Lester Pearson’s lessons for today’s defeated Liberals”. Andrew Cohen, Star, Oct 22nd

Your story was a timely & evocative piece on Lester B. Pearson and the Liberals of his time. Yes, the times were different, but there is little similarities between Pearson and Dion. Pearson was a diplomat who surrounded himself with ambitious and able people, and readily took advice. He also courageously forged ahead with controversial and even divisive platforms; e.g. the Canadian Flag, and Medicare, well knowing the fight Saskatchewan’s Tommy Douglas had in introducing Medicare there a few years earlier.

Dion’s Green Shift was somewhat contrived; too abstract, and did not appeal to the average person.


Person (as opposed to Dion) was a patient tactician and a superb strategist, and even more important: a real DIPLOMAT.. He left a legacy of social good and honourable politics. The Liberals have still a reservoir of talents, perhaps too many, and their future success will depend on their ability to put the common good before personal ambition. In fact, Stephen Harper is in a similar situation that was Pearson in 1958. And he has some of the same personal traits. Whether he can learn from Pearson’s story, and set a social agenda that will leave him with positive legacy, is another question. Only time will tell, but at this point in time, I do have my doubts.