Former MP George Henderson dies
Henderson served in cabinet during Alex Campbell years, as MP for Egmont
George Henderson, who served as both a Liberal MLA and MP in West Prince, has died.
But according to his son, current Liberal MLA Robert Henderson, George “went out on his own terms.” Henderson was 84 years old. “He had his faculties about him, mentally, pretty well to the end," Robert said in a phone interview.
"He had a sense of defiance all the way, pretty well to there. I guess in the scheme of things, it's as good as can be expected."
Robert said he and his sister had cared for their father over the last several weeks, after his physical health deteriorated. George also obtained palliative care at home.
Henderson was an electrician and shellfish technician before entering politics in the 1970s.
First elected as a Liberal member for 2nd Prince, he served in the government of Alex Campbell starting in 1974. Henderson served several roles in cabinet, including as fisheries minister, labour minister, minister of highways and minister of public works. He resigned from provincial politics in 1980 in order to run federally.
George Henderson’s defeat of Progressive Conservative incumbent David MacDonald in the 1980 election was a shock to many, Robert said. MacDonald had been a cabinet minister in the Joe Clark government.
"He was always considered a bit of an underdog,” Robert said of his father.
MacDonald’s loss would be the last time the riding of Egmont would be represented by a Conservative federally until the election of Gail Shea in 2008.
Henderson served in government until 1984 and as an Opposition Liberal MP until leaving politics in 1988.
Robert said his memories of growing up in a political household involved a neverending stream of visitors at the family home.
"I would get off the school bus, and there would be four or five cars parked in our driveway waiting for Dad to come home," Robert said.
This driveway traffic would sometimes get in the way of Robert’s ball-hockey plans with friends.
"I would have to get these guys to move their vehicle," he said, adding home visits were more common than phone calls from constituents at the time.
George took pride in several accomplishments, both in the district and during his time in politics. Prior to entering politics, as a school trustee in Tyne Valley-Ellerslie, George played a role in the controversial process of school consolidation.
As a minister of fisheries, he took a significant role in the development of a modern aquaculture industry on the Island. According to Alex B. Campbell: The Prince Edward Island Premier Who Rocked the Cradle, written by former premier Wade MacLauchlan, George also played a key role in developing a more sustainable lobster fishery on the Island
“His first months as minister in 1974 were preoccupied with buying up excess frozen and processed lobster inventory, followed by an energetic effort through the Market Development Centre to sell it in Boston and New York,” MacLauchlan wrote of George.
For Robert, the death of his father has been complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He respects the need for restrictions on gatherings, including funerals, but said this has complicated planning.
"The one thing I think that wakes and funerals do — I don't always enjoy them by any means — but it brings closure to the family. It brings closure to the community," Robert said.
"With COVID, you don't have that ability to bring that closure."