Prototype politician
Winston Churchill’s famous phrase about Russia, “. . . a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma . . .” could be used in reference to Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay. The effervescent MP (the ‘active, positive and full of energy’ definition, because he doesn’t drink) recently marked his 30th anniversary of election to the House of Commons.
It’s truly a remarkable achievement, from any side of the political spectrum, or despite what some critics might say about him.
The riddle-mystery-enigma reference is obvious: Can anyone explain how Mr. MacAulay keeps winning elections?
In 2015, he scored his biggest margin ever, claiming more than 65 per cent of the ballots cast, and a 11,000-vote plurality over his nearest opponent in the Atlantic Liberal red tide. Things were not always so easy for the Midgell resident over nine general elections, with razor-thin victories in 1997 and 2000.
His biggest win was very likely his first, when he upset incumbent Pat Binns in 1988 by some 1,400 votes in a battle fought on free trade. Mr. Binns went on to become a long-serving and successful premier while Mr. MacAulay achieved unparalleled success on the federal level as a free trade supporter.
Since Nov. 4, 2015, Mr. MacAulay has served as Canada’s minister of agriculture and agri-food. It should be noted that as a senior cabinet minister, he is second in the order of succession after Ralph Goodale.
Mr. MacAulay is always proud to “bring home the bacon” for his district and province. The expansion of the national park at Greenwich is a lasting legacy, and his battles to save the Northumberland Strait ferry service are legendary. There are many others, despite attempts by former prime minister Stephen Harper to rip as many out of Cardigan as possible in a petty attempt to rewrite history. It seems that the ex-PM was exasperated beyond limit when Mr. MacAulay would hold photo ops to take credit for federal Conservative plums. The MP obviously has the last and best laugh on the defeated Mr. Harper.
As political panels and national journalists review his 30-year anniversary, it was suggested that Mr. MacAulay made the most of his ability in politics, or somehow over-achieved in light of his background and homespun folksiness.
That would be underestimating him, a mistake made by a long list of political opponents.
He’s a cagey politician who can connect with fishermen on the wharf, farmers in the field, a person seeking EI, and yes, upset dairy farmers who disrupted one of his photo ops.
Young people looking at entering politics can take an encouraging lesson from the MP, known simply in his riding as Lawrence, who came from a humble background to become a legendary Canadian politician.
And he has every intention of running again in next fall’s federal election — because he enjoys it and to return a favour.
His one career blemish was being dropped from cabinet by then-prime minister Jean Chretien over federal funding for Holland College in Charlottetown.
By itself, it was hardly a firing offence, but when Mr. MacAulay’s brother was the college president, the former PM was reluctantly forced to take action. It hurt Mr. MacAulay personally and he resolved to expunge that blemish.
He was among the first of the old guard to endorse a brash, young Justin Trudeau in his leadership bid and then staged one of the biggest rallies for the future PM.
His reward was a federal cabinet job; and now Mr. Trudeau wants his loyal standard bearer to run again.
Mr. MacAulay is happy to oblige. Historians could write a book on how to be a successful politician by following the career of Lawrence MacAulay. The wakes, funerals, anniversaries, birthdays and graduations might not seem as important elsewhere, but Islanders remember who stood patiently in the line of mourners to extend condolences; and who was in the photo to pass on congratulations at their parents’ 50th wedding anniversary; and who gets their vote at election time.