Former MP was committed to social and aboriginal issues
Liberal politician served at both provincial and federal levels
FREDERICTON — Andy Scott, a former New Brunswick Liberal MP and cabinet minister who was known for his interest in social policy, has died at the age of 58.
A spokeswoman for New Brunswick’s Liberal party said Scott died of cancer overnight Tuesday in Fredericton.
“He was one of the great guys,” said former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna. “Andy was a joyful warrior and always a pleasure to be around.”
Scott was a senior provincial public servant before he ran for Parliament in 1993 and won a seat in Fredericton. He was re-elected in 1997 and appointed solicitor general by Jean Chrétien.
He resigned, though, after a New Democrat MP overheard him talking during a flight about a pepper-spray incident that occurred during an international meeting in Vancouver. Scott was said to have told a companion that the RCMP officers involved would take all the blame.
Former prime minister Paul Martin reappointed him to cabinet as a minister of state in 2003 and made him Indian affairs minister after the 2004 election.
New Brunswick Liberal Leader Brian Gallant paid tribute to Scott’s role in the party both federally and provincially, saying the provincial wing of the party grew when he served in organizational positions and as its executive director.
“His passion and dedication to social issues knew no limits and extended well beyond partisan lines,” Gallant said.
Scott was a senior policy adviser to McKenna before entering federal politics. Gallant said Scott played an instrumental part in the campaign that resulted in the Liberals winning all 58 seats in the legislature in 1987.
McKenna also spoke about the role that Scott played in that first election win, and recalled how he took on the cause to improve literacy in New Brunswick.
“He was one of the most compassionate human beings that I’ve ever known,” he added.
McKenna said the culmination of Scott’s political career was the Kelowna accord, an agreement reached between native organizations and Martin’s government that would have pumped $5 billion over five years into improving the quality of life for Aboriginal Peoples. It was scrapped when the Conservatives came to power.
“I think the plight of aboriginals really struck a chord with him. He was probably, and will continue to be, the most admired ever minister of a federal government involved with the aboriginal community,” said McKenna. New Br u nswick P remier David Alward reflected on Scott’s work in the community.
“Andy had been a tireless community builder in New Brunswick throughout his many years of service to the people of this province,” he said.
More recently, Scott was executive director of the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network at the University of New Brunswick. The legislature unanimously named him the province’s first Learning Champion last week in recognition of Scott’s efforts to improve literacy and education in New Brunswick.