Today's news about the resignation of foreign affairs minister Maxime Bernier is truly unfortunate, and for so many reasons. While we can debate Bernier's judgement (or lack thereof) until we are blue in the face, the bottom line is that this is a tragic downfall that is sad to watch. This is a very talented man who was probably in over his head at foreign affairs. He is an economics guy, and putting him there in the first place was probably a msitake.
The media is having a field day (
National Post headline this morning: "Bumbling Bernier Quits") and most media attention is being paid to the
interview given by his ex-girlfriend about this supposedly secret document he accidentally left at her house. However,
David Mader is one of the few picking up on the other significance of this resignation:
Bernier's fall is a blow to the Canadian conservative movement; here was a supremely promising MP, a committed and thoughtful conservative, telegenic and with a safe Quebec seat. Perhaps Foreign Affairs was too much responsibility too soon; perhaps he would never have been up to the job; perhaps he's simply the victim of a parliament without discernible purpose. I leave it to others to explain his failures. But his resignation should be a wake-up call to Canadian conservatives and a catalyst to renewed efforts to create a comprehensive counter-establishment dedicated to the spread of conservative principles.Indeed, the loss of Bernier from cabinet is a painful blow to the conservative wing of the Conservative Party. Bernier was a different kind of Quebec politician, the likes of which we haven't seen for a long time. He was cut from a different cloth than Verner, Cannon and Fortier. To call him a breath of fresh air is not only clichéd but an understatement: He was not one to toe the "Quebec line" of ceaselessly defending special treatment, government subsidies and more equalization for Quebec. This isn't just conservative, its tremendously courageous. He didn't buy into the tribal attitude that we see from so many status quo Quebec politicians -- he was and is a true believer. I saw him as a future leadership contender.
Someday, once this storm has blown over, Bernier might be able to make a comeback. Other talented people
have clawed their way back from worse. Count me among those hoping he does.
UPDATE:
Read this.
