The Buring Platform: Culture Change in Canadian Politics

The Prime Minister may be doing the best he can with the tools he has, and given the political context in which he's operating.

Very prescient statement from Den Tandt.  Does Harper think his approach is the right one for society on the whole?  Probably.  Is it?  No.  We're seeing a decline in civility, in our international reputation, in the cohesion of our union and the stability of our society as a result.

But none of that matters when you're putting the win before the big picture.

Meanwhile, how many MPs feel like they're not in control and don't even know who they work for?  The partisan culture inside our Legislatures is increasingly toxic, but that's nothing compared to the response politicians get from every-day citizens.

Which is why, from top to bottom, we have to stop looking for grievances, scapegoats or individual wins.

It's not any one man who's the problem .  It's our political culture that needs to change, and that can't happen from the inside alone.

You can't have Open Government without a Responsible Society.