Mr. Harper, Mr Layton, Mr Ignatieff and Quebec

Mr. Harper's was a classic win, Mr. Layton's was a classic victory and Mr. Ignatieff's a classic failure. Harper's win was strategically brilliant-the master tactitian, most probably the most brilliant Canadian politician of the modern era. Layton's victory was passionate and visionary, rising above the traditional rhetoric of populism to address the needs and passions of the peoples of the country.  Ignatieff's failure was tragic, homme engagé fed by the hubris of a thin organization that settled for its own mediocrity and destroyed an institution that pillared men like Laurier and Trudeau. Therein the worse tragedy.     

The first major task for Prime Minister Harper is to integrate, for all intents and purposes, a non-conservative Quebec into his government without courting a senate selection.  He should shun the obvious conversions of those that never supported the Canadian dream and favor his vision and discretion with members of the official opposition without persuading them to retire their colors. This would mark great leadership in the context of a great challenge. Mr. Harper must recognize that Quebec cannot be shunned; if anything, Quebec should be praised for having democratically stood up against a potential majority conservative government that it viewed as suspect. The Quebec electorate ousted bloc, liberal and conservative incumbents from their ridings and limited access to candidates of the same three to the country's Parliament, thereby  ennobling and voicing its concerns that 'Things cannot remain as they are! Things must change!' not only in Quebec but also in Canada. Once again, Quebec participated in changing the Canadian political scene in a radical way.

Mr. Layton, as leader of the official opposition, must demonstrate classic prudence: he must not be cornered into the same lethargic rhetoric that isolated Quebec, preventing the rest of Canada and the world from seeing Quebec as a creative and dynamic force within Canada. Mr. Layton must avoid the confrontational forum of recent years that unfortunately and sometimes inadvertently demeaned Quebec's aspirations and realities. The leader of the official opposition must honor the great trust that has been given to the NDP by the Quebec electorate.

Mr. Ignatieff should show classic courage and appreciate the writing on the wall.

This election has historic dimensions. It is a classic study in Democracy and Rhetorics: its ups and downs, decisions and indecisions, reversals and achievements are almost literary. It is also the opportunity to label an appropriate moment: The Harper moment-little doubt that Mr. Harper has solidified his reputation. The Layton moment-the jury just walked in and is watching.

If not....