Why I am a Liberal!

I am a Liberal for many reasons, the first being the very fact that it was under the Liberal Government that, as a gay man, I was able to marry the man I love. This is the first thing I will forever be indebted to the party for. However, that does not define solely why I am a Liberal.

I am a Liberal as I believe strongly in Canada. I believe in sovereignty as a country. I do not want to be an American. Yes, I understand that we are closely tied, but still very different and I believe in Canada’s strengths and the subtleties that make us truly distinct. Our agenda needs to be strongly defined within a diplomatic and reasonable context.

I love our country and all it stands for. I believe we should take care of each other with strong social programs. I believe in Universal Health Care. I believe in the CBC, a strong Canadian voice broadcasting and embracing the wonderful differences of all corners of the country.

I believe we live in a small world that has all its inhabitants closely intertwined. I believe in diplomacy. I believe in understanding other cultures and nations and not pushing ourselves on the world, but working with others to create strong and mutually beneficial relationships.

I believe in a Canada that is made up of many different cultures. I love the fabric of the country that is made up of many different ways of thinking. I DO NOT believe we are a melting pot, where everyone has to become one idea of Canada. I believe in a cultural mosaic that is full of all the wonderful things that come with a diverse country. I believe our country continues to evolve as the make up of our country changes. I do understand that change will not always be easy.

Being Liberal is not easy, especially in Alberta. This is a culture that is conservative without even really knowing why they are Conservative. This is a province full of people that can’t pass the word Liberal through their lips without some kind of physical reaction. However I think the majority of “Conservatives” in Alberta are more Liberal than they care to admit.

These are the people that want to be fiscally conservative, but they also enjoy and are proud of having universal health care, great education systems, pensions for when they are old and employment insurance for when they lose their jobs. These are the good people that want to take care of their fellow Canadians. They want a strong economy with safeguards that don’t let greed destroy the very lifestyle we have all worked hard to create.

These conservatives I speak of just don’t realize that things they hold so dear are some of the most basic fundamentals of being a Liberal in Canada. This is very far from where the Conservatives would take this country if they reach a majority under the leadership of Stephen Harper and therefore the main reason why I will never be a Conservative. I believe if the Conservatives had won a majority earlier, I believe their “be American” laissez-faire government philosophy would have seen changes that would have allowed regulations to be relaxed and put as a greater risk for an even worse recession then we are right now.

Why I am not a Conservative. I do not believe that we have to bow down to the Americans. I do not believe that we have to follow the agenda of the United States. I do believe they are great neighbours that offer us a lot, but that does not mean we do not need to stick up for ourselves as Canadians.

I do not believe in squashing people who don’t meet a certain criteria. I do not believe that religion has any place in government. I believe in allowing people of all faiths, sexual orientations, genders and cultures to have equal freedom and respect.

I am a Liberal and proud of it.