On Leadership

There are two ways to exercise leadership. One is to arrive in a position of power with a vision and execute that vision without alienating those around you. The other is to be in a position of power during some sort of destabilizing event and navigate the ensuing chaos back to a degree of normalcy.

For the past few months, the Prime Minister Harper has shown a decided lack of what we would define as leadership. In fact, reactionary is a better word. Upon hearing that the Bloc Quebecois were about to introduce a motion regarding Quebec sovereignty, Harper beat them to the punch. With the election of former Liberal Environment Minister, Stephane Dion, Harper scrambles to replace the universally criticized Rona Ambrose. However, Harper's subsequent interview on who he considered to be part of the Quebecois nation reveal an astute lack of understanding. Similarly, his failure to name a significant caucaus member as Minister of the Environment, or to use the naming of a new minister as an opportunity to announce a new environmental policy, highlights the absence of vision here.

The environment is widely expected to play a large role in the upcoming federal election. Canadians recently named the environment their number one concern. Furthermore, in this week's edition of Fast Forward David Suzuki suggests that it is time to take a more integrated approach to environmental issues. Some media reports seemed to indicate that Harper would do just that, naming a high profile member of the Conservative Party who could hold his or her own with the Finance Minister to plan joint endeavours on behalf of the enviroment. Naming Baird, a junior MP, does not do this.

Marketers and public relations officials go to where the people are, leaders go to where they want the people to be.