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Originally Posted by Bunk
Exhibit A - Stephen Harper's 'conservative' government, which is for all intents and purposes is indistinguishable in policy from the governing liberals of the late 1990s - minus some of the lethargy and political scandal).
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One of the more admirable things about Harper's government is its confrontation and discussion of a Canadian identity, and attempt, which may or may not be futile, to foster this through the new citizenship booklet and other things. They also pay far more attention to the West- they are a truly nationwide party. This is a far cry from the Liberals, IMO, for whom the Eastern bias holds true in my eyes. The Liberals, if they were still in power, would be almost unconsciously continuing to divide Canada into racial/ethnic groupings, while the Tories are taking the far nobler line of action of speaking to Canadians at large, and immigrants within the context of becoming Canadian and contributing to Canada.
As for most of the policy being pretty pragmatic and centrist, that's the way Canada always should be, and it's the way I always hope it will be. The moment this country is dominated by ideologues is the moment it ceases to really be Canada to me. Hopefully not in my lifetime.