ANALYSIS: Do Canadians still want civility in their politics?

Former Ontario finance minister Greg Sorbara knew he was going to catch a lot of flak when he introduced his first budget in 2004. It contained a new “health premium,” breaking Premier Dalton McGuinty’s most high-profile campaign promise — that he would not raise taxes.

Sure enough, Progressive Conservative MPP John Baird rose in the legislature and, seething with indignation, called the minister a liar. Not once. Fifty-four times. It kinda made the news.

When Sorbara got home, his very young children were offended on their father’s behalf. “He was so mean to you!” one said.

“Yes, but he’s still my friend,” Sorbara replied. “That’s just what we do in parliament.”

Years later, Baird was a guest at Soho House in London, England when he encountered a group of young Canadians. One of whom, it turned out, was one of Sorbara’s daughters. Baird couldn’t resist.

“You must have really hated me back then,” he told her.

She didn’t try to disabuse him of the notion.

“Well, he did break his promise not to raise taxes,” Baird says today. “So, he did deserve it!”

I thought of that story last week when I saw Sorbara and Baird sitting side-by-side at a luncheon in Toronto, swapping old political war stories, and […] This is an excerpt. Read the full article at TVO.org.