Better government starts at the top, and Ottawa's power brokers need to look inside themselves as they consider how to bring it about

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A moment occurred near the end of the English-language leaders debate that said something important, though it might not have been readily evident.

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Host Steve Paikin informed the four men they each had three minutes to ask a question — any question — of any of the other candidates. The opposition leaders each chose Mark Carney — big surprise — and each in turn launched into long, self-serving monologues that used up so much of the allotted time that Carney had less than a minute to respond. When he tried, he was badgered and interrupted so relentlessly that anyone hoping to hear what he had to say was totally defeated, as, from the look of it, was he.

When Paikin told Carney it was his turn, the Liberal leader indicated he’d like to question himself. Maybe he figured it was the only way he’d get to give an actual response to any of the points the others had put to him. When Paikin persisted, he kind of shrugged, muttered “why not?” and tossed the night’s biggest softball to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who happily knocked it somewhere between the Quebec border and his most fervent followers in Alberta.

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