VETERAN CADIEUX BIDS FAREWELL TO LEGISLATURE

Some days were `glorious' and some days were `soul crushing', says departing MLA

In taking leave of the B.C. legislature last week, veteran B.C. Liberal MLA Stephanie Cadieux did not sugar coat her 13 years and four terms as an MLA.

“Some days here were glorious, some were soul crushing,” said Cadieux. “I have faced the worst of what this house can offer, and the best.”

The best days were spent advocating for her Surrey constituents, the clients of the ministries she oversaw, and the people who could benefit from the causes she promoted, from pay equity to accessible housing.

“I will never accept the narrative that right-of-centre politicians don't care about people,” said Cadieux. “I do care. People are the reason we all come here to serve.”

The worst the house had to offer?

No question: It was the grinding she endured during her five years as minister of children and family development, a troubled and thankless cabinet portfolio if ever there was one.

Leading the charge against Cadieux was then Opposition leader John Horgan. He called for Premier Christy Clark to fire Cadieux over the ministry's botched handling of children in care.

The NDP leader attacked Cadieux personally, characterizing her performance as “pathetic.”

He called her out in the legislature: “How can the minister believe she has the leadership skills to navigate this ministry?”

That ordeal and others must have shaped Cadieux's parting words of advice to MLAs.

“I want to challenge all of the members of this place to be better — to do better,” she urged.

“The push-and-pull in politics is necessary. Debate is necessary. Differentiation is necessary.

“But keep it about the policy. Debate the ideas. Champion the ideas. Don't make it personal. It's too easy and, frankly, it's lazy. Don't apply generalizations that result in character assassinations, because you are all better than that. I know you. These are divisive times. Let's not be the ones dividing. Lead instead.”

The premier was not in the house when Cadieux delivered her farewell speech.

Finance Minister Selina Robinson spoke on behalf of the government and delivered a sincere tribute to the departing Liberal MLA.

“I just want to say how so very pleased we all are — the premier has acknowledged that as well — to see her become Canada's first chief accessibility officer,” said Robinson.

“We know that she'll bring her passion, her commitment, her grace, her energy. She will make Canada better. She will definitely make B.C. better.”

By way of a corrective for the way the New Democrats regarded Cadieux when she was a minister and they were in Opposition, Robinson added: “As a minister, she has been diligent and focused. She was keen to serve all of B.C., keen to make things better for people. We may have differed on how that needed to be accomplished, but that's just an example of how she never lost the plot. It really was about and has been about making life better for British Columbians.”

Adding a personal touch to the accolades for the departing MLA for Surrey South was Sonia Furstenau, leader of the Greens.

“She is a person who I consider a friend,” said Furstenau. “We've served on several committees together, including the particularly gruelling and bonding finance committee, months of travelling around the province together.

“I learned first-hand during that committee how an ableist world fails people with disabilities as we waited late one night for a taxi that could accommodate a wheelchair and found out that the town we were in did not have such a taxi.

“Her humour did not waver, which is one of the things I appreciate so much about her.”

Shirley Bond wrapped up for the Liberals.

“Every single person in our caucus could stand up today and say exactly the things that have been said by the finance minister, (and) the leader of the third party,” said Bond. “While I understand the importance of the historic role that she had, it was a bit jarring to read on the legislative website that she is noted as being the first woman to use a wheelchair elected to the assembly and also to serve in cabinet.

“What I know is that she did not let her injury or her wheelchair define her. Instead, it drove her to be a passionate advocate, to be tireless about inclusion and equity.”

Bond suggested an apt send off for Cadieux in light of her crusade on pay equity.

Every year when she was in Opposition, Cadieux introduced the Equal Pay Reporting Act.

The bill would require employers to report annually on the pay gap between men and women in the workplace.

Cadieux cast it as a starting point for full blown pay equity legislation.

Opposition bills rarely get called for debate, never mind passage by the government.

And Horgan dismissed Cadieux's equal pay reporting legislation as a “political stunt.”

Bond's closing comment: “Imagine the permanent legacy if the government agreed to call the bill today and we could unanimously pass this critical piece of legislation.” Didn't happen, of course. But as Cadieux herself said regarding pay equity legislation, “perhaps when — not if — future governments get this done, you'll remember my advocacy.”

Last word went to the Speaker, Raj Chouhan: “Thank you, our special colleague and special friend Stephanie Cadieux. “

By long-standing parliamentary convention, members are not named in the chamber.

But in this case, no one protested.

I will never accept the narrative that right-of-centre politicians don't care about people. I do care.”

STEPHANIE CADIEUX