It is interesting to see the differences between the two main party leaders.

Stephane Dion requested that a Quebec candidate for the Liberal Party resign, over his comments regarding the Oka incident some 17 years ago. Now, of course it isn’t for what he said back then, but that earlier this week he said he still supported those views. And that was enough for Dion to ask him to resign and cease to run as a Liberal Party candidate.

Simon Bédard, a former radio host, tendered his resignation as candidate in the Quebec riding after Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion asked him to withdraw from the race, according to the party website.

“Mr. Bédard agrees that the statements he made regarding First Nations people are not compatible with the beliefs and values of the Liberal Party of Canada,” Dion said in the online statement. (source – CBC News)

There have a been a few Conservative Party members who have said some pretty nasty things, yet they continue to run under the Tory Flag. In fact, Stephen Harper has defended them, so this does show a marked difference between the two leaders. Heck, Vic Toews is in Cabinet, and the comments he has made are downright Racist, and certainly as bad as Bedard’s if not worse. Course I may be biased, being Gay, but really how Dion has handled this, versus how Harper has handled similar situations, is telling.

The High Road, as they say, is never easy. More so in an election campaign where you opposition uses every nasty trick he can to smear you, to threaten you. So this too, is a refreshing piece of news, but will it help him & his party this election?

I wonder, because while the Harper Tories talk a great deal about values, about morals, about ethics, to me, it just doesn’t seem like they practice what they preach. On the other hand, Dion and the Liberals aren’t squeaky clean either, but I feel like he is more willing to try, than his counterpart in the Tories. That surely has to count, when one makes up their minds come October 14.

We all have different values, and look at things differently. What issue may be important to me, may not be important to someone next door, never mind across the country. However, it is the ethics of the leaders, that I think we need to address, to look at. Stephen Harper tried to limit the appearance of Elizabeth May in the debates, nearly succeeded, but what does that say about his values? Such as Free Speech?

Dion is the only leader who supported her involvement. So was it a political move, or was it because he believed that the Voters were entitled to hear all of the major political parties? After all, the Green Party is running 310 Candidates. So was it just showmanship, or does he really believe in the ethics he talks about, & if he does, what does it say about Jack Layton & Stephen Harper?

Now Bloc Leader Duceppe says he was never asked, never objected to May’s appearance, so he too should be worthy of consideration. It also makes you wonder about the Media, who claims that he did oppose her appearance. And so we are left to decide who to believe. Frankly when it comes to deciding between a politician and a news media, I am sort of tempted to lean towards the Politician. Least in the case of the Bloc Leader.

Now Dion has taken another risky move, by turfing a candidate over remarks. Certainly is different, and perhaps something to consider when adding up the pluses and negatives of each leader, and who we want to represent us, and Canada on the world stage.