I just finished reading Common Ground I found it a very interesting and informative book. I remember Justin's birth and heard about him many times but your don't really know what his life was like or what he did. This book fills in the details.
Justin's Dad Pierre, was late 40's when he married Justin's mother who was in her early 20's. Justin comments on this factor.
Justin goes on to cover his parent's divorce, upbringing by his father and much more.
Justin claims he had a fairly ordinary childhood with brothers who often rough housed. But on the other hand Justin and his brothers travelled with their Dad and met many dignitaries.
Justin spends a lot of time covering his long post secondary education. He spent time teaching and travelling. He decided to take engineering.
Justin then covers his slow entry into politics. He thought things out before entering the political field. He was ready. He new what he wanted and how to get it.
He covers his mother's mental health and how it affected his growing up. His mother also remarried and had two children which of course, gave him two half brothers. He spent much time with his mother's family. He also has a half sister who is Pierre's daughter.
He covers his romance and how he met and courted Sophie. He wants to work with his wife as a team.
He also had major loses on his life. His brother Michel was lost in a mountaineering accident where he was carried to the bottom of a mountain lake and was never found. And of course, his father's death was devastating.
Along the way other topics are covered and of course the details are there.
I found this an interesting book and would highly recommend that people read it. You may not agree with everything, but you will understand Justin's main goal that he wants to find common ground with Canadians and Canada as a country. Surely unity makes for a stronger country.
Our new prime minister and cabinet were sworn in today in a very different but moving ceremony.
I listened to the whole event. I cannot ever remember hearing the swearing in ceremony for the Prime Minister and his cabinet. Usually the swearing in ceremony is closed to the public and very private. The emphasis on this event was to be open in a public way. The Prime Minister and cabinet walked up the driveway to Rideau Hall rather than being dropped off by limousines. People lined the driveway and cheered.
Now there were several times I was moved to tears. A 12 year old aboriginal boy drummer led this group into the hall. Three metis children lead the Prime Minister and cabinet out by jigging. I was touched by the prominence given to the aboriginal people. Eleven members of the new government are aboriginal and two of them are in the cabinet. It's important to include everybody in our country.
I know it doesn't make sense but I am moved by the son of a former Prime Minister becoming the Prime Minister. It's the first time in this country that we have a Prime Minister who is the son of a former Prime Minister.
The cabinet selection was interesting. Half the cabinet is female. Many visible minorities are in cabinet to reflect the make up of our country. Only here could an Afghani immigrant girl grow up to become a member of the federal government cabinet! It makes me proud that visible minorities were able to take a strong leadership position.
When the swearing in ceremony was over the new Prime Minister and his cabinet came out and were cheered by the crowd. The cabinet and Prime Minister mixed in with the crowd for a few minutes. Again it showed a willingness to meet and communicate with the people.
I hope that this new government will continue to communicate with the public in a very effective way. We need to be able to tell them what we think between elections rather than just at election time.
