That is not to say class realities were ever absent. Sociologist John Porter’s 1965 landmark book “The Vertical Mosaic” had all the statistics to document how, despite our social variety, Canadians where dominated from on high by a small, closely-knit establishment.

But the consistent drive by progressives in our public life has been to break down barriers. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms, entrenched in our Constitution in 1981, set a new standard for legal equality of all individuals in this country. From introduction of income taxes a century ago, to programs after the Second World War to extend income benefits to those in need (the “welfare state”), we were on a worthy trajectory to uphold the vision and achieve the operational reality of Canada as a classless society.

But things have sure changed. Ottawa now even has a specific minister to be like a helicopter parent for the middle class. Hon. Mona Fortier is “Minister for Middle Class Prosperity,” an Orwellian “newspeak” title. When asked by CBC to define “middle class,” she answered foggily: “I define the middle class as where people feel they can afford their way of life. They have a quality of life, can send their kids to play hockey, or even have different activities. It’s having the cost of living where you can do what you want with your families.”

Even as political cosmetic, this is pure sham. Don’t wait for action. No “middle class” Canadian is going to prosper because she or he now has a prosperity minister. Our innovative and competitive economy will ensure the benefits people need, and what we as a country should want to accomplish is best achieved by ensuring those benefits are distributed fairly to those who actually need them.

When I was a Member of Parliament representing one hundred thousand Torontonians in a west-end riding with many factories and workers, I was keenest to help those who needed somebody to take up their causes and fight for their interests. Even challenging policies and programs of the PC government of which I was part, whether on behalf of workers or widows being shortchanged, I followed a credo acquired during boyhood in Muskoka: “Fair shares to all, special privileges for none.”

Those excluded from the “middle class” were the people I worked hardest for, because politics to me is about giving voice to the voiceless and making Canada the best it can be.