LETTER

A coalition government. Run by a woman. 34 years old. 

I appreciated your paper’s comments about the just-passed federal election in which you address the national media’s addiction to exclamatory headlines,  emotion-laden interviews, “tragic deaths” and that sort of thing.  If I was a politician or a militant of the major political parties, I would be embarrassed with that election for those reasons. We are proud to be a nation of uncooperative, poorly-educated complainers?

Finland just elected a new government, too, and also a minority government. The media did not cry about it – it happens so often there – and they have good results.  They have a five-party coalition government.  Five! All five parties are led by women (so the Prime Minister is female).  No party had to struggle to find women for “half” the seats.  Canada was surprised to get a female deputy prime minister. What a wonderful accomplishment!   

So, who cares about Finland?  It is up in the far north, with few resources except spruce trees, and Finland ranks number one in the world in education results (high school) – both in grade averages and in graduation success.  Finland has also won the “happiest country in the world” title for the last few years – self-defined, so they must feel happy.  

Terry Russell

Aylmer