Brison's choice should serve us well

We may have mixed feelings on recently re-elected Kings-Hants MP Scott Brison not seeking the Liberal leadership if it were to open, or not to accept any offer to return to the Conservative fold if offered a cabinet position.

The defeat of the Liberals under Stephane Dion last week – with the lowest level of support the party ever received – immediately sparked speculation on the leadership and when, not if, a race would take place.

Like many in the party, Brison said it was too early to speculate on Dion’s position. But if there were to be a leadership convention, he would not be a contender.

This comes after Brison had sought the federal Progressive Conservative leadership prior to that party’s merger with the Reform/Alliance entity to form the Conservative Party.

The Kings-Hants MP remustered to the Paul Martin Liberals upon the late 2003 merger and then served as the conservative Liberal Martin’s public works minister.

Following the defeat of Martin’s minority government in 2006, Brison sought the Liberal leadership. A surprise victory by Dion at the Montreal convention that year left doubts about the leadership choice – a situation that culminated in the current circumstances.

We have to acknowledge there is a certain ego involved in having an MP in the cabinet and one who has sought the leadership of one – or both – major federal parties.

But we have to look at what serves the people of King-Hants the best. After all, we had in the recent past criticized Brison for not appearing as accessible as he had once been. He seemed to be gallivanting about on party business and not minding the constituency’s.

On top of that, there has been national apathy concerning the election. Perhaps it was the players, or that people expected another minority government, or maybe the fact that an arguably more exciting process was taking place in the republic to the south. Whatever the reason, the election had the lowest turnout ever in a federal vote – about 60 per cent. The province met that level and Kings-Hants came in at 58.9 per cent participation by eligible voters.

The incumbent received 16,643 votes, or 44.2 per cent of the 37,661 valid ballots cast in the Oct. 14 election. This holds up compared to the 19,491, or 45.6 per cent of the 42,784 cast in 2006, and the 17,555, or 46.6 per cent of 37,661 in 2004.

What has declined is voter participation. Somebody isn’t reaching out to voters. Add to the mix that in this province we have been celebrating 250 years of the beginnings of legislative democracy and great efforts have been expended to engage young people into the political process. Yet only the national average voted.

It seems Brison has a solid sense of this. Leadership contention or accepting a cabinet enticement to return to the Tories sounds good on the surface, but what would they actually do for voters.

His choice to do more and better constituency work and to work harder with other parties in making Parliament function more efficiently and effectively are certainly good choices. They are worthy of someone of Brison’s high capabilities and ideals.

We can only hope that, in the absence of Brison’s name from the leadership ballot this time around, the Liberals chose someone worthy and capable of leading the party back to its roots and effectiveness. Let’s remember, our esteemed MP is still a young man and is going to remain such for quite a few years. His time and opportunities will come.