I HOPE THAT YOU'RE LISTENING
A Letter to Our Elected Officials, from a Citizen
October 11, 2013
This letter was written upon assumption of the Ontario Premiership by Ms. Kathleen Wynne, of the province's Liberal party. I am a staunch Conservative but felt the need to write this letter in response to my disillusionment with the leaders of each of the three primary parties: Ms. Kathleen Wynne (Liberal), Ms. Andrea Horvath (NDP) and Mr. Tim Hudak (Progressive Conservative) after the fiasco of the gas plant cancellation that cost Ontario tax payers at least $1,000,000,000.00. I posted the letter to my Facebook page and attempted to post it on each of the leader's website and/or Facebook page, as well as to have it printed in various local newspapers without success. I am putting it here because to show that a citizen's call to have our leaders act honourably, respecting the trust which they have been given, does not negate the Bible's injunction to respect our leaders as given by God.
All things being equal, you will have no idea who I am. Yet I am hopeful
that you care enough for me to listen to what I have to say. Why do I have
this hope? In part because I am a taxpayer and a portion of the money that
you work with is paid from my wallet but mostly because I have given you,
and you have taken up, the task of caring for my welfare.
That thought amazes me, as I hope it will never cease to amaze you: You have
been entrusted with, and have accepted, the task of caring for my welfare.
You, whom I know only from sound-bites and photo-ops, have been given the
task of caring for the welfare of someone you do not know, and who
desperately hopes you can be trusted. We are unknown to each other yet I
have given you the task of caring for my welfare. Your hands will form the
shape of my future. Your hands maintain all that I hold dear in this life.
I have entrusted you with my health, my wealth and my tomorrow; all are held
in your hands. I have entrusted you with all that matters to me in this
world. There is very little I can do to guide you once you have taken up
this trust. I cannot easily meet with you to discuss your performance. I
cannot make a phone call or send an email to you and be certain that my
voice will be heard. Once you have taken up this trust you are untouchable.
For all intents and purposes you are a free and independent agent with
little to fear from me whether you abuse or honour my trust. I hope you will
not take this power for granted.
I have entrusted you with my life. Your mistake today will be my loss
tomorrow. Your success today will be my benefit tomorrow. I do not expect
you to be perfect and I will not be surprised when you make mistakes for
whatever reason. But when you do, I will expect you to admit your guilt;
apologize for your carelessness and make recompense for my loss to the best
of your ability. Even if this will cause you discomfort, pain or shame; I
will expect you to make right what you have made wrong. I want to know that
you will use your position as an opportunity for you to prove your worth, to
improve as a person and to encourage my trust.
I hope that you will not forget that the resources you have at hand to
perform your task are not your own. They are mine which I have entrusted to
you and have enabled you to use on my behalf. I did not do this so that you
could ensure your position or reward those who maintain your power; that
would be an abuse of my trust. I have done this so that you could take
action for my welfare; to the best of your ability. I am trusting that you
will do this with decency, wisdom and integrity. I want to believe that this
is your desire as well.
Ms. Wynne – Regarding the recent gas plant disclosures, you have been
presented with the (hopefully rare) opportunity to prove that you are more
than empty words or broken promises. Whatever your involvement in these
current scandals, you have the opportunity today to show Ontario what you
are made of. You have a chance to make things right. You have presented a
reassuring public image over the past several months but it is by your
actions today that we will know if that image is a façade or a true
reflection of your character. The scandal of the previous government has
greatly abused the trust which it had been given. More than words and
promises that “It will never happen again” are needed to restore that trust.
The public image you have been cultivating is that of a person who will do
all that is in her power to resolve the mistakes that have been made; may
that truly be the case.
Mr. Hudak and Ms. Horvath – You too have been given the opportunity to prove
that you are more than words and hopeful action. You have this chance to
show that you have the best interest of Ontario at heart and show Ontario
that you value the trust you have been given by seeking what is best for the
people rather than your own self-interest. By your actions today you will
show your true character. If you choose to continue to support the
government please do so because you believe that this government is best
able to look after the interests of Ontario; not because propping this
government is the only way to move your own agenda forward. If you choose to
bring down the government please do so because you believe your party is
best able to look after the interests of Ontario and not only because you
want to sit in the Big Chair. May each of you make your decisions for no
other reason than to benefit those who have given you their trust and depend
on you to care for them.
Because, ultimately, it comes down to this: We have given you our trust, we
want to know that you are worthy of it.