Central benefits

One of the questions which arose in the last federal election campaign was that of whether any party was really standing up for the place of a strong federal government. While I'll stand by my view that the NDP at least implicitly made that case, Michaelle Jean offers the basis for a much more explicit position:

(Jean) says independence would weaken Quebec.

"We live in a world where large alliances are important. I'm among the Quebecers who feel that way," she said.

"I believe in the federation. The very definition of federation means coming together. I like that idea, of coming together. To bring together your strengths, your imagination, your ideas, your creativity.

"That's how I want to live."

While Jean's quote arises in the context of Quebec's choice to remain within Canada, it should resonate equally well when applied to the question of whether or not issues should be shunted to the provincial level at every opportunity. And with a popular and respected GG taking the message public, it shouldn't take long for federal politicans to tie the call into a vision for a strong federal government to better serve as a force for shared strengths and creativity - leaving only the question of who will take the opportunity to pair a platform which implicitly applies the principle with an explicit message as to the value of federal action.