A time for the ultimate in collaboration

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On the morning after the throne speech and the prime minister’s message to Canadians, I am reflecting on what this time means to Canadians.

Here in Southwestern Ontario we have been in a bit of a COVID bubble because our numbers (except for Windsor) have been so low. But this is certainly a critical moment for many in our country as the second wave numbers surge.

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I appreciate that it is the Opposition’s duty to critique the government but I was deeply disappointed and disturbed that Erin O’Toole took the opportunity to turn his reaction to the throne speech into a partisan moment. (Since his message was pre-recorded, it wasn’t a reaction to the prime minister’s message.)

I would be the first to admit that the Liberal government has made some mistakes and that the throne speech focused on things that they are already working on or have promised to do. However, if we have learned one thing in the pandemic, it is that political leaders can and should work collaboratively in times of crisis (and, hopefully, at other times, too.)  Doug Ford’s Conservative Ontario team working collaboratively with the federal Liberal government is a good example of how this can happen.

Right now we need balance, wisdom, collaboration and no federal election to distract us from the crisis. This is a serious moment and a time when we should put aside partisan rhetoric and pull together. I sincerely hope that our political representatives at the provincial and federal levels in this area, Ben Lobb and Lisa Thompson, will urge their party to do this.

Dorothy Brown Henderson

Exeter