Opposition Report Card

Now that we’re about halfway through the election campaign, it’s a good time to evaluate the performances of two of the opposition party leaders who are hoping to oust Jean Chretien as Prime Minister. This week I’m looking at Joe Clark and Stockwell Day. This evaluation is based on my own personal observations of speeches, interviews, and comments by the leaders, independent of the results of any polls taken during the campaign.

Joe Clark (Progressive Conservative Party) Mark: A-

Poor Mr. Clark. According to a recent poll, he’s running a distant third in the riding of Calgary Centre, behind Eric Lowther (Canadian Alliance) and Joanne Levy (Liberal) respectively. To some extent this was predictable, as for reasons unknown the Tory leader chose to run in the heart of Alliance country. It’s unfortunate however, because of all the leadership candidates I have found his performance the most impressive. He makes his points quite effectively, and unlike Day, he doesn’t need to resort to a seemingly endless supply of props to do so. As soon as the election was announced, he came out strong, criticizing Chretien’s decision to hold an election only three-and-a-half years into his mandate. “You’ve heard of Madonna’s Blonde Ambition tour?” he asked an audience. (I’m paraphrasing). “Well this is the Prime Minister’s Blind Ambition tour.”

Hokey? Of course. But it beats hearing the word arrogant over and over, which seemed to be the only adjective the remaining opposition parties and their collective staff could come up with to describe the Prime Minister. (Somebody needs to introduce these people to a thesaurus). Clark was similarly effective when speaking before a gathering of eastern farmers. “You’ll love this,” he told them as he announced the PC’s Federal Agriculture Stabilization Program – “it’s called FAST for short – and nothing about the Liberal government was ever fast.”

In the ensuing weeks he’s continued in the same vein, driving home the PC theme of “change you can trust” but getting little media coverage. Public attendance at meetings where Clark is speaking have at times been embarrassingly low. This week, several high profile members of both the Liberal and NDP parties announced they are banding together and voting for Clark in an effort to defeat Eric Lowther. I don’t blame them – I’d probably vote for him myself if I lived in the riding. You go get ‘em, Joe.

Stockwell Day (Canadian Alliance Party) Mark: B-

Go To Page: 1 2