[Dion]

What do former political leaders have to offer? Hypocrisy!

Our former leaders are either completely lacking in self-awareness or think Canadians have the memory of gnats. First there was Paul Martin, the finance minister who cut $25 billion in spending to end Canada’s chronic deficits, publicly supporting the Liberals’ plan to return to the red.

Next up was Jean Chretien, the man whose government imposed a $975 “head tax” on refugees who applied for permanent residence, excoriating the Harper government for supposedly being “cold-hearted” towards refugees.

And finally, there was the spectacle of Alison Redford, the woman whose interest in “change” ceased the moment she took the reins of the premiership (and who managed to take the Tories’ complacency and entitlement to yet another level), arguing about the need for — you guessed it — “change.”

With just over a week to go, this campaign will undoubtedly yield further lessons yet. For Canadians’ sake, let’s hope it’s not too many.

http://calgaryherald.com/opinion/col...campaign-trail