For most of my life, politics was something I watched, wrote about, argued about and occasionally yelled at the television about. I never grew up dreaming about holding office, and I certainly never imagined building a political party.
What interested me was Canada.
Over the years, I became increasingly frustrated by how difficult we’ve made it to have an ordinary political conversation. Everything needs a team. Every idea needs a label. If a Conservative proposes something, Liberals are expected to hate it. If a Liberal proposes something, Conservatives are supposed to find the fatal flaw before lunch.
Meanwhile, most Canadians are just trying to live their lives.
That’s eventually what pulled me from commenting on public life into participating in it. I founded the United Canadian Centrist Party because I believe there’s room for a different kind of politics, one that isn’t frightened of borrowing a good idea from the other side and doesn’t pretend compromise is surrender.
I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. In fact, I’d be suspicious of anyone who did.
Public life should be a conversation between people who care enough about their country to disagree, listen, reconsider and occasionally admit the other person has a point.
That’s also what this section of the site is going to be about.
The Canadianist has its purpose. The party website certainly has its purpose. This isn’t either of those.
This is where I’ll share some of what happens around the edges. Experiences from the road. People I meet. Things I see while travelling around for the party or The Canadianist. Behind-the-scenes moments that don’t really belong in a news story or a policy paper. Occasionally something that made me laugh, surprised me or left me thinking about it three days later.
Some of these stories might only be interesting to me and a handful of other people. That’s okay too.
I’m still a writer. I’m still an entrepreneur. I’m still the guy who can spend an unreasonable amount of time thinking about restaurants, radio, music, books and what we’re having for dinner.
I just happen to be involved in politics now, too.
Not because I believe I’m the person who’s going to fix Canada.
Because I believe we can do some things better.
And there should be a few good stories along the way.