Harper was in a tough spot: form a cabinet without representation from any of Canada’s major cities or do something he campaigned against and violate the principles he espoused. Over the last several years Harper has supported proposals for an elected senate and legislation that would force those who crossed the floor into a bi-election. Yet recently in forming a cabinet he violated these two principles in favour of ensuring representation from the cities.
A tough balance: representation vs one’s own principles. One of these two alternative had to be chosen; there is no way out. Each choice results in disappointment, but may be we can take some consolation in the choice of representation over the alternative. Violating one’s principles is always a tricky issue, but in the specifics of this case they are principles of a party or a man; representation is a principle of a way of life for all free peoples.
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