Editorial - 28-1

What's in a name or turn of phrase? Quite a lot if you're the Conservative Party of Canada. In recent official documents and party fundraising literature, variations on the phase Seizing the Moment have begun sprouting up like veritable mushrooms.

The consultation paper for the refresh of the government's 2007 S&T Strategy declares that it's time for Seizing Canada's Moment (see page 3). The recently released International Education Strategy boldly states that is it Creating New Opportunities for Canadians by Seizing the Moment. And last but not least, the name of the party's just-finished fundraising campaign is — you guessed it — Seize the Moment.

Not coincidentally, the phrase was first used to brand the government's October 16th Speech from the Throne — .

Inserting catch phrases into policy documents and speeches is nothing new. The Mulroney government got great mileage from Canada's Green Plan, which appeared countless times in government documents and press releases. Liberal leader Jean Chrétien enthusiastically led several Team Canada-branded trade missions. However, it's rare — if not unprecedented — to see the use of a brand cross the divide between policy and politics.

Many pundits and observers have asserted that the Conservative Party is in constant election mode. For the next phase of the S&T Strategy the phrase is defensible but it's also yet another example of this government's command and control approach to governance.