| Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning says he’s always been an admirer of Calgary Eyeopener editor Bob Edwards’s keen satire and is honoured to be the recipient of this year’s Bob Edwards Award from Alberta Theatre Projects.
"Today, politicians in particular take themselves so seriously that some of that spirit of (Edwards’s) of poking more fun at (politics) is badly needed," says Manning.
The award and accompanying luncheon, established in 1974 as a fundraiser for ATP, recognizes Canadian authors and journalists "who exemplify the spirit of freedom of expression and enjoy reputations for social conscience, political incorrectness and insatiable curiosity." Edwards was a legendary Calgary journalist renowned for mocking public figures and politicians.
Manning, who served as a member of Parliament from 1990 until 2002 and was Opposition leader from 1997 until 2000, is the author of two bestselling books, The New Canada and Think Big: My Adventures in Life and Democracy. As a Bob Edwards Award recipient, he joins a long list of luminaries that ranges from CanLit stars like Margaret Atwood and Timothy Finley to TV satirist Rick Mercer, last year’s winner.
When Manning looks at the state of Canadian politics today, he says he’s extremely concerned about public attitudes towards the political process.
"There’s a lot of disillusionment, particularly nationally, with politics, and the participation rates of people voting has declined quite badly the last number of years," he says. "Partly it’s the kind of paralysis of a minority parliament, the ethical clouds that were generated by the sponsorship scandal and things like that. It’s a discouraging time for a lot of people who were active in politics and there’s a need for things to revitalize it."
Manning is also predicting another national unity crisis if the Liberals get re-elected.
"I think if the Liberals should be returned with even a minority government in the next election you’ll have an explosion in Quebec and an explosion in Western Canada," he says. "Quebec will say, ‘These are the guys that humiliated us by the sponsorship scandal… and yet big parts of Canada, particularly Ontario and Atlantic Canada, don’t seem to care that they did this to us.’ So you’ll have an explosion in Quebec and Western Canada, where stealing public money is really considered an offensive activity."
But Manning remains optimistic about Canada’s democratic process and says people can bring about change.
"I say to people today that want to change the national agenda, no matter how they want to change it – if they want to change foreign policy or greater emphasis on the environment or health care reform – that you can take those tools, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom to persuade others, and you can still go a long way if you work hard at it," he says.
The Bob Edwards Award luncheon takes place Tuesday, October 11 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Downtown. There will be a VIP reception at 7:30 p.m., also at the Hyatt. Former Reform Party MP Deborah Grey will host the reception. |
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