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BOOK EXCERPT PASSAGES The tall poppy syndrome

Andrew Cohen

Canada is afflicted by tall poppy syndrome, where the flower that rises above the rest is cut down. There is a meanness of spirit about the way we treat our public figures, writes Andrew Cohen, in this excerpt from his new book, The Unfinished Canadian: The People We Are. All prime ministers and public officials fall victim to this unhealthy obsession with their expenses and travel costs, but no one suffered more from this pseudo-accountability than during her term as governor general.

Le souffre de ce syndrome qui consiste à rabattre tout ce qui s’élève au-dessus du lot. Il y a beaucoup de cruauté dans le sort que nous réservons à nos personnalités, écrit Andrew Cohen, dans cet extrait de son dernier ouvrage intitulé The Unfinished Canadian: The People We Are. Tous nos premiers ministres et grands serviteurs de l’État sont ainsi victimes de cette fixation sur leurs dépenses et leurs frais de voyage, mais personne n’a autant souffert de cette pseudo-responsabilisation que l’ancienne gouverneure générale Adrienne Clarkson.

ver the past few years, Irvin they could not say what a Canadian us consider some elements of character Studin, a young political should be, but they could say what a that the sages do not address. Classed O thinker schooled at York Canadian is not. loosely, they are the tall poppy syn- University, the School of Studin puts his contributors into drome (envy, resentment, jealousy); Economics, and the University of three classes. The first is idiosyncratic. moderation (the instinct for the politi- Oxford, approached dozens of promi- They define the Canadian as liberal, cal centre); ambiguity (the value of nent Canadians and asked them to enlightened, diplomatic, tolerant, vagueness); and civility (decency and write essays on the meaning of polite, generous, complacent, deferen- generosity). For examples, let us look Canada. He collected their contribu- tial, among positive qualities, or, more again to our civic culture, where we tions in What Is a Canadian? Forty- harshly, parochial and prejudiced. A find so much of ourselves. Three Thought-Provoking Responses, recurring “circumstantial” trait is The tall poppy syndrome is not which was published in 2006. Studin “lucky.” The second class is socio-polit- peculiar to Canada. Some say it came was inspired by a similar thematic col- ical. The Canadian is a creation of the from or New Zealand, where lection edited in 1958 by David Ben- state or an instrument of public policy, the tallest poppy in a garden was cut Gurion, the first prime minister of such as the Constitution, health care, down because it rose above the rest. Israel. Ben-Gurion asked: “What is a and multiculturalism. For example, the Some attribute it to Scandinavia, Jew?” and went to the great sages of “Charter Canadians” see their citizen- which has its own finely honed suspi- Judaism for answers. To divine ship in the Charter of Rights and cions of success and self-advance- Canada, Studin went to its “sages” in Freedoms. The third class are those ment, or Japan, where a proverb government, letters, business, and aca- who are alienated from Canada. They suggests that “the nail that sticks out demia. Naturally, as a Canadian, he do not see themselves as Canadians at gets hammered down.” Wherever it tried to strike a geographical, ethnic, all but Québécois, exiles within originates, the tall poppy is as and linguistic balance, and naturally, Canada, who make the distinction Canadian as the Maple Leaf. It has as a Canadian, he apologized for between le Canadien and the Canadian. become our national flower. falling short. Studin asked his respon- Studin suggests a people of infinite Resentment, envy, and jealousy dents to open their essays with the variety (which is flattering, though not colonize our consciousness, challeng- declaration “A Canadian is...” He unique to Canada). To expand his ing the better angels of our nature. asked them not to write prescriptively; eclectic catalogue of the Canadian, let Examples abound in the political

POLICY OPTIONS 81 JUNE 2007 Andrew Cohen PASSAGES culture. On October 14, 1957, Lester enough to report that the prime min- level of consumption “that would B. Pearson learned that he had been ister’s chef went to Egypt (at a cost of shock most Canadians,” columnist awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for two thousand dollars!) “to share John Ferguson observed. The reality having found a way out of the Suez recipes” with the chefs of sixteen was that Mulroney had invited this Crisis. The Nobel committee said that other nations “courtesy of the kind of scrutiny when he and his pre- he’d “saved the world.” When a Canadian taxpayer.” It is also impor- decessors attacked for a reporter called him with the news of tant for the well-informed citizen to suede couch and fifty-dollar ashtrays the award, he was incredulous: “You know, figuratively speaking, the bot- in the waiting room of his office on mean that I have been nominated,” tle of wine the Ambassador to France . Or, years earlier, when he insisted. When he learned he had served a visiting delegation of bee- the Tories pilloried Trudeau for accept- ing an indoor swimming The tall poppy syndrome is not peculiar to Canada. Some say it pool at came from Australia or New Zealand, where the tallest poppy from anonymous donors. in a garden was cut down because it rose above the rest. Some In the blood sport of poli- attribute it to Scandinavia, which has its own finely honed tics, the Liberals were soon asking Mulroney if taxpay- suspicions of success and self-advancement, or Japan, where a ers were paying for his chil- proverb suggests that “the nail that sticks out gets hammered dren’s food. down.” Wherever it originates, the tall poppy is as Canadian as the Maple Leaf. It has become our national flower. hatever Mulroney’s W personal excesses, indeed won, he said: “Gosh!” The keepers or that the Minister of Justice the interest here was odd, even reaction of others was less innocent. took a government plane to attend unseemly; at root, it was about dis- As one legend had it, the very idea the Rotary Club in Lethbridge. Or paraging politicians. We like to do this. that the bow-tied, lisping “Mike” that the Conservatives use the gov- As Hugh Segal said, this idée fixe over Pearson could win the Nobel Prize led ernment Challenger jets half as much Mulroney’s spending “falls into the one outspoken woman at a cocktail as the Liberals did. We dine out on a tradition of pettiness with which we party in Vancouver to exclaim, “Well, minister’s expense chits, airline tick- treat people in public life...” Pierre who does he think he is!” ets, and hotel bills, which now appear Pettigrew, no friend of Mulroney, When the Bank of Canada asked on the Web. No wonder restaurants in winced years later when he recalled focus groups to help it choose are closing. The mandarins this inquisition. As the minister of for- Canadians to put on the back of its are afraid to be seen lunching with eign affairs, who would face questions new banknotes, the respondents the wrong people — or perhaps on his own spending in office, he said: called Lester Pearson “a partisan lunching at all. “You know, we can be very petty, very politician” and complained that Terry Money matters in Canada. mean in Canada.” We can, we are, and Fox, the one-legged marathoner who Canadians look askance at public it demeans us. ran halfway across Canada before salaries, perquisites, and benefits, as if Mulroney’s imbroglio made it dying of cancer, had had “an abrasive no politician or public servant could politically impossible to renovate 24 personality.” possibly deserve them. It may be why Sussex Drive for years after. When the governor general is paid $114,725, Jean Chrétien moved there in 1993, he tall poppy syndrome thrives in far less than a federal cabinet minister. he wouldn’t spend any money on the T our political hothouse. We think The spending of , the house; according to a frequent visi- politicians are venal, vapid, and vain- mellifluous glad-hander who was tor, he proudly declared the curtains glorious. When they want a raise, our prime minister from 1984 to 1993, on the windows had been made from instinct is to deny it; really, now, the became an obsession. “Closets the tablecloths used at the G-7 sum- nerve of you! designed to hold hundreds of shoes, mit in Halifax. When Paul Martin Then we complain about the including dozens of pairs of loafers, are arrived 10 years later, he wouldn’t quality of our politicians. Our disdain among the lavish furnishings of 24 touch the house, either. Susan for public service is spreading. The Sussex Drive,” the Canadian Press Delacourt of the Star wrote antipathy is magnified by govern- reported on April 16, 1987. “Brian that Martin knew “that any move to ments seeking to be seen as squeaky- Mulroney’s closet was designed to fix up the home in a substantial way clean and a media eager to scrutinize accommodate 30 suits and 84 pairs of — with taxpayers’ dollars — would be expense accounts and travel budgets shoes, including at least 50 pairs of a public relations disaster.” for extravagance or malfeasance. Gucci loafers...” This Emperor had too By then 24 Sussex — a Gothic Newspapers think it is important many clothes. Mulroney had reached a revival pile built above the Ottawa

82 OPTIONS POLITIQUES JUIN 2007 The tall poppy syndrome BOOK EXCERPT

The Gazette, Nothing was too petty to criticize in Adrienne Clarkson. Her clothes, her friends, her tastes, her travel were all fair game. As governor general, she was the latest victim of the tall poppy syndrome, cut down because she rose above the rest.

River in 1866 — was in grave disrepair. prime minister’s residence looked like politicians live in genteel shabbiness, It was cold and draughty in winter and a tarpaper shack in Appalachia. like a déclassé socialite forced into a oppressively hot in summer. The homeless shelter, why not? It is as irre- kitchen was small and dated, the win- hen Martin expressed his reser- sistible as soaking the rich. Take ’em dows filled with unsightly, dripping air W vations, the leader of the oppo- down a peg. That’ll show ’em. Reform conditioners, like those in a tropical sition pounced. Naturally. Stephen Party leader had tenement. The sunroom was so chilly Harper said he was delighted with wanted to sell — that was in winter that it was wrapped in clear Stornoway, the . It before he lived in it as opposition plastic, which seemed to be taking the was the best place he’d ever lived; leader. Before him, Bloc Québécois federal energy conservation program a Martin should stop whining and leader refused to little far (though of the worry less about his needs than those move in. And so on. It was always New Democrats advised installing of Canadians. “We have a $9-billion about politics, never about ensuring solar panels). When Sheila Martin surplus, and I’d like to see some proper official residences for the opened the house for a charitable money go to taxpayers rather than our and the event, visitors walked around and obsession being our personal living leader of the opposition. Not that they expressed “disappointment, shock and accommodations,” carped Harper. should resemble the Kremlin or the embarrassment.” No wonder. The There it was, then. If we can make Elysée Palace. Just dignified, modest

POLICY OPTIONS 83 JUNE 2007 Andrew Cohen PASSAGES homes, befitting the leaders of a rich, or career diplomat. She was articulate, straight reportage has an edge: “The resentful country. stylish, refined, attractive, opinionat- couple arrived — a little late — on ed, and self-confident. Very self-confi- foot, dressed casually, as if out for an recent illustration of the tall dent. Her husband was all that, too. autumn stroll,” said The Globe and A poppy syndrome is the pillorying Mail. A whole book was given over to of Adrienne Clarkson, the broadcaster, hen Clarkson got to Ottawa, their foibles and contradictions, called publisher, diplomat, and writer who W nothing was too petty. Her Mr. & Mrs. G.G.: The Media Princess & was governor general of Canada from clothes were too loud. Her friends were the Court Philosopher. None of this pre- 1999 to 2005. When she left Ottawa too elitist. Her tastes were too rich. Her vented Clarkson and Saul from per- after a feverish period at , indiscretions and offences were forming their duties — travelling, some called her the finest governor unending. Clarkson misses the funeral speaking, honouring, receiving, host- general since in the of the Lt. Governor of , a friend ing, sponsoring — and a whole man- 1970s, or Georges-P. Vanier in the and confidant, and a columnist hisses ner of other responsibilities that they 1960s, or the finest in memory, carried off with aplomb. or the finest in history. In six By then 24 Sussex — a Gothic revival The drumbeat of criticism years, Clarkson reinvented a ebbed and flowed but never dusty, antiquated institution. pile built above the Ottawa River in went away. The detractors With her husband, John 1866 — was in grave disrepair. It resented that the viceregal cou- Ralston Saul, the novelist, was cold and draughty in winter and ple repainted and redecorated essayist, and philosopher, she oppressively hot in summer. The much of Rideau Hall and some arrived with an idea of herself of its outbuildings, displayed and the office and brought it to kitchen was small and dated, the Canadian art and furniture life. Clarkson brought with her windows filled with unsightly, from government warehouses, a record of professional and dripping air conditioners, like those served fine vintages from the public service, a term as in a tropical tenement. The sunroom country’s best wineries (pro- ’s agent general in Paris, moting Canada’s vintners is a familiarity with every region was so chilly in winter that it was one of Saul’s passions), and of the country and its history, wrapped in clear plastic, which presented organic, creative fluency in both languages, and seemed to be taking the federal food prepared by the country’s intelligence, energy, and imagi- energy conservation program a little best chefs. They clucked when nation. This is the depth and she travelled some 150,000 experience a governor general far (though Jack Layton of the New kilometres a year, often to should have. Indeed, a reason Democrats advised installing solar small communities in the that Clarkson was extraordi- panels). When Sheila Martin opened North (among the four hun- nary in the role is that her four the house for a charitable event, dred villages, towns, and cities predecessors were pedestrian. the couple visited over their six Roméo LeBlanc, Ramon visitors walked around and expressed years). Most of all, though, Hnatyshyn, Jeanne Sauvé, and “disappointment, shock and they howled when she led a were decent, embarrassment.” No wonder. The visit to Iceland, Finland, and honourable, successful politi- prime minister’s residence looked like Russia in 2003 accompanied by cians. But each was chosen to a delegation of 59 “Rosedale” repay a debt, confer an honour, a tarpaper shack in Appalachia. associates. It cost $5.4 million. or set a precedent. It mattered Having asked the governor little that Hnatyshyn couldn’t speak that “the nation’s Empress of Excess general to make the trip, the Martin French or that LeBlanc was phlegmat- was merrily vacationing with haughty government panicked when the critics ic, that Sauvé was aloof and that husband in Paris.” She goes to the the- started bleating. It cancelled the sec- Schreyer was eccentric. To be the first atre in Ottawa accompanied by ond half of the visit, to Norway, Ukrainian, Acadian, woman, and Richard Mahoney, who at the time is Denmark, and Sweden, which had Manitoban was enough to make the running for the Liberals in Ottawa, been two years in the planning. A par- appointment. Clarkson was the first and is accused of “cozying up to Paul liamentary committee even hastily immigrant to become governor gener- Martin’s pals in the hope of being summoned her principal secretary al, having fled Hong Kong as a child reappointed to her lavish life at Rideau from to testify, questioned her early in the Second World War. She Hall.” She visits skid row in Vancouver, for an hour, then chastised her for hav- was also the first governor general who and she is “degrading” the homeless ing flown home business class. had not been a professional politician and “exploiting” their poverty. Even Clarkson was rising above her station.

84 OPTIONS POLITIQUES JUIN 2007 The tall poppy syndrome BOOK EXCERPT This is a cardinal sin in a resentful royal toasts at state dinners to rearrang- royal visit or the “Team Canada” mis- country. The governor general should ing (or removing) some of the royal sions, that she pioneered the strategic not fly to her cottage on Georgian Bay portraits at Rideau Hall and ensuring use of the , that the trip was on a private plane (even though the ceremonial pipers played Canadian value for money in publicity and pres- RCMP insisted on it after September music, they always promoted the coun- tige (as Russian president Vladimir 11). Go commercial. try. But Pat Martin and his ilk could not Putin told years later) In 2004, after Clarkson had been see Clarkson and Saul as reformers or were sound points. in office five years, it all came to a exemplars (no one ever mentioned But this was less about reason than bizarre climax. When the politicians that not only did Saul not receive a resentment. Clarkson’s critics weren’t learned that her budget had risen to salary or pension for his work at Rideau going to give her a break. They would $41 million from $17 million a year, Hall, he also gave up lucrative speaking never see her unpublicized acts of kind- they balked. That she was travelling and entertaining Clarkson was not blameless. She should not have gone on the far more than her predeces- CBC to answer questions about her spending and said, “I am sors, including making annual visits to Canadian above the law.” Rather, she might have said: “Constitutionally, troops in Bosnia and my office is above the law and that is why I cannot discuss Afghanistan, scarcely mat- this.” It was unwise of her to take the large delegation of tered. In one of those artists, native leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry exquisite moments of our nationhood, the Parliament representatives on the circumpolar tour, but not because they of Canada told the were not legitimate. She and Saul should have anticipated the Governor General of criticism. That the cost of her trip was about the same as a Canada that she was spend- royal visit or the “Team Canada” missions, that she pioneered ing too much. It would have to slap her wrist. So, in the strategic use of the state visit, that the trip was value for a fit of pique, it cut money in publicity and prestige (as Russian president Vladimir $417,000 from her budget. Putin told Stephen Harper years later) were sound points. But when pinched parlia- mentarians learned that her office was engagements to avoid any conflict of ness, from making bedside visits to the planning to eliminate children’s win- interest). Rather, Clarkson and Saul dying to award them the Order of ter activities at Rideau Hall, they were effete, impudent snobs, high-hat- Canada to raising money for street kids winced. Joe Preston, a Conservative ted and snooty, kicking back on the in Thailand. Or small acts of protest, MP, said that “it’s always easy to point plush sofas and rolling around in the such as refusing to shake the hand of at the most glamorous things and say thick oriental carpets. Said Martin: the Ambassador of Burma, a country you’re going to make people suffer “Frankly, Canadians would like her notorious for its human rights abuses. because of this.” His colleague, Peter even more if there was a little bit more They could never acknowledge how MacKay, a future foreign minister, of the common touch demonstrated hard she worked, which may have con- advised: “If they have to cut children’s here instead of an elitist role.” tributed to the heart condition for programming, I would suggest they which she had a pacemaker inserted in maybe have to serve less caviar at the larkson was not blameless. She her last summer in office. They would next cocktail party.” C should not have gone on the CBC not appreciate, among her other to answer questions about her spend- achievements, her establishing the hat was behind all this? Try a ing and said, “I am above the law.” Governor General’s Northern Medal W culture of resentment. One of Rather, she might have said: and the Clarkson Cup for excellence in Clarkson’s loudest critics was Pat “Constitutionally, my office is above women’s hockey. Martin of the , a the law and that is why I cannot dis- No, there remained a lingering feel- peppery populist from who cuss this.” It was unwise of her to take ing about Saul and Clarkson that she wanted to reduce Clarkson’s budget by the large delegation of artists, native later ascribed to “malice, ignorance and the cost of her circumpolar visit. You leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry a certain kind of tall-poppy syndrome.” might have thought that Martin would representatives on the circumpolar have approved of Clarkson and Saul tour, but not because they were not From The Unfinished Canadian: The publicizing the homeless or visiting legitimate. She and Saul should have People We Are, by Andrew Cohen. rural Canada or making the office a anticipated the criticism. That the cost Published by McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Canadian institution. From dropping of her trip was about the same as a Reprinted by permission.

POLICY OPTIONS 85 JUNE 2007