An open letter to Mr. Dion and the leadership of the Liberal Party.

May 1, 2008

When Hitler invaded Poland in 1939 it signaled the commencement of war for England. Winston Churchill was appointed Prime Minister of a coalition government.

The threat posed by Hitler was recognized by Churchill and it was clear to him that he needed the cooperation of all parties to the government.

Today we are faced with another threat, one more dangerous than that faced by Britain in 1939.

Human beings are today faced with the effects of the long abuse of our planets environment. In Canada, as in many other Western countries there has been far too little recognition of the danger we face and how small the window of time, granted us to do something about it. Under such immediate peril one would think that there would be the formation of a coalition government, but such is not the case. The Conservative government seeks to downplay the serious nature of the issue while allowing industry's major polluters to continue polluting unchecked.

The Liberals, for their part seem to have faded from the debate and have failed to support the wishes of the majority of Canadians who now have begun to recognize the danger and are frustrated that their leaders continue to play politics in a time of such crisis.

I wonder what will be the equivalent to Hitlers's invasion of Poland? I wonder what leader will see the crisis clearly and enroll his fellow representatives in a coalition government? As in Churchill's time, all the resources available need to be brought to bear and that would require the cooperation of a coalition government.

It seems to me you've had an amazing opportunity to map out a strategy that would bring the Canadian People behind you on this the most serious issue of our time, and yet after these past years in opposition there has been nothing. The Canadian people are ahead of their leaders on this issue and I wonder if you will ever step up and provide the leadership needed, the leadership of which I thought you capable?

I have written Mr. Dion several times but get little or no response. I had my publisher send him a copy of my most recent book, "Uncommon Reason," in which I have tried to draw attention to these and other issues with which we are faced. All to no avail it would seem.

Come the next election unless there is drastic change I will not vote for the Liberal party. I was a strong supporter of Mr. Trudeau and I sorely miss his leadership today.

What, Mr. Dion, are you prepared to do? The privilege of leadership is not to further your own aims as in your oft repeated mantra, "I want to be the next Prime Minister of Canada." This turns me off completely.

I would for my part offer you my support to be the Prime Minister but it would only come when you dropped such a self absorbed approach and told me what you were prepared to do for the Canadian people. Leadership, to my mind, is a position of ultimate and selfless service. Are you prepared for that? These are not rhetorical questions to Mr. Dion and the leadership, I would very much like to hear your answers.

Sincerely,
Colin D. Mallard, Ph.D.