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The ugly past haunts us already
27 January 2006
[indent]The name" Brian Mulroney" is still used by parents to scare their children into good behaviour. Like tales of monsters under the bed who eat disobedient tykes, the name Brian Mulroney is evoked to frighten young Canadians who might forget how truly horrible, corrupt and abusive a government can be.
Now it seems, the monster under the political bed is coming back into the light. In a story in the Globe and Mail today, it was revealed that some of the trolls and goblins who danced around Mulroney's fire are now getting places in the PMO, back in the centre of power, back where they might be able to put their snouts into the trough.
Canadians had a right to detest Mulroney. And more to be frightened of his resurrection. Seeing him and his people restored to power is akin to watching the nostalgia for Stalin in the post-Communist era in Russia, and wondering when the Stalinist would emerge and retake the Kremlin. Eerie and frightening: what happened to our collective long-term memory?
It's not merely the Airbus affair and his acceptance of $300,000 in "consulting fees" from a German business man. Nor is it solely his excessive patronage, handing out positions, money and favours to cronies and sychophants in the style of a French King.
And at the same time, Mulroney attacked our civil servants, cutting back staff and services like the grim reaper in plague years. His cuts hurt average Canadians who depended on those services, hurt provinces who had to step in and fund similar services, and hurt national programs, broadcasters and even our national identity. But he and his cronies lived the high life in Ottawa, insulated from the effects of his cutbacks by the thickness of their own salaries, perks and pensions.
Brian Mulroney was downright Bad, capital-B. Bad for Canada, bad for his own party, bad for international relations. Although she tried to tear down his bloated patronage system and undo the damage, his successor, Kim Campbell, was turfed out of office by an angry electorate anxious to teach the Tories a lesson for their years of abusive power. The party was reduced to a mere two seats in the House.
And now, the shade of PM-past is coming coming back to haunt us. This week in the Globe and Mail we also learned former Mulroney staffers have been granted prominent places on Harper's team:
Westerners in particular hated Mulroney and his reign did more to exacerbate Western alienation than any other, despite the West's Conservative bent. But Harper admitted during the campaign to taking advice from Mulroney. Now Harper is looking like the prodigal son, returning to his home - Mulroney's home.
Old-time Mulroney cronies have been coming out of the political woodwork for a while, it seems. Canada.com reported:
I think this all bodes ill for Canada, and for Canada's new government. The noxious taint of Mulroney almost killed the Conservatives, and after a dozen years it has still not worn off. Like the odour of a skunk, no matter how many baths in tomato juice the sprayed dog gets, the scent lingers for years.
But worse is the thought that Mulroney-style cuts, patronage and abuses of power may again surface in the Conservative party now it has a taste for power. The only chance of salvation is that Harper's minority government cannot affect too many changes too quickly, with such a precarious hold on power. And with such a parliamentary makeup, another election won't be too far off.
Canadians will not forget Mulroney, and bringing him and his people back into the light will surely haunt - and hurt - Harper in the next election.
[/indent]
Now it seems, the monster under the political bed is coming back into the light. In a story in the Globe and Mail today, it was revealed that some of the trolls and goblins who danced around Mulroney's fire are now getting places in the PMO, back in the centre of power, back where they might be able to put their snouts into the trough.
Quote
While it's hard to know just how close Mr. Mulroney and Mr. Harper are -- many sources say they speak, but not all that regularly -- it's clear that the former prime minister has some influence over the prime-minister-designate. Indeed, a good number of the men and women whose job it will be to help Mr. Harper with the transfer of office are former Mulroney confidantes and staffers.
Canadians had a right to detest Mulroney. And more to be frightened of his resurrection. Seeing him and his people restored to power is akin to watching the nostalgia for Stalin in the post-Communist era in Russia, and wondering when the Stalinist would emerge and retake the Kremlin. Eerie and frightening: what happened to our collective long-term memory?
It's not merely the Airbus affair and his acceptance of $300,000 in "consulting fees" from a German business man. Nor is it solely his excessive patronage, handing out positions, money and favours to cronies and sychophants in the style of a French King.
And at the same time, Mulroney attacked our civil servants, cutting back staff and services like the grim reaper in plague years. His cuts hurt average Canadians who depended on those services, hurt provinces who had to step in and fund similar services, and hurt national programs, broadcasters and even our national identity. But he and his cronies lived the high life in Ottawa, insulated from the effects of his cutbacks by the thickness of their own salaries, perks and pensions.
Quote
When Brian Mulroney reigned as prime minister from 1984 to 1993, public sector workers were repeatedly targeted by waves of cutbacks. Erik Nielsen, his deputy prime minister, enjoyed few tasks more than those that allowed him to take it out on public employees. From the NUPGE site.
Brian Mulroney was downright Bad, capital-B. Bad for Canada, bad for his own party, bad for international relations. Although she tried to tear down his bloated patronage system and undo the damage, his successor, Kim Campbell, was turfed out of office by an angry electorate anxious to teach the Tories a lesson for their years of abusive power. The party was reduced to a mere two seats in the House.
And now, the shade of PM-past is coming coming back to haunt us. This week in the Globe and Mail we also learned former Mulroney staffers have been granted prominent places on Harper's team:
Quote
Sources yesterday said the go-to man for big business is now Derek Burney, former chief of staff under Brian Mulroney and former chief executive officer of CAE Inc. He is heading up Stephen Harper's transition team and is respected by the private sector for having fought hard for free trade, insiders say.
<snip>
...within the business community, many of Mr. Harper's closest allies are still his long-time supporters in Alberta, including Pierre Alvarez, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.... deputy minister when Pat Carney, now a Senator, was energy minister in the government of former Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney.
<snip>
Outside of Alberta, some of Mr. Harper's closest new allies in the business community are former Mulroney-era politicians who retreated to the business sector after the Tories were defeated in 1993.
The ultimate business contact may be Mr. Mulroney himself, who has been a senior partner at Montreal law firm Ogilvy Renault LLP since leaving politics.
He played a major role in opening doors for Mr. Harper in Quebec, where the incoming prime minister's earlier vows to eliminate business subsidies played poorly. With his strong business connections, Mr. Mulroney is expected to be a key conduit between business and the new government.
"Everyone is calling to have lunch with him," said a spokeswoman for the law firm yesterday.
Other prominent Mulroney-era businessmen include former Mulroney chief of staff Senator Hugh Segal and former finance minister Michael Wilson, who was the co-chairman of Mr. Harper's Ontario campaign. Mr. Wilson is head of investment bank UBS Canada and forges a key link for the Tories with Bay Street.
<snip>
...within the business community, many of Mr. Harper's closest allies are still his long-time supporters in Alberta, including Pierre Alvarez, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.... deputy minister when Pat Carney, now a Senator, was energy minister in the government of former Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney.
<snip>
Outside of Alberta, some of Mr. Harper's closest new allies in the business community are former Mulroney-era politicians who retreated to the business sector after the Tories were defeated in 1993.
The ultimate business contact may be Mr. Mulroney himself, who has been a senior partner at Montreal law firm Ogilvy Renault LLP since leaving politics.
He played a major role in opening doors for Mr. Harper in Quebec, where the incoming prime minister's earlier vows to eliminate business subsidies played poorly. With his strong business connections, Mr. Mulroney is expected to be a key conduit between business and the new government.
"Everyone is calling to have lunch with him," said a spokeswoman for the law firm yesterday.
Other prominent Mulroney-era businessmen include former Mulroney chief of staff Senator Hugh Segal and former finance minister Michael Wilson, who was the co-chairman of Mr. Harper's Ontario campaign. Mr. Wilson is head of investment bank UBS Canada and forges a key link for the Tories with Bay Street.
Westerners in particular hated Mulroney and his reign did more to exacerbate Western alienation than any other, despite the West's Conservative bent. But Harper admitted during the campaign to taking advice from Mulroney. Now Harper is looking like the prodigal son, returning to his home - Mulroney's home.
Old-time Mulroney cronies have been coming out of the political woodwork for a while, it seems. Canada.com reported:
Quote
At 65, (Senator Marjory) LeBreton is visibly thrilled to be on the road, and seems destined to play a pivotal advisory role in a Conservative government if Harper is victorious Jan. 23. Senator Hugh Segal is another key campaign adviser headed for the inner circle of a Harper PMO. A former chief of staff to Brian Mulroney, Segal was appointed to the Senate last year by Prime Minister Paul Martin.
LeBreton is a political junkie and the Harper campaign's on-the-spot institutional memory. She is media friendly. She also is the campaign's link to Mulroney, her faithful phone pal.
"I talk to him almost every day," said LeBreton, who was Mulroney's secretary of patronage appointments in the late 1980s. "I don't know why, because he is watching it more than I am. He tells me what's going on."
LeBreton is a political junkie and the Harper campaign's on-the-spot institutional memory. She is media friendly. She also is the campaign's link to Mulroney, her faithful phone pal.
"I talk to him almost every day," said LeBreton, who was Mulroney's secretary of patronage appointments in the late 1980s. "I don't know why, because he is watching it more than I am. He tells me what's going on."
I think this all bodes ill for Canada, and for Canada's new government. The noxious taint of Mulroney almost killed the Conservatives, and after a dozen years it has still not worn off. Like the odour of a skunk, no matter how many baths in tomato juice the sprayed dog gets, the scent lingers for years.
But worse is the thought that Mulroney-style cuts, patronage and abuses of power may again surface in the Conservative party now it has a taste for power. The only chance of salvation is that Harper's minority government cannot affect too many changes too quickly, with such a precarious hold on power. And with such a parliamentary makeup, another election won't be too far off.
Canadians will not forget Mulroney, and bringing him and his people back into the light will surely haunt - and hurt - Harper in the next election.
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