The recent wild fires that ripped through the urban forests of Halifax displaced 5000 people, all of whom feared for their homes.
For 48 hours they waited and wondered what the fires would do to their lives.
In these moments, people seek strength, information and words of comfort from their leaders. Think New York Mayor Giuliani during the 9-11 crisis of 2001.
To his credit, Mayor Dudley Dolittle (aka Peter Kelly) was present in the evacuation centre for most of the crisis, and Rodo McDodo did make an appearance with his entourage.
But neither leader took the reins in this crisis. Neither became the voice of this crisis, the embodiment of hope and comfort to the 5000 evacuees.
That role fell to RCMP spokesperson Joe Taplin who guided the evacuees through the crisis with information. He also briefed the media and, when necessary, shielded evacuees from the media. He helped to keep the rubber neckers away. He gave a brilliant performance and should be applauded.
But that leading role should have been assumed by one of our elected leaders, Mayor Dolittle preferably. And it wasn’t. Somehow this isn’t surprising, give the caliber of our elected leaders.
Still, it makes us wonder what this says about leaders in the little Tartan Republic?
