Looking ahead to a national new year

Last year was pretty exciting.

The surprise Tory victory on January 23 promised to be more than just a change of government. In fact, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government seems to have marked the beginning of a national change in attitude. The boom in the Alberta oil patch seems to have drawn the focus of the whole country away from the centre for a change - right down to local Maritime communities, where trades people and labourers of various skills are being drawn away.

After a quiet speech by Harper, it appears we are indeed starting to identify by our accomplishments - and the sacrifices we've made to realize them; not by the services we use.

It's going to take more than the New Year to get Canadians into this mindset of self-reliance and ambition, and out of the old one of entitlement and dependency.

There is no choice.

The country outside the Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto triangle is coming more to the fore. After all, it's the voters from outside that area that helped elect the minority Harper government.

Let's face it, even the Afghan mission is very much a small-town war - fought largely by those from the West, Atlantic Canada and Northern Ontario.

The environmental issues are also likely to show a more rural flavour - one more in tune with reality, closer to the actual harvest and processing of primary resources and who know the environment and economy have to compromise - and that there is money to be made in environmental technology.



Brison's blue-green message

As for the Liberals, former Tory Kings-Hants MP Scott Brison has brought that very idea to the Grit table, only to have lost his bid to be party leader. As co-chair of the new election policy committee, he has another chance to get his message more time before that crowd.

We will see if he has the clout to do that, and if the Liberals have the intricate knowledge of the needs of a potentially rich, developing country - one they had long and wrongfully proclaimed a developed economic power.

The environment may be the top, or close to it, in some polls, but people will soon change their views if employment and comforts are directly affected in any quick-fix remedy.



Taking a stand, any stand

In foreign affairs, we're more active than ever.

Harper has taken a strong stand on the Afghan mission - begun by Chrétien as a less than clever means to keep Canadian troops out of Iraq.

The Americans and Brits will be out of Iraq in just over a year from now. Canadian forces, however, are in Afghanistan for the long haul - regardless of Harper's extension to February, 2009.

The Harper government has taken a strong stand on support for Israel. Don't forget, that region is one in which strength and the will to use it are admired, respected and heeded. Foreign Minister Peter MacKay is out and about trying to start a Middle East peace initiative. It has as much chance of success as any so far - between slim and none - but our strong stand at least somewhere will turn out to be an asset.

Agree with either issue or not, it's better to have a strong view on matters and not rely on nuances.

And then there is the matter of Senate reform. I agree with the Tories something has to be done. To me, it should be made regionally equitable and effective. The Tories are intent on making it elected. Nah - unless, of course, it's left up to the provinces how senators are elected or appointed, and from among whom.



Fitting into new job

Meanwhile, new Liberal leader Stephane Dion, a former cabinet minister in the Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin governments, is getting used to his new job.

Many of us will look upon the surprise winner of the leadership convention last month as a throw back to the Chrétien days from any advances made by Martin. Chrétien is even said to be offering the new leader some election advice. For his part, in a recent interview, Dion downplayed any contact with Chrétien.

As I've said before, the Liberals have to keep Chrétien and his flawed Trutopian legacy well behind them if they ever hope to be trusted with power again.

Will Harper try to get his majority government this year? Possibly, but it's really up to the opposition Liberals - who will likely figure out they do have problems - and the NDP and Bloc Quebecois.