The biggest questions for Tories aren’t about a new leader
"Frankly, if opposing those in power because it’s easy, and avoiding tough questions because they are difficult, is what will govern Conservative comportment between now and 2019, then the democratic electoral right to replace an incumbent government will be hollow indeed. The privilege must be earned. And neither complacency about past mistakes nor naiveté about why and how 2015 was a well-deserved defeat will get Conservatives, or their leader, any closer to government in any real or justified way for many years to come."
HUGH SEGAL
The biggest questions for Tories aren’t about a new leader
Hugh Segal is master of Massey College at the University of Toronto and a former Conservative senator. His new book, Two Freedoms: Canada’s Global Future, will be published in April.
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Release of the Conservative Party’s rules and spending limits for its leadership race will no doubt elicit much speculation about which candidates, putative or genuine, will take part. However attractive the lure of the “horse race” narrative may be, it is a narrative that is premature and, as is the case with any personality-driven leadership discussion, distressingly shallow. But being premature and shallow may only commend it to those who prefer the horse race to the more challenging debate required on principles and purpose.
If there is to be a viable and modern centre-right set of humane policy choices in a truly competitive election, Conservatives have much work to do that precedes, and is more important than, choosing the next leader.
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