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The Hill Times 13th Annual All Politics PollThe Best and Worst of Politics in 2009 Published December 21, 2009  1 Comment |
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From a Beatles-singing Prime Minister, to political flyers accusing a Jewish MP of being an anti-Semite, from blue "Economic Action Plan" signs popping up all across the land, to a world-renowned intellectual who turned out to be a bit of a dud, 2009 was a weird year in Canadian federal politics. The Hill Times 13th Annual All Politics Poll: The Best and Worst of Politics asked Parliament Hill Insiders who they thought were the winners and losers of the year, but as everyone knows those designations can quickly change. Just ask Grit Leader Michael Ignatieff.
One hundred and fourteen politicos took part in this year's poll, including 56 Conservatives, 40 Liberals, 16 NDP, two Bloc Québécois, weighing in on the highs and lows of the year in federal politics. The Hill Times emailed all 308 MPs' offices. The survey was conducted between Nov. 27 and Dec. 11 by email, telephone, on-line, in-person on the Hill and even at the Ottawa airport check-in lines as MPs left town.
1. Who was the year's most valuable politician?
Stephen Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has come a long way this year, from an embarrassing backtrack on the economic update in which he almost lost his government, to playing the piano and singing the Beatles' Get By With A Little Help From My Friends to a titillated crowd at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Along the way he and his wife, Laureen, clapped along to Bollywood dancers in India and he will soon be playing host to the Winter Olympics in February. It's been a good turnaround that showed his chameleon-like ability to adjust to a changing landscape.
Conservative MP James Rajotte says Mr. Harper has "found his groove."
"If you look at last fall when we were certainly in some trouble, politically, to where we are now, he seems to have really found his groove and just have done an excellent job as Prime Minister, both on the political side but as well, I think more important, on the government side."
2. Who was the year's least valuable politician?
Michael Ignatieff
If there was a political pity poll, the Liberal Party's momentum score would be leagues ahead of the other federal parties. Last year luckless leader Stéphane Dion was voted the year's least valuable politician, and after a disastrous October election, followed by a failed attempt at a coalition government in December, he was offed in a bloodless coup and promptly replaced by shiny new leader Michael Ignatieff. But despite his initial popularity and media honeymoon, things didn't go as smoothly as Iggy and the Grits had hoped. In 2009 a third of respondents (including a few Liberals) voted him the least valuable politician.
Mr. Ignatieff recently brought in an experienced new team, led by Chrétien-era PMOer Peter Donolo, and recent polls have showed Mr. Harper's substantial lead shrink slightly. But 2010 will be an uphill climb for the Liberal leader. At least that's how it looks today.
3. Which public figure do you wish had run in the last election?
Frank McKenna
They say that part of the Liberal problem is they keep looking elsewhere for their Prince Charming (so far no Princess Charming on the horizon) to sweep into their leadership and charm voters into the Liberal majority they suspect Canadians really want in their heart of hearts. Frank McKenna is a prime example; the former premier of New Brunswick and ambassador to the U.S. had to issue statements to the media in both 2006 and 2008 to say he wasn't interested in the Liberal Party's top job.
Mr. McKenna is followed by retired chief of defence staff Rick Hillier and hockey commentator Don Cherry. Neither has shown interest in running for politics, although the Tories have eyed both as potential candidates in the past.
Tory MP James Rajotte told The Hill Times that Mr. Cherry has been asked to run for the Conservatives before but he's "always said no."
"I have, half-jokingly [asked Mr. Cherry}, but he prefers his current position. Rick Hillier...it'd be something to have someone of that stature and that experience in Parliament but he's very much enjoying his role as well. He's retired from the Canadian forces but he's still very active," said Mr. Rajotte.
4. Who is your favourite up and comer?
Justin Trudeau
Michael Ignatieff described him as "just so dreamy" in his speech to Liberals at the party's annual Christmas soirée, and Chantal Hébert recently wrote that his stock has "quietly risen" within Liberal ranks. The rookie MP, 37, who fought a hard battle against popular Bloc MP Vivian Barbot to win his seat in the last election, is a favourite among adoring staffers, especially the female variety. And Liberal MPs who may have once been envious of his golden boy persona now compete to get him to do events in their ridings.
He's been careful not to appear too big for his britches as a first-time MP. He put forth a modest motion to look at creating a national volunteer service policy for young people, and has spoken about how he likes the somewhat less-glamorous part of his job of doing constituency work in his riding. But he's Justin Trudeau, and so rumours of his impending run for the leadership of his party have been circulating from the moment he arrived on Parliament Hill.
5. Who made the biggest political comeback of the year?
Stephen Harper
Mr. Harper has earned his glass of champagne this New Year's Eve. After having narrowly escaped a coalition government attempt by his opponents in late 2008, and brought the country back into deficit, he has used the stimulus fund to show he's doing something for the economy while getting grateful smiles from voters for their new rinks, water treatment plants, and roads. And with the Iggy-mania that some expected failing to materialize, right now the Prime Minister is governing as if he has a majority.
6. Who is the political figure you'd most like to see make a comeback?
Tory MP Maxime Bernier
While Hillites were largely divided on which political figure they would like to see make a comeback, the bad boy from the Beauce came out on top. Maxime Bernier's rise and fall was uncharacteristically sexy in a town that's been described as "Hollywood for ugly people."
After becoming minister of foreign affairs, in 2007, he was axed from Cabinet last year after leaving classified government documents at the home of his ex-girlfriend, former biker babe Julie Couillard. But he's been a good sport.
He delivered a hilarious performance poking fun at himself at this year's Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner, pretending to have misplaced his speech as he presented Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt, who's endured a bit of scandal herself, for not losing her job.
7. What issue have politicians most shamelessly exploited for political gain?
H1N1
The H1N1 debate was considered the most shamelessly exploited issue of the year. And now that the waters have settled and doses of the vaccine are left unused, it's easy to look back and spot some glaring examples of alarmism. Take the infamous Ten Percenter, sent out by Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett, depicting a sick aboriginal child and a body bag. But in fairness to the feisty Ms. Bennett, the entire world may have been overreacting to this one, and the government's communications job was tardy and did not do much to ease the minds of Canadians.
Tory strategist Tim Powers told The Hill Times that he thinks the tone of the debate on H1N1 was inflated.
"I am glad to see voters did recognize the exploitation of the H1N1 battle and detainee debate. While the government always gets criticized for this I think the opposition were inflating these matters to a level of rhetorical ridiculousness to hide from some of their own woes."
8. What is the most important issue facing the country?
The economy
A recent poll found that while the environment was the No. 1 most important issue among "elites," for ordinary Canadians it was still the economy. So while Canada's federal political class is often derided for being out of touch, 57 per cent of them still say the economy is the biggest issue, with the environment trailing far behind with 18 per cent of the vote.
It should be noted, however, that this survey was conducted before things really started to heat up at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, where "humiliated" has been the adjective often used to describe the Canadian delegation's experience at the talks.
9. What is the most important issue that politicians aren't addressing?
Environment and climate change
From Greenpeace activists who recently scaled the West Block building on Parliament Hill and unfurled a banner attacking the Tories and the Liberals for inaction on climate change (in both official languages), to the 'Yes Men' impersonators who sent out a hoax press release on behalf of the Canadian delegation in Copenhagen, at the end of 2009 the environment was not a good issue for the government.
NDP environment critic Linda Duncan says the government "missed the boat" on climate change.
"What the government still doesn't get is it's not jobs versus environment, it's one and the same. What's being exploited is the economic recession as an excuse not to do anything about climate change. The end result is we've got further delay, which heightens the cost for Canadians to address climate change. I think that's going to be the key issue coming into the New Year," said Ms. Duncan, who spoke to The Hill Times at the airport, on her way to Copenhagen.
10. Which political promise is least likely to be kept?
Balanced budget
Last year the Prime Minister's election campaign promise that his government would not run a deficit was voted the promise least likely to be kept. Good call! This year people on Parliament Hill are just as skeptical about Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's pledge that he can balance the budget and take Canada back to the happy age of surpluses, which began in the late '90s under the Liberals and ended this year. Mr. Flaherty has said Canada will run a small surplus in 2014, but Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page said that isn't true, and the nation's bank book would still be doused in red ink by that point.
11. What was the best political book of the year?
A Soldier First: Bullets, Bureaucrats and the Politics of War, by Rick Hillier
Canada's retired chief of the defence staff Rick Hillier's memoir of his time in power made the top of the list this year. Mr. Hillier is media savvy and a well-liked personality who knows how to get the attention of Canadians.
In the book, he offers his account of confrontations with bureaucrats, politicians and the PMO, as well as his take on the detainee issue. But as the Afghan detainee scandal unfolds, Mr. Hillier's account of who knew what when could be challenged.
12. Who is your favourite talking head?
Chantal Hébert
When the popular "At Issue" panel, which convenes every Thursday night on CBC's The National, was discussing the Prime Minister's admission that he doesn't watch Canadian news, Chantal Hébert piped in the PM's defence.
"It's a sign of sanity that he would watch other news than Canadian news. And I say this as someone who does this panel but has never actually seen it," she said.
But while The Toronto Star columnist (who hates when people refer to her as "a pundit") might not like watching herself, her crisp and measured political analysis is considered gospel by many in the Ottawa bubble who chose her as their favourite talking head for the second year in a row.
13. Which talking head [television pundit/journalist] would you most like to silence? Why?
Mike Duffy
Last year the illustrious Mike Duffy gave up his CTV show to join the ranks of Conservative Senators, but he has stayed visible enough that people of Parliament Hill still voted him the talking head they'd most like to silence for the second year in a row. From a faux "interview" he did with the Prime Minister to present one of the government's economic updates, to his on air row with likeable NDP MP Peter Stoffer, the ultra-partisan P.E.I. Senator hasn't made many friends this year.
14. Which former prime minister do you most admire?
Brian Mulroney
Shakeup alert! For the first time in this poll's 13-year history the former prime minister that Parliament Hill insiders most admire is not Pierre Elliott Trudeau, it's the boy from Baie-Comeau: Brian Mulroney.
Since leaving office, in 1993, Canada's 18th prime minister has had his ups and downs. In 2005, while recovering from a bout of pancreatitis that almost killed him, he was devastated by the release of The Secret Mulroney Tapes, a tell-all book written by his former best friend, Peter C. Newman. Then a bright spot when in 2006 Mr. Mulroney was named the greenest prime minister in Canadian history for his government's environmental policies. Earlier this year he faced his biggest post-prime ministerial hurdles when there was a public inquiry into his controversial dealings with German Canadian businessman Karlheinz Schreiber, an issue that has dogged him for nearly 20 years, and which led Prime Minister Harper to order his caucus to cut ties with Mr. Mulroney in 2007.
Mr. Schreiber paid Mr. Mulroney $300,000 in cash in three instalments in 1993 and 1994, but Mr. Mulroney didn't declare the money at tax time. The Mulroney-Schreiber inquiry ended in August and is scheduled to release its report on May 31, 2010. In August, Mr. Schreiber was extradited to Germany.
But things starting looking up for Mr. Mulroney in September when a party was held in Montreal to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his first majority win. It was organized by high-powered former members of his caucus, such as Quebec Premier Jean Charest. Mr. Harper's wife, Laureen, as well as a cadre of his ministers, and the PM himself (appearing via video link) all paid their respects to the man who only a couple of years before they treated like a pariah.
The man of the hour gave a thundering speech to a rapt audience, in which he espoused the importance of long-term thinking and vision, fighting for good policy even when it's not popular, being a good steward of the environment, and making Canada a prominent player on the world stage—all things that Mr. Harper's government has been accused of lacking.
He also boasted of his historic consecutive majorities, and his electoral success in Quebec, two things that have eluded Mr. Harper.
"And so, 25 years ago today, a Conservative majority government took office for the first time since John Diefenbaker. Four years later, in the free trade election, we became the first Conservative government to win a second consecutive majority in 100 years. That night, a quarter century ago, a party basically of English Canada also became the party of French Canada; because that night, we grew from one Quebec seat to 58," said Mr. Mulroney.
15. Who was the best Cabinet minister in 2009? Why?
Transport Minister John Baird
Since the Harper government came to power, in 2006, Jim Prentice has been named best Cabinet minister every year—until now. Transport and Infrastructure Minister John Baird has long been a favourite within his own party because he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty to, as he's fond of saying, "get the job done" and defend his government at every turn. After the last election he was assigned the most important portfolio of the moment, and he's been charged with both doling out infrastructure cash, and fending off opposition critiques of the government's "Economic Action Plan."
It was an enormous task and Mr. Baird took it on cheerily and, so far, he's done well with it. He's fended off opposition cries about how fast the money has flowed, whether there are enough checks and balances, and accusations that Tory ridings are getting more than their fair share. But he's always happy to be on his feet in Question Period, boisterously brushing aside the opposition with a characteristic grin that infuriates his political opponents.
16. Who was the weakest Cabinet minister in 2009?
Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt
When it came to who Parliament Hill insiders thought were the weakest Cabinet ministers of 2009 it was all about the women. Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt was voted the weakest minister of the year, with 19 per cent of the vote. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Minister of State (Status of Women) Helena Guergis tied for second place, with 10 per cent respectively. And finally Minister for International Cooperation Bev Oda was in third place with seven per cent of the vote.
Ms. Oda and Ms. Guergis hold lower-tier portfolios and are consistently cited as being among the weakest ministers in the Harper government. Ms. Aglukkaq, a former Nunavut minister, and especially Ms. Raitt, a lawyer and former head of the Toronto Port Authority, were both hailed as future stars when they arrived in Ottawa after the last election, but both have had some bumps along the way.
Ms. Aglukkaq was criticized for her handling of the H1N1 pandemic and her wooden performance in Question Period, and Ms. Raitt became embroiled in a massive media circus after one of her aides left a binder of classified documents behind at a TV station, and then that same staffer misplaced a recorder that was picked up by a Parliament Hill journalist. The recorder contained embarrassing conversations between the aide and Ms. Raitt, including her criticizing Ms. Aglukkaq's performance in the House of Commons.
NDP MP Megan Leslie, who was also elected last year, said she thinks there's something else behind why the ministers viewed as being the weakest are all women. Ms. Leslie said recently she was on a TV panel of rookie female MPs when she said there was sexism in the House of Commons. After the interview a male minister stopped her and told her that wasn't true. She disagrees.
"It's not about getting patted on the ass anymore, that's not happening, but it is about a tone; the way that people are perceived, that this person is stoic and a good leader, and this person is catty and bitchy. So who are the weakest politicians? Women. I find that very telling. I find it telling that for all of the awards that show strength, that show leadership, that show that someone is going somewhere, there are no women named. And that's not just The Hill Times' survey, it's other surveys as well. There has to be some sort of recognition that it is a bit tough to be a woman here. If only that your colleagues don't perceive you as being powerful or having the chutzpah to get something done or be a leader," she said.
She also defended Ms. Aglukkaq's performance handling the swine flu pandemic.
"The health portfolio is a tough one this year and Leona Aglukkaq is a rookie MP and I thought she did fairly well. I don't think I could have handled that kind of pressure that's she's been under and I thought she was pretty graceful under pressure and she's been doing quite well. She's been lauded in the media for what she's been doing and yet we're stabbing her in the back," said Ms. Leslie.
17. Which Cabinet minister most respects Parliament?
Environment Minister Jim Prentice
The mild-mannered Environment Minister has long held this category. Jim Prentice represents a Calgary riding and before entering politics he worked as a lawyer. Mr. Prentice ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party in 2003 but finished second behind Peter MacKay. This is his third Cabinet post, after Indian Affairs and Industry, and possibly his toughest assignment yet. He used to also get high rankings as the best Cabinet minister overall, but got handed a difficult portfolio on which his government is weak. Mr. Prentice's name always comes up as a potential successor to Mr. Harper, but it remains to be seen whether his brand can survive the unforgiving Environment portfolio.
18. Who is the most approachable member of Cabinet?
Transport Minister John Baird
While he may be a pitbull in Parliament, Transport Minister John Baird is a kitten when he's off the clock, making him the most approachable Cabinet minister for the second year in a row. He lost his beloved cat, Thatcher, this year, which caused a bit of a media stir when Conservatives who received Mr. Baird's message about the death of Thatcher briefly thought he was referring to the former British prime minister.
19. What is the biggest problem facing Parliament itself?
Behaviour and decorum in the House
Parliamentarians and their staff, along with journalists, complain about partisanship, the yelling and heckling during Question Period and the general "impropriety of exchanges" between politicians.
This year House Speaker Peter Milliken ruled twice on Ten Percenter political flyers that were inaccurate and hurtful to the reputation of the complainant MPs, NDP MP Peter Stoffer and Liberal MP Irwin Cotler (Mount Royal, Que.). Those two cases have gone on to committee.
This may be one step towards discouraging unsightly behaviour by MPs, but the daily attacks that go on have some MPs questioning its very existence.
Conservative MP Shelly Glover said QP has become a waste of time and money and should be scrapped. She said decorum in the House is a "huge problem" and "people prepare for a long time to speak in the House and then they aren't even heard over the arguing."
"I've said publicly in the House [that] we should cancel Question Period. ... Or at least go to once a week like the British System," said Ms. Glover.
20. What was the biggest political news story in 2009?
The economy
It's become an overused political cliché, but 17 years after James Carville first uttered the phrase, it's still the economy, stupid, or it's the stupid economy, as crusading comedian Mark Thomas put it. The global recession was voted the biggest political news story of 2009 by 22 per cent of respondents, followed the Afghan detainees issues, with 15 per cent of the vote, and the H1N1 pandemic was in third place at 13 per cent.
21. Which House committee is the best on Parliament Hill? Why?
Finance
This year the House of Commons Finance Committee made it to the top, possibly reflecting concerns over the economy. The Finance Committee is a high-profile House committee that each year travels across Canada to consult with interested parties on the upcoming budget. They also meet with Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, and Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page regularly testifies at the committee. The MPs who sit on the committee are also high profile and highly respected within their caucuses.
The committee's amicable chair, Conservative MP James Rajotte said the committee has dealt with several key issues over the last year. "Starting with the very early budget in January and going through spring with issues like pensions, access to credit, obviously some issues with the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the whole issue of forecasts and then the budgetary cycle. This is obviously the second year of the two-year economic action plan, but where do we go from here going forward? How do we address the fiscal situation?"
He also credits the members for getting to know each other better over the years, which he said makes for a more productive working environment.
22. Which Senate committee is the best on Parliament Hill?
Senate National Security and Defence Committee
The Senate National Security Committee emerged as the Upper Chamber's best for the fourth year in a row. Its substantive reports and busy work schedule earned it plaudits, and it is arguably the most visible Senate committee. But it is not without its
problems.
It generated a YouTube video called 'Senators Behaving Badly' after the Conservatives and the Liberals on the committee got into a shouting match when Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, the chair, told Tory Senator Fabian Manning he couldn't ask a question, to which Sen. Manning did not take kindly.
23. Which House and/or Senate committees are a complete waste of time?
Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament
Library of Parliament takes the No. 1 spot again for worst committee. Despite their increased, headline-grabbing workload dealing with the Parliamentary Budget Office, the committee that looks at the workings of Parliamentarians' main research source is still seen as a bit dull.
It's hard to tell whether the observers didn't like the committee recommendations, which shortened the leash of the budgetary watchdog and were immediately followed up by NDP MP Paul Dewar's private member's bill recommending an independent PBO, or they don't like the idea of a joint committee, with its Senators, MPs and two chairs. But for whatever reason Hillites still don't like this committee. Previous to the PBO issue the committee didn't meet more than four times a year.
24. Who in the world would you most like to invite to dinner?
Barack Obama
While U.S. President Barack Obama's popularity has steadily eroded in his own country since he took office, he is still widely loved in Canada. And for the second year in a row he is the most coveted dinner date for Parliament Hill insiders.
His visit to Ottawa in February had Parliamentarians and reporters clamouring for some face time with Mr. Obama. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff had a picture of him and the President beamed onto a billboard in New York's Times Square, and Governor General Michaëlle Jean caused a wee controversy when she said he invited her to visit Washington.
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