Speech Styles

[August1991]

Here are three recent speeches of these characters (presented in alphabetic order, flip through the speeches to get an idea of what we're dealing with):

Harper

Speech: Harper on Taxes

Is this guy a wonk or not:

In the next two years, for example, Paul Martin claims to be anticipating a cumulative surplus of $8 billion, which is money allocated to contingency or debt repayment. A more honest assessment is a cumulative surplus over $20 billion, rising to $90 billion over a five-year period.

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Layton

Speech: Layton on Health Care

Is this guy glib or what:

Investor-owned hospitals. Funded by secret deals that nobody can see, even though our tax dollars are providing the profit for these health corporations. And they’re popping up all over Ontario…Brampton, Ottawa and even in my own riding of Toronto-Danforth.

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Martin

Speech: Martin on Quebec

Take a look at the metaphors of this guy:

Quebec is the cradle of the French language and culture in North America. It is one of the pillars of the French fact the world over. It must be able to speak out on the major issues that affect it! The door must be wide open to Quebec – no ifs, ands or buts. And it will be!

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My conclusion?

I have to say that Harper and Layton actually say something. Martin says nothing. (Honest, flip through the speech.) Maybe to be PM PM in Canada, that's what people expect. On the other hand, Trudeau said things. Mulroney sometimes said things. Pearson sort of. But none of this PM PM verbiage.

My real question? Will this election be "Canadian boring"? If PM PM wins, will that be it? Four more years of these speeches? Hell, even Chretien was more entertaining.