work I was able to undertake with former International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll back in 2005 to change Canada's food aid rules to increase untying from 10% to 50%. Though it wasn't the sexiest policy issue (certianly no 0.7), in simple terms it meant that without the Government of Canada spending an extra dollar, fewer children in the world had to go to bed hungry. Now, even fewer will.
Between the over 100 people who came out to the In The Red event on Friday night (and an outstanding performance by Doll Talk and Ransom) and the three dozen or so folks who invested a beautiful Saturday to start talking about where we have been, where we are, and where we should go as a Saskatchewan Liberal Party, I am feeling for the first time in months like there is some real momentum again.
To spark some conversation, here is the front-page story in today's StarPhoenix about the renewal workshop. I will note however that though it gives a bit of the flavour of the weekend, I do think that the characterization of "Liberals may try leaning to right" (as the headline read in the Regina LeaderPost) is a gross over-simplification of the discussions that are taking place right now.
Liberals discuss policy with eye to future Provincial members examine direction after election shutout
Janet French The StarPhoenix Monday, May 05, 2008
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party has begun a period of introspection after party candidates were shut out for a second consecutive provincial election last November. And suggestions emerged Saturday the party could be nudging toward more right-wing ideals.
About 35 Liberals met in Saskatoon to ponder the party's next steps, including what policies it should espouse in the future, organizer Ryan Androsoff said.
"There is a debate happening in the party right now . . . as to what our values and messages should be," said Androsoff, who was the Liberal candidate in Saskatoon Northwest in the 2007 provincial election.
Former B.C. Liberal MLA Lynn Stephens was a guest speaker at the event, dispensing advice from her party's experience during the last two decades when it went from shutouts in the 1990s to taking 77 of 79 seats in B.C.'s 2001 election.
Androsoff said Stephens wasn't there to talk about policy, but advise Saskatchewan Liberals on how to organize themselves successfully.
Her advice? Know what your party's messages are and stick to them, Androsoff said. Stephens also advised party members to build social networks and avoid top-down decision making.
Androsoff wouldn't say directly whether the Saskatchewan Liberals are thinking of moving further right in the political spectrum, where the B.C. Liberals sit, but did describe himself as a "small-l Liberal" who believes in personal and economic freedoms.
He also hinted a move to the right could be beneficial for the party.
"The Sask. Party has really become NDP-like in its first six months in government, and that, I think, provides an opportunity for the Liberal Party to show some leadership far into the future," he said.
Liberals will meet several times over the next six to seven months to set goals and talk about the party's future, he said.
Although he admits the Liberals have much work ahead after their failure to make gains in the last election, Androsoff frames the party's recent political misfortunes in an optimistic light.
"We have one of those unique windows in the life of a political party where you don't have the baggage of the past and you really have a clean slate," he said.
"If people are willing to grab this moment, we have a chance to come together around a message and a set of values that we can all agree upon, and, I think, be able to able to fill an important space in the Saskatchewan political scene."
Androsoff did not know when the party's leadership race will begin -- that has yet to be announced by the Saskatchewan Liberal Association, he said.
Frank Proto has been the Liberals' interim leader since David Karwacki stepped aside in December. Karwacki made the move after the Liberals' failed to get back into the legislature.
Androsoff said although he has heard rumblings from some people who are interested in running for the Liberal leadership, none have declared publicly.
I find it unexplainable that while Obama continues to get heat for Rev. Wright, John McCain's cozying up to John Hagee seems to largely get a pass. But Obama obviously has a much closer personal and spiritual relationship with Wright than McCain to Hagee you say? Sure, that is no doubt true. But I find it tough for a reasonable person to argue that Wright's worst "soundbites" are on the same level as Hagee's worst (see video below).
Moreover, neither of these guys are running for President, right? So why does this continue to be an issue?
If you have a little bit of time on your hands, I'd strongly recommend watching Bill Moyers interview with Rev. Jeremiah Wright that aired on PBS this past Friday. It certainly gives a much fuller and more sympathetic view of the man who has been defined for so many people by short soundbites.
One clip of his from the introductory portion of the show struck me in a way I did not expect - a clip of him giving a sermon where he says the following:
REVEREND WRIGHT: In Genesis:2 it says God breathes into the nostrils of what God had formed from the dust. God donated some divinity to some dirt and we became living souls. That’s God breath you have in you, that’s God’s breath that you just breathed. God is the giver of life. Let me tell you what that means. That means we have no right to take a life whether as a gang banger living the thug life, or as a President lying about leading a nation into war. We have no right to take a life! Whether through the immorality of a slave trade, or the immorality of refusing HIV/AIDS money to countries or agencies who do not tow your political line! We have no right to take a life! Turn to your neighbors and say we have no right to take a life!
It struck me because it mirrors one of the central tenants of my own Doukhobor faith, which includes a belief that violence against others is wrong because the divine spirit lives within all people. Now obviously Wright expressed it in a very different way than I would choose to, but the philosophical linkage I found to be quite interesting.
I haven't been commenting much over the never ending election speculation that seems to be all that the Parliamentary Press Gallery can will itself to write about. Mostly because I just don't buy any of it - it is in no one's self-interest right now to have an election and I think that the game theory dynamics of the current federal political scene would point towards a fall 08' election at the earliest, with my bet being sometime in 09'.
That said, I am bringing this up because in the last few days I have been at presentations by both Paul Martin (yes, he is still alive and actually in fine fighting form) and Martha Hall Findley, and have conversations with friends and colleagues involved with the Liberals and other parties both here in Saskatchewan and in Ottawa. My conclusion - a 50/50 chance that the Government will fall within the next two weeks. Either over the immigration legislation or a non-confidence vote surrounding the in-and-out scandal.
That said, I do think that two weeks from now there will still be no election and we can look forward to a summer of attack ads by the Conservatives so they can take advantage of not having to deal with such pesky annoyances as spending limits.
Painting the town red from the Land of Living Skies, to Bytown, to Dupont Circle and back again. The humble journeys of a Saskatchewan Grit.
About Me
Name: Ryan Androsoff
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
A true Saskatchewan Grit. From the bright lights of Saskatoon’s synchrotron, to the intrigue and inspiration of Canada’s capital, to the political heart of the free world, and back again – commentary on real life, politics, and everything in-between.
