True to Al’s prediction, the Transportation Minister’s Toyota tryst brought down the government. The shaky foundation of our national minority government toppled. The opposition parties seized the opportunity to bring forward a motion of non-confidence the day after the video went public.
The NDP brought the motion forward. Being so low in the polls and suffering the indignity of watching the party’s support in Quebec evaporate, the party was desperate for an opportunity to make ground. Many analysts were shocked by this bold move. One commented it was like jumping in the deep end of a pool to teach yourself to swim.
The other opposition parties could not believe their good fortune. They could support the motion of non-confidence without taking any heat for bringing it forward. The motion was put forward in the morning and by early evening the votes were cast. The final vote came in at one hundred and sixty-one for the motion and one hundred and fourteen against it. The Prime Minister had no choice but to go to the Governor General and ask her to dissolve the government.
Within minutes of the election call, Al called to brief me on his campaign war plan. He would have a campaign office and manager in place in forty-eight hours. With the office open, I would have to completely dedicate myself to the team from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm seven days a week.
Before it all was a compulsory full day campaign school for candidates. This left me with little time to negotiate a leave of absence from my day job. I took a deep breath and felt my heart flutter for a moment.
I set up a meeting with my boss to negotiate the leave. Much to my surprise, she laughed out loud when I told her why.
“You want to do what?” she asked like she did not hear me.
“Run in the election,” I replied.
“What in the hell for?”
“Well… I see it as a natural progression in my career as a civil servant,” I explained.
“Really? Do you know what you are getting yourself in to?” she asked with some distain.
“Not really, but I suppose that makes it easier,” I joked weakly.
“Maybe, but if you are serious about this then here is where your education begins. Listen up kid. As a public servant the public wants you to stay the fuck out of politics. Once you stick your neck out like this you are painted as partisan for the rest of your career—however short or long it may be. As your boss I have no choice but to grant your leave as your contract gives me no choice, but personally I think you are making a big mistake,” she said coldly.
“A mistake, how so?” I asked finding it hard to hide my shock.
She glared at me with an icy stare.
“I just told you, you are supposed to be apolitical. It is part of the code. Civil servants stay out of politics and the politicians leave us alone to do our jobs.”
“The code? With all due respect Judy, that doesn’t happen. I mean, it has been a long time since people were fired for voting the wrong way.”
She glared at me again.
“So, you are not going to support me on this?” I asked.
“No, I won’t,” she said quickly.
I felt kicked in the guts. I had not anticipated this lack of support from my employer. An image of a future homeless me scrounging through dumpsters popped into my head. I shuddered.
“And if I win Judy? What happens then?” I asked with trepidation.
“If you win Troy, I will call you the day after the election and tell you your employment will be terminated. You will be wiser to resign,” she said without hesitation.
Having left the chief’s office, I walked out of the building in a stupor. I did not stop to say hello or chat with coworkers as I usually would. I was too shell-shocked.
Before the meeting I thought she would support to me. What did she have to lose? A political run by a librarian would generate publicity for the library. On top of that, if I won she would have a strong advocate for increased funding for the system she is responsible for! I felt abandoned.
I pushed my way through the heavy double doors of the library and stumbled out to the sidewalk. The wind tried to push me back in the building. I struggled to breathe.
Across the street I saw an Irish bar with a gold and black sign embossed with a twisted Celtic triangle. Seeing the pub made me crave a drink.
I started across the street. Halfway to the bar, I had second thoughts. I turned around and headed to my car determined to let go of things I could not control. If giving up my social safety net is part of the bargain then so be it.
Here was an old-fashioned conservative notion I had no choice but get behind.
Troy Myers 