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OLD-TIMERS’ DAY: WHAT GRITS CAN LEARN FROM HALL-OF- FAMER ALLAN J. MACEACHEN Thomas S. Axworthy Following its shattering defeat in May 2011, the Liberal Party held a convention in the New Year that it hopes will start it on the road to recovery. The convention was preceded by a night honouring Allan J. MacEachen, who is at 90 the “grand old man” of progressive liberalism. But the main result of the convention was the adoption of a US-style primary system to select future leaders, an innovation that is the opposite of the Liberal Party traditions represented by MacEachen. Dans l’espoir de se rétablir après son écrasante défaite électorale de mai 2011, le Parti libéral a tenu en début d’année son congrès biennal, l’inaugurant par un hommage à Allan J. MacEachen, qui, à 90 ans, fait figure de « vieux sage » du libéralisme progressiste. Mais le congrès a surtout été marqué par l’adoption d’un système de primaires à l’américaine permettant de désigner ses prochains chefs, une nouveauté en totale contradiction avec la tradition libérale incarnée par M. MacEachen. t the Liberal Party convention in Ottawa in January, secretary of Pierre Trudeau, and Monique Begin, his former there were some shoots of optimism amid the weeds cabinet colleague. A of despair that have taken root in the party since its Having the great and good of the Liberal Party turn out catastrophic defeat in May 2011. The delegates were somber for MacEachen on the eve of the convention was a bit like — rightly so given that the once great Liberal Party has fall- Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium. The Liberal equivalents of en to third place — but cautiously optimistic because the the Reggie Jacksons, Whitey Fords and Yogi Berras reminded NDP leadership contest had failed to attract much interest. the current crowd of past glories and perhaps had a trick or The Liberals tried valiantly to project a forward-looking two to show today’s Liberal caucus on how it was once done. image: one-third of the 3,300 delegates were under 30 and Allan J. MacEachen was a worthy subject of such acco- the party passed a Young Liberal motion to legalize and reg- lades because he was the most significant cabinet minister ulate marijuana use. Don Tapscott, a technology guru with of the postwar era. Beginning his political involvement with no history in the party, was given a prized keynote guest the Liberal Party in 1949, MacEachen first went to Ottawa as slot. The incantation of being relevant to the needs of the a member of Parliament in 1953, at the height of the Liberal 21st century was repeated mantra-like by almost every ascendancy. Starting out in the era of train travel, when the speaker as if to dispel painful memories of the recent past. House of Commons was a part-time gentleman’s club, he But despite the shiny 21st century Liberal Party on dis- remained a political force into the era of the Internet, 24- play at the new Ottawa Convention Centre, many of the hour news cycle and the permanent campaign. During this delegates still cheered for the All-Star teams of the past. half century in politics, he was a party volunteer; MP; a sen- Nowhere was this most evident than on the Thursday ior adviser to Opposition Leader Lester Pearson; minister of evening event that preceded the formal opening of the labour, national health and welfare, manpower and immi- convention. There, on January 12, Liberals met to honour gration, external affairs, finance; President of the Privy one of the great figures of their past — 90-year-old Allan J. Council; Deputy Prime Minister; leadership candidate MacEachen. Former prime ministers John Turner and Paul (1968); and Senator. Martin were in attendance, as were former premiers like As leader of the Liberal Opposition in the Senate from Frank McKenna, former leaders like Stéphane Dion and 1984 to 1991, he led epic parliamentary battles against the the current leader, Bob Rae. In abundance were cabinet Canada-US Free Trade Agreement and the Goods and ministers of the Pearson, Trudeau and Chrétien eras. Service Tax. For 50 years, Allan MacEachen was a leader of MacEachen was lauded by Jim Coutts, former principal the liberal wing of the Liberal Party. 32 OPTIONS POLITIQUES MARS 2012 Old-Timers’ Day: What Grits can learn from hall-of-famer Allan J. MacEachen ike many Nova Scotians of the policy calculations. John Crosbie, in Henry III to add representatives from L 1920s and 1930s, MacEachen loves his memoirs, called MacEachen “the the boroughs and shires to the Great baseball and would spend hours talk- Celtic Sphinx.” But invariably, some- Council, or at least to 1758, when ing about the game with his aide, the time weeks later, in cabinet or the Nova Scotia had the first election in late Jerry Yanover. One of the truisms House, the Sphinx would reflect vol- Canada for a legislative assembly. of the game is that the prospects of a ubly, and there would be a well- For others, Parliament is a curious team can be gauged by its strengths up thought-out way forward, based in inefficient relic with archaic rules and traditions — more a theatre The Liberals tried valiantly to project a forward-looking image: than a bulwark of our liber- one-third of the 3,300 delegates were under 30 and the party ties. MacEachen was Leader of the House three times passed a Young Liberal motion to legalize and regulate (May 1967 to April 1968, marijuana use. Don Tapscott, a technology guru with no September 1970 to May history in the party, was given a prized keynote guest slot. 1974 and September 1976 to March 1979). To succeed the middle — pitcher, catcher, second part on the data received. MacEachen in that job, one must combine an baseman and centre fielder. So, too, could not be rushed; he liked to think abundance of emotional intelligence with governments: cabinets start with a things through himself. His mastery of with technical mastery of rules. The core of four or five senior ministers and the House is well known and discussed mood of the House of Commons can then, hopefully, expand their talent below. But his greatest political skill, in change within minutes: a placid House base outward. my estimation, was his genius for tim- contentedly dispensing business can, Pierre Trudeau certainly appreciat- ing — MacEachen knew when to delay with a single quip or question, occa- ed the talent of Allan J. In forming his (as when he tried to prevent a vote on sion a reply that creates a squall, which governments from 1968 to 1984, Allan third reading of Mitchell Sharp’s 1968 turns into a storm. Managing an J. was always among that core, along budget) and he knew when to move assembly with 300 egos, competing with Jean Chrétien and Marc Lalonde. (as when he urged the Liberal caucus interests and continual jockeying for Trudeau always began with these to defeat John Crosbie’s 1979 budget). media attention requires patience, three, and then built on that base. On the great issues of the 1968 to 1984 empathy and an ability to laugh at the When I became principal secretary to era, Prime Minister Trudeau and cabi- human parade. MacEachen had all the Prime Minister in 1981, one of my net would wait patiently until Allan J. these virtues. He was like a great polit- jobs was to brief these three ministers was finally ready to give his advice. ical bloodhound, sniffing the parlia- on the latest public opinion surveys so “MacEachen was certainly a character I mentary air, detecting the changing that they could help Trudeau chart the liked,” wrote Trudeau. “In part because currents and nimbly setting off in a political water. Their responses to he was unpredictable.” new direction with the parliamentary these briefings were instructive; pack baying at his heels. Chrétien would listen for a minute, llan J. MacEachen loved and then jump in with his own analy- A Parliament and was an expert on uch gifts are rare. With his great sis, coast to coast. Invariably his intu- the rules and procedures of the institu- S intelligence, Trudeau could have ition was as sure as our costly survey tion. This expertise came to full fruition been a success in a number of min- techniques: I never met a better intu- during the Trudeau era. Colleagues like istries, but never as House Leader. He itive politician in assessing public Keith Davey called him “the greatest lacked empathy and thus was never a opinion. Lalonde would listen, then House leader I have ever seen in House of Commons man. MacEachen, immediately begin to plan a action.” Opponents like Pat Carney on the other hand, could prolong a policy/political response to the prob- called him “a master of parliamentary minority parliament, wringing from it lems. Lalonde was action-oriented and obstruction.” Either way, he was a dom- significant legislation; in 1972 to 1974, executive-centred. MacEachen was dif- inating parliamentary presence. for example, the Liberal minority gov- ferent from his two colleagues; always Many men and women have ernment had only two more members polite, he would take it all in, some- served in Parliament, but few become than the Conservatives — making our times ask a question, but just as often House of Commons devotees. For recent minority parliaments look like a would look away and contemplate. His some like Allan J., Stanley Knowles, picnic in comparison. Skillfully, silences were as eloquent as most John Diefenbaker, John Turner and Joe MacEachen prolonged Parliament and politicians’ ramblings.