If government staffers are so disenchanted with the Liberal Party and the policy decisions enacted by the Prime Minister, they would do well to quit. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.
This week, CBC News reported that dozens of Liberal staffers would not lend their support to the government in pursuit of winning a key federal byelection in Montreal slated for next month.
The reason? Staffers are upset with the Trudeau government’s response to the war in Gaza and the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
To make amends and rectify the damage, staff are asking for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to meet five key demands, including condemning Israel for war crimes and revoking existing arms permits from Israel.
Some will choose to call this act noble. Young people, already in a precarious employment situation, risking their jobs in pursuit of political action.
After all, isn’t that what it’s all about?
The job of a political staffer isn’t easy. Most who choose politics as a career path understand that when they sign up for these jobs, they are going to be working long hours that often come at the expense of spending time with family and friends.
Failure is a question of when, not if. This isn’t a traditional career path that’s socialized with young children when they are contemplating what they want to be when they grow up. What’s less well understood is the emotional toll that comes with supporting a political movement that can fall in and out of favour with the Canadian public at the drop of a hat.
After nearly a decade in opposition, Conservatives understand this fact well. Many Liberal staffers who grew up and worked their way up the career ladder under the Trudeau banner are now experiencing the tidal wave of change for the first time. Spoiler alert – it is not in their favour. With an election slated for next year, the outcome is by no means certain.
But that’s the trade-off. Fighting for a political movement you believe in can pay personal and professional dividends.
For me, it opened the door to moving to a new city that I now call home, and my former colleagues are now people I am privileged enough to call friends. The job put me in rooms as a trusted advisor to cabinet ministers, members of parliament, and party leaders.
I went from selling cell phones to pay for university to the halls of power where, every day, decisions are made that impact the lives of Canadians.
In the minutiae of everyday life, and in a work environment where you live and die by the 24-hour media cycle, it can be easy to forget that public service is a privilege. Working for an elected official and fulfilling the mandate of a political party comes with enormous responsibility but is not without reward and perspective.
If government staffers are so disenchanted with the Liberal Party and the policy decisions enacted by the Prime Minister, they would do well to quit. There is nothing noble about issuing demands to your employer, and foreign policy decisions should not be dictated by disgruntled staff.
Want to change politics? Cast a vote. Volunteer for a candidate who stands for what you believe in. Work with third party advocacy groups to put pressure on the government to change policy.
There are many ways to get involved and hold political parties to account. Crying foul when your interests are being ignored while you serve at the behest of all Canadians is not the way to go about it.
Josie Sabatino is a Senior Consultant at Summa Strategies, focused on providing strategic insight and helping clients meet their objectives in an ever changing and complex political and regulatory environment. Prior to joining Summa, Josie spent nearly a decade in political communications and most recently served as the Director of Communications to the Hon. Erin O’Toole, former Leader of the Official Opposition.
