In June 2010, I wrote a blog inviting the help of readers as I embarked on an ambitious mission: Inviting the leaders of all political parties to commit to only engaging in civilized conversation with each other, and to end the personal sniping, innuendos, bickering and name-calling. Most people thought I was pipe-dreaming, including my local member of parliament David Tilson, but he graciously facilitated the meetings with the three Party Whips anyway. When I went to Ottawa, the Liberal Whip (Gordon O’Connor – reelected) thought I was crazy and gave my chances of success a zero rating, dismissing me out of hand. Conversely, the Conservative Party Whip (Rodger Cuzner – reelected) commended me for making the trip to Ottawa on my own dime, not only agreeing with my assessment and my proposal, but also quickly walking me to the offices of other influential political leaders who could lend their gravitas to my plan for restoring civility in parliamentary discourse.

But then – silence. I wrote and called several times to follow up, but never received a reply (from Michael Chong – reelected, and Scott Reid – reelected), and the “Angry Birds” style of hostile parliamentary discussions continued as before.

With the country’s recent elections, we have a new opportunity to begin the next session of Parliament with a resolution to converse in the Chamber with respect and a commitment to be inspiring, instead of demeaning. If the House of Commons can raise the tone of their discussions, and model the standards of leadership they hope for from all Canadians, perhaps we can become a model for other countries too?

Please write to your MP and invite him or her to “be the change we wish to see in the world” to paraphrase Gandhi.

Here is my original blog:†https://secretan.com/blog/index.php/i-need-your-help/