Christine Elliott: sore loser

On August 28, Christine Elliott, the widow of Canada’s legendary finance minister Jim Flaherty, announced her immediate resignation as Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP). She was most recently re-elected to represent the riding of Whitby – Oshawa in the Provincial Parliament on June 12, 2014. Ontario’s next election is scheduled for Oct 4, 2018.

For a year, she had been running to succeed Tim Hudak as the new leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. The leadership vote was on May 9 of this year. She lost to Patrick Brown. According to the newspapers, she has not been seen inside the provincial legislature since her defeat. The new party leader Patrick Brown had, apparently, “reached out to her numerous times” but according to The Star, she has only been in text or e-mail communication with him.

In my opinion, by resigning barely a year into her four-year term of office, she is doing the constituents of Whitby – Oshawa a disservice. She was elected to represent them in the provincial legislature until the next election. Barring some unforeseen circumstance, she owes it to her constituents to stick it out. Losing a leadership bid does not count as such a circumstance - becoming party leader would have simply been icing on the cake. There are plenty of MPP’s in Queen’s Park who are able to serve their constituents perfectly well without becoming party leader. I know that she had also recently lost her husband, but as his death - April 10, 2014 - was before last provincial election (June 12, 2014), she had the opportunity to drop out. Her loss also did not prevent her from subsequently seeking party leadership. As a result, she cannot now plead personal grief as an excuse for resigning form politics.

Another example of such behaviour occurred after former Prime Minister Paul Martin lost the 2006 Federal election to Stephen Harper. After the loss, he rarely showed up in Parliament. Then-NDP leader Jack Layton was right when he called Martin out for his selfish behaviour. Because, in spite of his personal setbacks, he still represented the federal riding of LaSalle – Emard until Oct 14, 2008. The good people of LaSalle – Emard deserved better than a sulking, absentee MP. Incidents like this demonstrate that many elected officials care more about their own career prospects and personal vanity than they do in representing their constituents.

The gold standard for how an elected official should behave when he loses comes from former Australian Prime Minister John Howard. He represented the Division of Bennelong the Australian House of Representatives from 1974 to 2007. He was the Australian Prime Minster from 1996 to 2007. He is the second longest serving Australian Prime Minister ever and was elected Prime Minister for four terms. On Dec 3, 2007, he not only lost the election to Labour, but he lost his own seat.

His concession speech was one of the most remarkable I have ever heard. Instead of being downcast and gloomy and bitter, like many, he cheerfully thanked the voters of Australia for the privilege of allowing him to serve the good people of Bennelong and Australia.

It is said that in hardship, the true worth of one’s character comes out. On Dec 3, 2007, John Howard demonstrated that his character was made of gold. Too bad many of our elected representatives are made of less noble stuff.

 

Comments

[canadianna]

To be fair, when a loved one dies, rational thought sometimes goes out the window. She was likely pressured to keep going, be strong, keep herself busy. Grief is a very personal thing. It doesn't adhere to a schedule and it doesn't stop for plans. I'd say, cut her a break. She's served well.

[D'Arcy McGee]

Good article, Christine has disappointed many people who put their lives on hold to help her during her campaign. Unfortunately, she underestimated Brown, & when she & her team recognized they were in a battle, it was to late
Yes, she was let down by many of her caucus who purported to be with her, & then did little, but to walk away in a snit, hurts those who did not.
Very disappointed in her actions

[Cincinnatus]

Dear Canadianna:

It's funny how Christine Elliot's grief at the loss of her husband didn't really come to the fore until after she lost her leadership bid.

[JohnT]

I supported Christine for the leadership but after it was over it became evident that she ran a poorly organized campaign. Her heart just didn't seem in it somehow. And I'm not really sure she was/is tough enough or different enough from the Wynne Liberals to really take them on and defeat them. Look, when Deb Matthews started defending her, I knew she was not the one to be leader. Brown? We'll have to see, but Wynne-lite (which I believe Elliott is) just won't cut it. The McGuinty-Wynne Liberals need to be confronted and unceremoniously booted from office. And I think now that Christine just wasn't up to that most necessary task.

[canadianna]

That's exactly my point. She put her grief on hold in order to be 'strong' and do what's expected. It's 'the show must go on' mentality. It doesn't mean grief wasn't there, burbling under the surface. A campaign will give you something to focus on besides your grief. Once it's over, you can finally wallow in it if need be. I believe that's what she did.

[Toronto Whistle Blower]

I have to agree with Canadianna.

She followed her husband into politics and maybe with his death, her heart is no longer in it.

It is a tough road to be in politics and it is better to leave before you burn out or it gets the better of you.

[Autoguy]

I'm kinda on the other side of the fence. Representing your constituents should be more than a job that you just leave when you like - even if the reason is valid. I also don't like that she ran for leadership of the party. That tells me that her grief wasn't the motivating factor.