There is no doubt in my mind that when asked, “Have you ever felt betrayed by a politician who made a promise and then didn’t follow through with it?”, nearly every Canadian would be able to call to mind at least one specific example. It is an unfortunately well-known feeling, but has happened and continues to happen each time election season comes around. This betrayal is infuriating, and yet because it is so widespread, it no longer even feels like betrayal. We say “ah, c’est la vie!” and continue on, knowing that those representing us have lied to us and continue to do so. The lack of integrity in politics is something I care about deeply, and I hope to draw attention to this systemic and overlooked issue.

There are liberal amounts (pun intended) of synonymous comparisons between politicians and liars. Sayings like “are you a politician, or does lying just run in your family?” and other variations are great for a laugh, but reveal an underlying issue (okay, that one was a stretch) with a shortage of honesty in the political world.

It’s unfortunately clear that we’ve justified this abundance of empty promises. We listen to campaign debates or read party platforms with big helpings of course-grind salt, because we know that there is no way they can afford/implement/understand all that they have promised. How many times have you said “and how are they planning to pay for that?” or “that will never work in real life” or “what a waste of time” during a politician’s speech? Politicians get so competitive that they are willing to stretch the truth a little bit more and a little bit more and a little bit more until they’re left with a blatant lie. But hey, it’s “just politics,” right?

A good example of this is the Liberal feds in their campaign promise to not exceed a $10 billion deficit per year and that they would balance the budget by 2019. According to the Financial Post, the projections now forecast deficits of at least $23 billion per year and no return to balance. They have not only flaunted their disrespect for Canadian taxpayer dollars, but flat-out lied to the very people who supported them. Oh but wait, “just politics,” right????

I call this one “Deau and Neau, on their way to steal yo money”

A month and six days ago, I was constantly asking myself, “Is it even possible to find honesty in the political world? Someone show me a miracle!”

Then a month and five days ago, I got my miracle. Leadership hopeful for the United Conservative Party in Alberta Jason Kenney had an interview with Radio One. Someone called the radio line and asked Kenney if there was any possibility that the UCP would put something in place to subsidize him putting solar panels on his house. And Kenney gave this straight-forward, blatant, no-bullshit response:

“No. We’re broke.”

The amount of respect that I had for Jason Kenney multiplied exponentially that day. He was honest!!!!!! He didn’t make up some lame, half-ass, general promise about “commitment to the environment” and “we’re discussing it” and “there are policies about saving energy coming in the future” and blah blah blah all the other ways politicians walk on eggshells to avoid telling the truth. Did he expect backlash? I’m sure of it. But did he care? No. He refused to mislead this caller by stretching the truth. And that shows me that he cares about his voters, wants to be transparent, and wants to be able to follow through with his claims.

I agree, Jason, I agree.

I wish that more politicians had the guts to say no like Jason Kenney did. You can’t please everyone. And when politicians try to please everyone, they end up lying to people. They make promises that never get fulfilled and it backfires. What ever happened to meaning what you say and saying what you mean? Being honest and being able to say no are a trait I distinctly look for in politicians vying for my vote, because it shows me they are strong enough to stand up for what they believe without lying to the Canadians that support them.

Integrity in politics is severely lacking. We sit by as politicians stretch the truth in trying to be competitive. But in the future, I hope more Canadians stand up and say they’re tired of being lied to, and I hope more politicians stand up and say they’re tired of lying.

Disclaimer: Story of a Tory is in no way affiliated with the Conservative Party of Canada or any other political party, be it federal or provincial. The views of each author are independent of all other authors.