Posted on 1 Comment

Bill’s 6: Greatest Prime Ministers Canada NEVER Had

The first of my political 6 seemed quite popular with everyone.  And, they’re fun to write.  Sooooo….this week, I’m going to pick the 6 greatest Prime Ministers that Canada never had.  First, the ground rules…It cannot be someone that led a party in an election.  Voters had the option of making them Prime Minister and decided against it (sorry Tommy Douglas and Robert Stanfield).  They cannot have sought a party leadership and lost…same reason (sorry Bob Rae and Jim Prentice).  They cannot be young enough that they could still, conceivably, become a party leader and Prime Minister (sorry Frank McKenna and Gary Doer).  This last one also fits into my, “not gonna discuss contemporary politics” rule.  To sum up, the only people I considered were people that never sought to be Prime Minister and likely never will. (this doesn’t preclude my making another list later on though…it’s my blog and I can do what I want to)

6.  Clyde Wells – Clyde Wells was the Liberal Premier of Newfoundland that, more than anyone else, is blamed for the collapse of the Meech Lake Accord constitutional package.  He demonstrated an ability to garner a great deal of attention for himself.  He managed a competent government in Newfoundland.  He had a national exposure not normally associated with a NL Premier.  He was, however, a polarizing figure.  No one was blaze about him.  He was loved or he was reviled.  He never sought the top job.  He went on to serve as the chief justice of the Newfoundland Supreme Court.

5.  Bill Davis – Bill Davis was the long time Premier of Ontario.  When the federal Progressive Conservative leadership race began in 1983, it was assumed he would make the leap.  He didn’t have a great relationship with other of his fellow PC premiers.  The government he led was the classical “red tory”.  To paraphrase Mackenzie King, “interventionist when necessary, but not necessarily interventionist”.  He didn’t seek the job with the federal party and retired as premier 2 years later.  For Bill Davis items CLICK HERE!

4.  Roy Romanow – Roy Romanow was the NDP Premier of Saskatchewan.  Prior to that, he was the provinces Minister of Justice.  He held that position in the early 80’s, during the talks that led to the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution.  He led a middle of the road government, while still holding to his New Democratic Party roots.  Every time the leadership of his federal party opened up, he was considered a contender.  He never took the leap.  After retiring, he was asked by Prime Minister Jean Chretien to look into Canada’s health care system (who better than the former leader of the province and party that brought socialized medicine to Canada).  The Romanow Report is still referenced by leaders today.  For Roy Romanow items CLICK HERE!

3.  Clarence (C. D.) Howe – C. D. Howe served as a federal cabinet minister under Prime Ministers Mackenzie King and St. Laurent.  He was the king of the cabinet table.  He had his hands in every department.  He knew everything that was going on.  No one had a greater knowledge of the inner workings of the Canadian government before, or since him.  Yet, he never wanted, nor sought the top job for himself.  And, in 1957, he would lose his seat, forever leaving public life.

2.  Stephen Lewis – This is likely to be the most “controversial” choice on the list.  He was never a provincial premier.  He was never a minister in any government.  He did, however, lead the Ontario NDP to official opposition status.  He brought the governing Tories to a minority position.  He achieved successes in opposition.  He demonstrated a profound knowledge of most areas of public policy.  And, when the federal leadership opened up, he backed away.  He would, however, bring his vast knowledge to serve Canadians in another manor…as Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations.

1.  Peter Lougheed – Peter Lougheed is the father of the 43 year (and counting) Progressive Conservative party dynasty in Alberta.  Elected to the Premier’s office in 1971, he went to work modernizing Alberta.  He updated resource agreements to ensure Alberta taxpayers got their fair share.  He advanced the health care system.  He set up a “rainy day” fund, to ensure money was available in the future.  Twice the federal party asked him to run.  Twice he said no.  Instead, he retired to the private sector.  For Peter Lougheed items CLICK HERE!

It’s not an exhaustive list, and, no doubt it could easily include so many others, including people who never sought elected office.  Next week, I’ll do the same for the US.

What are your thoughts?  Share your comments below.