Reflections on Mulroney's passing
The passing of Brian Mulroney has led to fitting and honouring tributes to a great prime minister, and a great Canadian.
Canadians from all walks of life — and of all political persuasions — have lauded his substantial political achievements, from free trade and environmental treaties to principled international affairs, including the fight against apartheid.
More touching are the acknowledgements of his extensive personal outreach and relations with people, and again, from all political stripes and walks of life.
I had the good fortunate to work in Parliament with various ‘Mulroney’ MPS and Senators in the second mandate. That included a stint with former Calgary West MP Jim Hawkes, who served as the caucus Whip. It was a dream come true for a kid from Clarenville.
The Whip’s job — and by extension his or her staff’s — is to manage the roster of MPS in terms of attendance on the Hill, including in the chamber and in committees. It meant daily communications with members’ offices to ensure we had the requisite numbers to pass votes and advance the government’s agenda. Before the era of smartphones.
Working in the Whip’s office also gave one privileged access to the lobbies ‘behind the curtains’ where MPS took phone calls, caught some news, grabbed a coffee, or chatted with their fellow MPS. The Whips’ office staff held duty rosters in the lobby to ensure we had the required numbers on the floor of the chamber to keep debate going, and win votes when required.
In essence, we managed the numbers: when an MP left the chamber for a quick visit to their office or even a bathroom break, we made note so we could call them back on a minute’s notice. To be honest, permission had to be sought from the Whip’s staff to be absent.
I was on duty there the night Canada joined in the coalition of nations in the first Gulf War, when Prime Minister Mulroney had just come downstairs from talking to President George Bush. He stood on a coffee table to ensure all his MPS could see and hear him, and spoke of the gravity of sending young men and women into harms way. Heady days.
Working in the whip’s office also meant working with the caucus leader’s office to organize the weekly caucus meetings. Each party meets as a group most Wednesday mornings when Parliament is in session. These meetings are always confidential, with only elected members and the prime minister in attendance (and perhaps a few key staff where required, if someone was making a presentation).
Outside the caucus room for the Conservatives was a smaller room which provided access through not one but two sets of padded doors into the actual from the MPS met in. That ensured the discussions could not be overheard from the outside.
I was privileged to stand — not between the doors! — but in the room that led to those doors, when Hibernia was discussed. The constitutional accord called Meech Lake had either just collapsed — or was on the verge of — and Quebec MPS were understandably upset with the position Newfoundland and Labrador’s government had taken in opposition to the accord. They did not appear to support Hibernia’s development.
But I can still hear the booming voice of our then-cabinet representative John Crosbie, audible through both sets of padded doors, as he argued in favour of the government supporting Hibernia. And we know very well how that ended. Crosbie, and our province by extension, had the very strong support of Brian Mulroney.
His line then, worth repeating, was this: "I am not afraid to inflict prosperity on Newfoundland and Labrador." Two lions in the Canadian political landscape, and the fruit of their commitments, are evident to all in our province. In last week's provincial budget, a full 15 per cent of revenues are from oil and gas, and has been even higher.
That is Brian Mulroney’s legacy: a stronger, more prosperous Newfoundland and Labrador, in a stronger, more prosperous Canada.
Thank you, good sir. Rest in peace.
Derek Butler St. John's