By Lloyd Mackey

TWO TIMELY topics on which I hope to provide some analysis, during the next few weeks, relate to human trafficking and the aging of Canada's population. Both subjects stand to benefit from some faith-based analysis.

Human trafficking is the subject of a private member's bill in the House of Commons, initiated by Manitoba MP Joy Smith. Known as Bill C-268, it is an act which proposes to amend the Criminal Code to provide minimum sentences for offences involving trafficking of persons under age 18.

Trafficking in women and children is an issue that falls beneath the radar most of the time. In the past few years, however, the retelling of the historic role of William Wilberforce in the abolition of the slave trade has caused many -- Christians and otherwise -- to try to raise awareness for its modern equivalent.

The vote to send the bill to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights passed 232 - 47 on Wednesday, April 22. Conservatives, Liberals and NDPers were largely in favour. The "nay" votes came from the Bloc. Private members bills are rarely passed, and if they do, seldom receive such strong support. We will monitor the progress of Bill C-238 at committee and explore its implications in future pieces.

The question of aging, particularly as it involves the supporting of the increasing seniors demographic in Canada, is of interest to this particular journalist.

The Senate of Canada has a special sub-committee on aging which has just produced a comprehensive report. And the Institute of Marriage and Family (IFMC), an Ottawa-based think tank exploring the issues contained in its title, has also done a report.

The Senate and the IMFC reports have some commonalities, as well as some contrasting perspectives. Please stay tuned on that one, too.

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The terms "tribe" and "tribalism" has come to my attention several times recently. Implicit in several mentions has been that this is at the heart of much unrest in several parts of the world.

The first time it came to my attention was when I was interviewing John Bergen, following last summer's attacks against him and his wife, Eloise, in Kitale, Kenya.

Bergen made the point, in one of his conversations with me, that "tribalism" is at the root of much of the violence spawned in Kenya after last year's election. As it happens, different tribes hold sway to differing political views in that country and, when there is a leadership vacuum, the stakes get larger and violence results.

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Likewise, there has been much talk over the years that the war lords who continuously battle for control over parts of Afghanistan are engaged in a sometimes brutal form of tribalism. The engagement of Canadians on the "defence, development and diplomacy" fronts has been intended to help reduce the impact of that tribalism. But it is seen as being deeply entrenched and almost impossible to dislodge.

Then, we have the ironic comment of Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, a couple of weeks ago, when he aimed a broadside at the Conservatives for seemingly abandoning their former leader, Brian Mulroney, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

Ignatieff suggested that, even though he was of a "different tribe" from Mulroney, he did not consider it beneath him to wish the former prime minister a happy birthday. Delivered with polished professorial elegance, his putdown took full advantage of some of the alleged tension in the Tory camp. The root of that seeming friction is over the current testimony before the Oliphant inquiry, by arms dealer Karlheinz Schreiber, regarding cash payments he made to Mulroney after he had left public life.

That the "Tory" tribe -- just like any other political institution -- needs to do what it can to protect its good name, made Ignatieff's seeming compassion toward Mulroney difficult to counter. After all, the Liberal leader had nothing to lose in the way of reputation, no matter what he said. Stephen Harper understandably needs to protect the Conservative brand until Oliphant reports, not so much from Mulroney's past or present actions as from the public perceptions that might be fairly or otherwise advanced.

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Of course, violent tribalism in Kenya or Afghanistan is a far cry from the relatively orderly, if occasionally rambunctious behaviour of people in differing political tribes. But there are lessons to be learned.

In the case of Kenya, at least, the nation is giving power-sharing a try, as they are in nearby Zimbabwe. Tribalism thus becomes subject, in small measure at least, to collaboration.

Are there lessons to be learned, for Canada?

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Lloyd Mackey is a member of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa and author of Stephen Harper: The Case for Collaborative Governance (ECW Press, 2006), More Faithful Than We Think: Stories and Insights on Canadian Leaders Doing Politics Christianly (BayRidge Books, 2005) and Like Father, Like Son: Ernest Manning and Preston Manning (ECW Press, 1997). Lloyd can be reached at lmackey@canadianchristianity.com.

April 23/2009