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Honest politician John Crosbie one of the last of his kind

Ron Walter writes about the loss of John Crosbie
MJT_RonWalter_TradingThoughts
Trading Thoughts by Ron Walter

Most voters expect their politicians will routinely lie to them.

Not only do they expect lies and false promises during election campaigns, but they expect lies are told during the day-to-day course of affairs.

To be fair, the democratic process, evolved from eras when lying was considered a mortal sin, encourages falsehoods.

Take the situation of an elected member confronted by a voter with a complaint or grievance. The elected member may know he/she can’t help the voter but will likely promise to consider the concern just to avoid offending a voter.

Honest politicians are an endangered species if not near extinction.

Canada lost a member from that endangered species when former federal cabinet minister John Crosbie died at age 88.

The Newfoundland/Labrador politician, member of a wealthy family, never backed down when he could easily have lied.

A municipal and provincial politician Crosbie started life as a Liberal, joining the Progressive Conservatives the day Premier Joey Smallwood had his desk moved to the Opposition side.

Smallwood didn’t want Crosbie, who created a provincial medicare plan in 1967, to succeed him.

The Conservatives upset the Liberals, Crosbie held six different cabinet posts until 1976 when he won a federal seat, becoming an outspoken national character.

As minister of fisheries the Newfoundland/Labrador MP had to meet with irate fishermen worried about the planned cod fishing moratorium that cost them their livelihood.

In one of those angry meetings he blurted; “I didn't take the fish from the G— Damn water, so don’t go abusing me.”

No one had been as honest since Pierre Trudeau asked Prairie farmers: “Why should I sell your wheat?”

The extent of Crosbie’s honesty was displayed in a retirement interview when Crosbie said: “I’ve always been honest, as honest as you can be in politics.”

His sharp wit in debate caused controversy such as when he taunted Liberal Opposition critic Sheila Copps to “sit down baby.”

His response to the media: “She can’t take a joke. You can’t take a joke. Nobody can take a joke.”

Crosbie was often quoted: “I’d rather have a foot in my mouth than have a forked tongue.”

In today’s world of political correctness, he would have had a hard time surviving.

His chauvinistic comments aside, Crosbie was one of the more “progressive” Conservatives.

He tried to legislate a code of rights for the LGBTQ community, but was shot down by the PC caucus. He staunchly defended the candidacy of a gay PC.

He convinced Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to buy a share of the Newfoundland/Labrador offshore oil field to get it running, a decision that has paid off in millions for Canadian taxpayers and development of an oil industry in the East.   

Mulroney fought and won an election on promises to negotiate a free trade deal with the U.S. but Crosbie first brought up the free trade idea in his run for the party leadership.

Crosbie’s poor French was cited by critics for his loss in that race.

They seem to have thrown away the mold after Crosbie the politician was born. What a shame!

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication. 

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