Modeling Journey

Polls show that many voters feel the Liberals are out of touch with people, and secretive. Voters also feel that the Tories are out of touch and do not listen to them. Take these two polls by Angus Reid, for example:

"In Canada, 61 per cent of respondents think that the federal government led by Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper does not look after their personal interests. Additionally, seven-in-ten (71%) Canadians say that the current government does not listen to them. Two-in-five Canadians (40%) say the government manages the economy well, while 54 per cent think it does not."

And:

"How Canadians See the Liberals: At least two-in-five Canadians used the words arrogant (43%), inefficient (42%) and out of touch (41%) to describe the Liberal Party. Other mentions included dishonest (38%), secretive (32%), weak (27%) and intelligent (also 27%)."

One of the arts of a seasoned politician is to listen to the people, and to consider ways to convert negatives into positives. Because both the LPC and the CPC are viewed by a substantial portion of the electorate as being out of touch with voters, and not prepared to listen to voters, there is an opportunity for the Liberals to settle on a policy which will be applied should they become the government, and which will address this issue head on.

And in so doing clearly differentiate the Liberal brand from the Tory brand.

The LPC might consider tabling a "We Listen" policy, which contains a commitment by the Liberals that as a government they will at the very least do the following in order to ensure that voters are listened to, and that their government does tnot want to be out of touch with the concerns of ordinary Canadians:

1. Set up an internet site which allows Canadians to provide input on selected topics, including topics suggested by Canadians themselves.

2. Provide that votes in Parliament will be open votes, with MPs allowed to vote their conscience or as their constituents wish them to vote; and restrict votes subject to whips to the most essential ones.

3. Commit that Liberal MPs will no longer behave like adolescents in the House, but will treat Parliament and the other MPs with respect, even if this treatment is not reciprocated. Any Liberal MP who does not behave in accordance with this new code of conduct is to be severely disciplined.

4. Undertake to hold meetings every six months with the other parties in the House to discuss the Liberal government's policies, and to obtain input from those other parties on matters that those parties believe are important and should be addressed. These meetings should be public and open to the media. If the Liberal government decides not to pursue topics raised by the other parties, it will publicly explain its reasons for not doing so.

5. Give private members bills a higher probability of being brought to the House for votes to be held on them.

6. Establish Cross-Party Groups similar to those in the Scottish Parliament (these groups provide an opportunity for MPs of all parties, outside organisations and members of the public to meet and discuss a shared interest in a particular cause or subject).

7. Establish an e-petition system similar to the one used in the Scottish Parliament to allow the public to present to the House a petition that the House look into a matter of national interest or consider changes to laws or the introduction of new laws.

8. Strengthen the power and increase the funding of the civil service to review government budgets, and to issue independent analyses of the budgets. The Liberal government will undertake to discuss publicly its agreement or disagreement with any such analyses.

9. Commit to reviewing in an appropriate manner (including public participation) methods to improve or replace the first past the post system of representation in the House.

Adopting these types of commitments in the near future will be the beginning of the Liberals rise in voter approval. Applying them when in government will ensure a majority government in the following election.

Oh, and sponsoring such a reform agenda will enable Ignatieff to persuade people that he is not a business-as-usual kind of politician.