The Harper Conservatives are a principled government. There are a number of instances that demonstrate a willingness to do what it believes is right, not just what is popular.
Whether you agree with those positions or not – such are signs of leadership. Clearly, there has been skillful political navigation at work, all the more notable, given the minority position of this government.
However, every few years we have political realities that come into play. In order to continue to be able to do the right thing, the party – any governing party – has to try to stay in power. As a result, populist polls become more of a factor in official pronouncements.
Perhaps this is why we have seen some anomalies in recent weeks from Industry Canada. Why did Minister Prentice pull back this week from introducing new copyright legislation, already put on the Order Paper? Why a sudden reversal from the free market approach of Minister Bernier in dealing with the rules for the spectrum auction?
One of the recommendations of the Telecom Policy Review Panel (TPRP) was to move the responsibilities for spectrum management out of Industry Canada. At the time, I thought this kind of reorganization should be a low priority. The political aspects of the recent spectrum decision, called into question in a column in Monday’s Ottawa Citizen, makes one wonder if the same result would have been delivered had a politically independent body been charged with making the determination. Such decisions should be based on a long view, not political expediency.
A 2002 OECD report that reviewed Canada’s regulatory reform observed the potential problems that could arise:
There is no evidence that the present structure has caused any conflict. Nevertheless in that wireless communications is increasing in importance a differentiation between policy and regulation, as is the case for the rest of the industry, would be preferable.
This paragraph was cited in the report from the TPRP in developing its recommendation 5-10 to “provide more stability through open and transparent processes free from political pressure”.
I think many Canadians – both individuals and business leaders – prefer predictable leadership. It is easier to plan that way. After all, we elect leaders to lead, not respond to the latest polls or the loudest bloggers – present company excluded, of course.
Update [December 20, 3:10 pm]
Terence Corcoran of the Financial Post has a commentary, The Telecom Trotskyites, that raises similar issues in today’s paper.