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ServingCanada’spurpose

SpeechdeliveredbyNicholasGafuikonMarch14,2009attheManningNetworkingConference&Exhibition-Checkagainstdelivery-

Whenwelookatthecurrentstateoftheworldeconomy,andourownpoliticalandeconomicsituationhereinCanada,it’seasytogetcaughtupwithcrises.Afterall,electionthreatsarecommonplace,andwhoknowswhicheconomicforecaststotrustthesedays.Butweconservativescanemergefromtheseturbulenteconomicandpoliticaltimesstrongerifwekeepsightofourlong‐termvisionandourcorevalues.

Ourkeyquestiontodayis:Whatisourprincipled,21st-centuryvisionofCanada’sfuturethatcanuniteusandprovideinspirationalguidancetothecountryinthedaysthatlieahead?

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Canadahasapurpose

WhentheFathersofConfederationgatheredofftheshoresofCharlottetownandlaterinQuebecCity,theyimaginedanambitiouspartnershipbetweendiversepeoples.Theyintendedtoformanationalunionthatcouldoccupythenorthernhalfofourcontinent;cultivatea“politicalnationality”rootedinvaluesoflibertyandequality;andtheyintendedtobinditalltogetherwithaNationalPolicyandatranscontinentalrailroad.AtthetimeofConfederation,ourcountrybenefitedfromavisionarypurpose,rootedincorevalues.Apurposethatwaswell‐servedbyinformedpoliticaldiscourse,politicalleadership,andcapablecoalition‐builders.Inthedecadesthatfollowed,thiscommonpurposeinspiredourcollectiveimaginationsandlabours.Webuiltarailroad,settledtheWest,anddefendedourlibertyonEuropeanbattlefields.Iliketoimagineourselvestodayastheswitchmenintherailyardofhistory.Ourtrain,Canada,iscomingdownthetrack.Questionis:Whatisourultimatedestination?Andwhattrackgetsusthere?

So,whatisourdestination?

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2Canadahasgottobemorethansimplythesuccessofoursocialandpoliticalarrangements.IfindtheargumentthatCanadaisbecauseitworks,frustratingandultimatelyself‐defeating.IfwerelyontheargumentthatCanadaissimplyaboutfindingaconfigurationthatbestdeliversussecurityandprosperity,thenweinvitetheregions,provinces,andconstituentpartsofourcountrytofightoneanothertomaximizegains.Weeliminatetheideathattradeoffsandsacrificescouldbejustifiedtoserveagreaterpurpose.Andwefurtherriskhavingthosewhowishtobreak‐upourcountryarguethatotherconfigurationscouldbetterdeliverprosperityandsecurity.IknowthatpollsindicatemostCanadianswouldsayCanadais:healthcare,multiculturalism,peacekeepingandthelike.Butpeacekeeping,forexample,isnotwhatweare;rather,itisatooltoserveCanada’spurpose.ToborrowfromProfessorSeanMaloney,peacekeepingis,“butoneblue‐featheredarrowinCanada’s…quiver.”Institutions,tools,andprogramsneedtochangeovertimetoreflectchanginggeopolitical,demographic,andeconomicimperatives.Ifweconfuseouractionsforourpurpose,weriskbetrayingthepurposewesetouttoserveinthefirstplace.Thereissomethingdeeperthatbindsustogether;somethingrootedincommonvalues.TherearetwopartstoourCanadianmosaic,thetilesandtheglue.IthinkthatCanadaexiststoserveapurpose;weasapeoplearecalledtoserveasabeaconandguidetotheworldtowardourcommondignity,equality,andliberty.Ithinkthisisthedestinationwe’reaimingfor;whilewe’llneverquitearrive,that’swherewe’reheaded.

So,whichtrackwillgetustheremostdirectly?

Ultimately,thisiswhywe’reconservative.Becauseourcorevaluesandprincipleswillbesthelpustraveltowardourcommondestination.CoreconservativevaluescanserveCanadawell:

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Individualfreedomandresponsibility

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Freemarketsandlimitedgovernment

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RespectforCanada’scultural,religious,anddemocratictraditions

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Strongfamiliesandcommunities

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Grassroots,democraticparticipationWeconservativesstandforsomethingpositivethatmustbesharedwithourfellowCanadians.Weareconservativebecauseweshareavisionofafree,democratic,andjustCanadathatservesourcommondignity,equality,andliberty.

3We’vespentthebetterpartofthisconferencetalkingaboutthevariousdimensionsofCanadianconservatism,andhowbesttobindittogether.Wehavedoneagoodjobofidentifyingthediscreteelementsofourconservativecoalition,andnowweneedatranscendentvisiontogluethemalltogetherincommoncause.Weneedabackbonerootedinprinciplethatwecanusetoresistthetemptationtoviolateourvalueswhenchallenged,orasthestartingpointtogeneratepolicywherenecessary.AndweneedtohaveawayofdescribingtheCanadawe’retryingtobuildsothatCanadiansknowwhattoexpectfromconservativeseveniftheydon’tunderstandorsupporteveryspecificpolicyposition.Thereismoretousthaneconomics.Buildingacoalitionrequiresustodrilldowntoourcommoncore.

JusticeandHumanDignity

Weliveinauniquetimeinhistory;atimeof:

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Weaksocialcapital.

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Institutionalizedindividualism,whichhasunderminedtraditionalsocialinstitutionswhilemakingthestateprimarilyresponsiblefortheprovisionofsocialgoods.

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Globalization,whichhasprovokedaresurgenceoflocalandnationalidentityandallegiance.Andnowaddtothiscombinationasubstantialeconomicdownturn,andthesubsequentpublicanxietyandfear.Weasconservativesneedtochooseatrackthroughthesetroubledtimesthatisrootedfirstintheinherentdignityofeveryhumanbeing.LetmebeclearaboutwhatIhaveinmind.Whereasthelefttendstodefinejusticeasaquestionofequitabledistributionofwealth,wedonot.Westartwiththeunderstandingthatallhumanbeingshavecertainrights.Theyarethecoreofourliberaldemocraticideal;allpeoplehaveaninherentandinalienablerighttolife,liberty,andproperty.Theserightsareinherentandinalienablebecausetheyarerootedinanunderlyingmorallaw,writtenintoourconscience.Forthisreason,allhumanlifeisworthyofrespect.Asconservatives,weknowthatwecannotlegislateorregulateheavenonearthintobeing.Grand,well‐intentionedschemesmustbeconfrontedwiththeharshrealityoftheworldasitactuallyexists,andwemustpursuechangeswiththisrealityinmind.Theconditionofoursocietyisaproductofhumanactionbutisnotaproductofhumandesign,sothestatecan’tsimplycreateajustsociety.Wehavetofindawaytobejustpeople.

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MNCE09 Speech - Serving Canada’s purpose

Serving Canada’s purpose: Speech delivered by Nicholas Gafuik on March 14, 2009 at the Manning Networking Conference & Exhibition.

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