Understanding Tom the Wonk

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Mulcair's measured calls don't always inspire. But they're true to him.

In October 2011, Tom Mulcair was asked for his position on marijuana during his first event in the NDP leadership campaign. He reiterated the party's long-standing policy on decriminalization, explaining that it was wrong to burden people with life-long criminal records for possessing small amounts of the drug.

Tom could and should have stopped there, but instead, he went on to address the issue of legalization. He explained that four decades had passed since the "LeDain Commission," and that an NDP government would initiate a similar study to ensure that further decisions on marijuana were informed by the latest science.

Instead of sticking with the NDP's existing position, or embracing legalization, Tom had committed to a new information-gathering process with an uncertain result. In doing so, he revealed two strong and often intertwined aspects of his identity: a deep commitment to progressive values, and an equally deep commitment to evidence-based decision-making. Most people in the room did not realize it, but Tom had just said that an NDP government was prepared to legalize marijuana -- if the latest science supported such.

Tom is a policy wonk. He supports progressive ideas when, as is often the case, they make good public policy. And he insists on processes leading to evidence-based decision-making -- courts, commissions, environmental impact assessments, tendered competitions and the soliciting of a broad range of expert advice -- rather than basing his policies on ideology, casual assumptions, focus groups or polls. This approach sometimes works well politically, as it did with Bill C-51.

This is great article, I wish more Canadians read the Tyee. The rest at: http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/10/12/Understanding-Tom-Mulcair/

[laundry_queen]

1. Good article

I'm lucky - most people I speak with who are into politics are thoughtful types who, unsurprisingly are NDP voters. They 'get' Mulcair.

Policy wonks always have an uphill battle on the campaign trail unfortunately.