Posted by Sudbury Northern Life 
Toronto - What is a Liberal? People are wondering because
Premier Dalton McGuinty seems to be moving in so many different
directions at once.
In almost a single breath, in his recent budget, the Liberal
premier harmonized some of Ontario with federal taxes, which
suited most business, increased benefits for poorer children,
eased corporate taxes, offered families $1,000 each
compensation and then mused he might delay raising the minimum
wage.
The premier appeared to be all over the political map and has
prompted speculation on what being a Liberal is.
McGuinty rarely philosophizes on what he does, but said
recently, on economic issues, the Progressive Conservatives
complain he is too far left and New Democrats complain he is
too far right, so he must be doing something properly.
The last Liberal premier to ruminate on this topic was David
Peterson, who boasted two decades ago on a visit to the United
States, perhaps hoping he could get away with it there,
Liberalism is "by far the finest political philosophy the world
has yet evolved."
Other parties did not see it the same way and the New
Democrats, the only party that regularly commits all its
philosophies to paper, particularly tried to straighten him
out.
Bob Rae, who later defeated and succeeded Peterson as premier,
defined a Liberal as "someone who does not know how to be
embarrassed."
Howard Hampton, who followed Rae as NDP leader, suggested a
Liberal is "someone who campaigns from the left and governs
from the right" and finance critic Floyd Laughren suggested a
Liberal is "a person who has his mind open at both ends."
Elie Martel, another New Democrat, said a Liberal is "someone
who can be anything he wants to be at any time and depending on
where he is."
Another assessment going the rounds was "a Liberal is someone
who will shake your hand before an election and shake your
confidence afterwards."
Peterson went on to argue Liberalism is "all about freedom and
justice." He said Liberals feel an obligation to provide an
environment in which people are guaranteed real freedoms from
oppression, poverty, sickness and unemployment.
Conservatives, he said, also want freedoms for individuals, but
simply through having less government, so the weak and
vulnerable get trampled.
Peterson said the NDP wants to turn to government to solve
every problem, while the Liberals feel government should
intervene only where the private sector is unable or unwilling
to take actions needed in the public interest.
Peterson summed up by saying Liberalism is compassion, sharing
and caring, but his party in government has not always lived up
to this.
Elie Martel, another New Democrat, said a Liberal is
"someone who can be anything he wants to be
at any time and depending on where he is."
Under Peterson, one child in seven in Toronto was fed
through a food bank and he increased the provincial sales tax,
which fell harder on the poor.
Peterson also was defeated partly because he spent too much
time in tuxedoes and crimson cummerbunds at theatre first
nights and was accused, in a common phrase of the day, of
living a "lifestyle of the rich and famous."
The McGuinty Liberals also are not always compassionate and
caring, although they have brought in more laws to protect
residents from dangers including smoking, traffic collisions
and vicious dogs than any previous government.
But, to cite a couple of recent exceptions, McGuinty privately
told business, which was a receptive audience, he might delay a
commitment to increase the minimum wage to a still measly
$10.25 an hour next year.
When news media found out, he explained he had been musing
aloud and the minimum wage hike would go ahead as planned.
The premier also has defended a policy of providing information
to parents that will enable them to avoid sending their
children to schools with the lowest marks and most students
from low-income and immigrant families.
The Liberals ironically won the 2007 election opposing funding
more faith-based schools on the ground this would group
students in schools based on religion, when they should be
educated together, not divided - Liberals can be as flexible as
elastic.
Eric Dowd is a veteran member of the Queen's Park press
gallery.
