Kelly McParland: Why Liberals Prioritize Power Over Core Values
In contemporary Canadian politics, the Liberal Party maintains one inviolable principle: the relentless pursuit and retention of power. According to political commentator Kelly McParland, all other considerations—including ideological consistency and core values—remain secondary and subject to change in service of this primary objective.
The Historical Precedent of Jack Horner
McParland draws a parallel to historical political maneuvering through the example of Jack Horner, a staunch Conservative Alberta rancher known as "Cactus Jack." Horner held traditional Tory views, supporting capital punishment while opposing bilingualism, the CBC, unemployment benefits, and union strike rights. He admired John Diefenbaker but disapproved of successor Joe Clark.
Despite these conservative convictions, Horner defected to Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government in 1977, just one year after losing the Conservative leadership to Clark. This move secured him a cabinet position and, following electoral defeats, a comfortable appointment to the Canadian National Railways board.
"Cynical, yes, but what has ever been more cynical than Canada's highly successful, principles-optional Liberal party?" McParland observes, noting that Horner found a natural home in a political organization where ideological flexibility serves practical ambitions.
The Modern Wave of Floor-Crossers
McParland identifies a contemporary pattern reminiscent of Horner's defection, with current Liberal leader Mark Carney actively recruiting opposition MPs to bolster parliamentary numbers. The most recent addition is Marilyn Gladu, a Conservative who previously criticized other defectors before joining their ranks in the Carney camp.
Gladu represents the fifth floor-crosser to join Carney's Liberals—four from the Conservatives and one from the New Democrats—with speculation about additional recruits. McParland characterizes these acquisitions not as ideological converts but as pragmatic additions: "What they have in common is not a lot; none is a major figure or the best player on the other team."
Instead, their primary value lies in their voting power, which now advances Liberal rather than opposition agendas. McParland notes the unusual transparency of these recruitment efforts, suggesting Carney's team might as well advertise parliamentary positions like corporate perks.
The Fundamental Question of Political Integrity
McParland raises a critical question about this strategy's ethical implications. While all parties occasionally welcome defectors, he argues the current Liberal approach represents a calculated campaign to secure a parliamentary majority through targeted recruitment rather than electoral mandate.
"The question is, is it wrong?" McParland asks, contrasting political parties with commercial enterprises. Unlike employees switching between similar banks, politicians theoretically align with parties based on shared values and principles.
When MPs defect, they either undergo genuine ideological transformation or reveal their beliefs as negotiable. By welcoming such defectors, the receiving party signals that voting loyalty matters more than philosophical alignment.
Power as the Ultimate Liberal Value
McParland concludes that for today's Liberals, power itself has become the supreme value, overshadowing traditional policy positions or ideological commitments. This orientation creates a political environment where pragmatic calculation consistently triumphs over principled consistency.
The historical example of Jack Horner and contemporary floor-crossing patterns demonstrate how the Liberal Party has long operated with what McParland describes as a "principles-optional" approach, where acquiring and maintaining governmental control justifies strategic flexibility that might challenge conventional political integrity.
