the best result we could have hoped for...

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some have argued, less sardonically than i, that Stephen Harper as Prime Minister will steer Canada toward the exact Bush-style neo-conservativism and right-wing social policies that Canadians time and again have disavowed... the results of the 2006 election have once again demonstrated Canadians' generally pragmatic and balanced perspective, despite the oft-cited failures of our electoral system... we've voted for change, but not too much change; we've given the Conservatives a mandate, but held them to a short leash; we've maintained a healthy balance of power for the opposition; we've given voice to our regional diversity; we've voted with our feet but thought with our hearts...

in essence, we've decided that to "choose your Canada" and to "stand up for Canada" means more than just binary and divisive thinking: it means tolerance and acceptance of our differences, and a willingness to work through our common issues by reasoned debate and a pragmatic approach... understood from this perspective, the elections results are the best we could have hoped for...

Stephen Harper will have a chance to prove his mettle, the opportunity to make or break his legacy, either as a right-wing ideologue or a pragmatic centrist... we've chosen change, and now Canadians will be watching for the correct type... the Liberals will be injected with fresh life... Paul Martin's resignation and Michael Ignatieff's successful candidacy signals a revolution inside the party -- a new dynamic of idealism and long-term vision for this country and its place in the world that will once again inspire and take hold of the grassroots and Canadians as a whole... it will be time when it's time... Canadians have also given a strong voice to the NDP, a clear sign that the "moral conscience" of Parliament will have to be heeded in every major national decision (and appropriately so)... as the Canadian constitution enshrines minority rights, Canadians' vote for the NDP has ensured that the voices of the weak will be heard in Parliament... Quebecers voted to give federalists a new chance at bridging our "two solitudes"...

as we Canadians a mari usque ad mare move forward from this election, let us remember that, greater than some of our political and regional differences, there really are such things as "Canadian values" that bind us... just as we expect our Parliament and our government to work together on the issues that matter to us and to come to a compromise to achieve our common goals, we too must seek common ground with our neighbours and friends across this great country, collectively choosing our Canada and standing up for it...

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