I’m surprised I’m able to get online. Power to the west is out to a wide swath of users, and we are in the middle of a 30cm expected snowfall. It’s not a travelling day, but it is beautiful. The wind and the snow have sculpted my turf so that it is transformed and not recognizable. This one was forecast, so I’m stocked up on groceries, candles, batteries and books.

LT over at The Heresy just finished reading Peter C. Neuman’s book on Brian Mulroney and is pondering what healthy leadership is.

He is starting with what unhealthy means to him and I hope he takes it further. He is looking at it within the context of church I think which tends to show more blindness to toxic leadership. It is also leadership that is more personalized and potentially more destructive to vulnerable individuals  In defining what a emotionally unhealthy leader is, perhaps he can move into what good leadership requires.

Tomorrow the new federal minority cabinet will be sworn in. Stephen Harper will take his place as the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada an hour after Paul Martin hands the Governor General his official resignation. Below is how parliament will look with the party, the number of MP’s elected, and the vote share.

 Canadians have made it pretty clear they are willing to give him the same chance they gave Paul Martin two years ago. Minority federal governments cannot afford to be grand and sweeping in their undertakings.  And I don’t think too many Canadians expect or want that. Harper will be dealing with essentially the same premiers Martin did and I tend to agree with Colby Cosh who noted in the LA Times that nothing has changed from 2005 to 2006. 
Toronto Sun columnist Lorrie Goldstein gives the PM designate some common sense advice.