Tag: liberal

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Remembering Herb Gray

A week after we lost Jim Flaherty, we lost Herb Gray.  Mr. Gray hadn’t served in the House of Commons since 2002.  However, for the previous 40 years, he was a fixture as a Member of Parliament from Windsor.  The discussions over Mr. Gray, his career, and his legacy, were less than those of Mr. Flaherty.  That, I contend, had more to do with the passage of time than anything else.

Herb Gray was the first Jewish person to hold a cabinet post in the Canadian Government.  In today’s society, that may not sound like much, but at the time, it was a considered a huge deal.  In the period following the resignation of John Turner and the selection of Jean Chretien, Mr. Gray led the Liberal party in the House.  He continued to lead it until Mr. Chretien won a seat in the House of Commons.

Regardless of ones political leanings, it should be agreed that the success of government is, in large part, dependent upon a strong opposition to hold it in check.  From 1984 through 1993, an historically long period for the Liberal party in opposition, Herb Gray ensured a strong opposition.  Even when his party was down to 40 seats after the 1984 election, Herb Gray followed his leader into battle each and every day, ensuring that the Mulroney government was held to account.

Under Jean Chretien, he rose to the job of Deputy Prime Minister.  He was the first person to hold that position without holding another ministry.  He articulated the government’s positions on a wide variety of issues.  He was the first man of the house.

He managed to stay out of the leadership battles that plagued the Liberal party.  None knew where his allegiance lay.  He was under suspicion from all sides.  He always performed.  His allegiance was to Canada first, last and always.  Then, to the people of Windsor.  Then to his party, and then to his leader.  He would support his leader, because it was good for the party.  He supported his party, because he felt that they were best for the people of Windsor.  If it was good for Windsor, it was definitely good for Canada.

I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Gray on a number of occasions when I was younger.  One story he tells stands out in my memory…

“I was driving home with my wife after serving as the guest speaker at an event.  I thought that I had done an especially good job that evening.  The crowd laughed, they cheered, they rose to their feet.  I was really feeling good about the performance I had given.  I turned to my wife and said, “there are a lot of great people in the world”.  There was a moment of silence.  Then she turned to me and responded, “there’s one less than you think there is”.”

That was Herb Gray.  Yes poking fun at his opponents, but always poking fun at himself.  Well Mr. Gray, with your loss, there’s one less great person in the world www.masterpapers.com.au.  You will be missed.  Thank you for the love you showed our country and thank you for your contribution to our public service.

Share your thoughts on Herb Gray in the comment section below.

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From Protest to Power by Bob Rae

Rae, Bob.  From Protest to Power Personal Reflections on a Life in Politics.  1996, Viking.  First edition, Dust jacket.   304 pages.  Signed by former Ontario Premier and Federal Liberal leader Bob Rae.

Political memoirs (okay…probably all memoirs) are the author’s attempt to make sure that their legacy is framed in the way that they want.  They need to be taken with a grain of salt.  And, yet, for me…they are like crack cocaine.  I can’t get enough of them, and I have a hard time putting them down.  I do roll my eyes a lot at the authors interpretation of events (in the case George W. Bush’s “Decision Points” I actually laughed out loud).  When all is said and done, they are must reads for every political junkie.

This book is no exception to that rule.  Having been published in 1996, it only covers the period up to, and including his time as Ontario’s first (and only) New Democratic party Premier (confession time…I cannot wait for the inevitable volume 2).

It begins with his family’s early life in Canada and England.  It moves into his own early life.  It moves to his time at University, including his meeting and becoming roommates with a young Michael Ignatieff.  It discusses his time in school in England.  He comes back and goes to law school.  Here, his lifelong fight for his version of social justice begins.

He soon enters politics.  His time as a federal NDP MP and as opposition leader is interesting.  Fun Fact:  He moved the motion that brought down the Clark government AND the motion that brought down the Miller government (regardless of your political inclinations, you have to consider that cool – in both cases, it led, ultimately, to Liberal majority governments).

Going into the 1990 election, all the polls made it look like the Liberals would safely retain their majority.  All the parties saw it, including the NDP.  It would be Rae’s third election as leader.  He expected his party to lose and that he would retire soon after.  However, something happened.  During the course of the campaign, the polls shifted.  The NDP appeared in the lead.  The results held, making Bob Rae Premier.

The remainder of the book, Rae presents his version of events while he was premier.  He passionately defends what most consider a failed premiership.  For example, “Rae Days” are a form of job protection.  The broken promise on auto insurance was another form of job protection.  The scandals and resignations, were chalked up to inexperience.  Interspersed, he takes swipes at his successor, Mike Harris.  He does this by contrasting his government’s compassion with Harris’ bull in a China shop approach.

I love political memoirs.  This book was no exception.  I recognize that he’s trying to protect his legacy, and, yet, reading his perspective does, in fact, provide a view that, in some cases, I hadn’t considered.  All in all, this book is a must read for all the political junkies out there (as will be volume 2, when it comes out).

To see Bob Rae items in the Shoppe CLICK HERE!

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Grits by Christina McCall-Newman

McCall-Newman, Christina.  Grits An Intimate Portrait of the Liberal Party.  1982 Macmillan of Canada, First Edition, Dust Jacket.  It is signed by the author.

This book is a special kind of book.  I say this because of the way many who would pick it up, choose to read it.  It’s an “insiders” book which means that many who read it, don’t start at the beginning and read it through.  Instead, they start at the index to see if their own name appears.  Insiders, though they stay in the back rooms of politics, do want recognition.  If you considered yourself to be anybody in the Liberal Party of Canada in the 1960’s or 1970’s, you would start with the index.

The book begins with a background of the bureaucratic growth of the Government of Canada, which, given the dominance of the Liberal party, also meant the growth of a Liberal bureaucracy.  It does this by looking at the years from 1935-1957, years which Canada was governed by two Liberal Prime Ministers, William Lyon Mackenzie King and Louis St. Laurent.

The book really takes off with the arrival of Lester Pearson to the leadership of the party.  The party was decimated in the 1958 election.  This allowed new people to step in and change the direction of the party.  This is exactly what happened.  A primary focus is placed upon Walter Gordon and his followers within the party.  This period reflects a move to the left of the political spectrum for the party.  In the end, the Pearson-Gordon relationship falls apart.

Under the party’s new leader, Pierre Trudeau, a new bureaucracy emerges…The Office of the Prime Minister.  It is here that men such as James Coutts and Keith Davey flourish.  The imperial premiership was born.

If you are a fan of process books, then this book is a great read.  In fact, if you enjoy any aspect of the machinations of the back rooms of Canadian politics, you will not be disappointed.  Where you might find it falling short would be if you’re looking for an actual history of the party.  It goes into great detail on specific individuals within the governing bureaucracy, but does’t really reveal much of the overall history beyond the specific individuals under focus.  In the author’s defense, I do not believe that this was the goal.  Overall, it delivers exactly what the full title promises…this is a true intimate portrait of the Liberal Party of Canada in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

To see Liberal Party of Canada items CLICK HERE!

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The Passion of the Pierre (Trudeau that is)

A little while back I was out at a bar with some friends. As often happens when I’m out with friends (and beer is involved) a political discussion broke out. We happened upon the topic of Pierre Trudeau. One person went on about the evil that was Pierre Trudeau; another spoke of his greatness. The discussion was heated, with me in the middle. Almost 30 years have passed since he’s left office, and, yet, he still invokes great passion and debate (a fact that hasn’t been hurt by the rise of his son to the leadership of The Liberal Party of Canada).

But what provokes the passions on both sides? As I said, from my spot in the middle, he had an agenda and was going to implement it…regardless of what others thought.

Many dislike him because of certain of his economic choices. He was a clear supporter of Keynes (though, in his defense, so was his primary opponent Robert Stanfield). He believed in an activist government; one that played a significant roll in the economy. Policies such as wage and price controls (6 & 5) were anathema to the right, as were the ever increasing deficits. Conversely, many strong supporters of Keynesian policies applauded the expansion of the government, the efforts taken to control inflation and his choices to fight economic downturns with ever increasing spending.

Many individuals dislike his liberalization of social policies in Canada. Without going into the specifics, many of the social policies had already moderated before he brought in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (more on that after). On the other side, there are many more who applaud his expansion of rights (again, before the Charter).

Which brings us to the constitution. In 1982, he brought it home with an enshrined Charter of Rights and Freedoms after numerous attempts. Many who dislike him, cite his preoccupation with the constitution. Setting that argument aside, the debate centers on what it is the Charter has done to Canada. Some believe that it places more power in the courts, taking it out of the hands of the elected people’s representatives. Others suggest that it’s the ultimate protector of the people from their governments.

So, who is right, and who is wrong. In fact (again, from my spot in the middle), both sides are right…and that’s precisely why people still discuss, argue and debate the legacy of Pierre Trudeau.

What are your thoughts? I welcome your comments.