The return of Ed Schreyer

BY JOSEPH PLANTA

Thursday, 15 December 2005

VANCOUVER - So, the news late last night was that former governor general Edward Schreyer will return to active political life, by running for the NDP in the Manitoba riding of Selkirk-Interlake.

Former politicians going back into the political fray is not uncommon. A former NDP leader, Ed Broadbent returned to the House of Commons in the 2004 election. And before Schreyer became the vice regal, he was an active politician, a former MP and later premier of Manitoba. His was considered a popular choice for governor general, when in 1979 he was selected for the job by Pierre Trudeau.

It is unprecedented for a former representative of the Queen to seek political office after their sinecure, but Schreyer has never shied away from politics, certainly before his time at Rideau Hall, and not after.

What's interesting though is his reputation as a public servant is colourful. At least from what's written in Senator Pat Carney's memoirs, Trade Secrets (Key Porter, 2000). Often savage about colleagues and critics, the Senator was not forgiving of Schreyer, whom she encountered when she was a minister in the Mulroney government in the 1980s, and he the Australian high commissioner. She considered him unprofessional, dismissive, and undistinguished.

She recounts the time when they were standing around the lobby of the Australian Parliament. He accompanies her to pay a courtesy call to the prime minister, Bob Hawkes. Over the audio system, there's a raucous debate raging in the chamber, and when she asks Schreyer what the palaver was about, he shrugs and says, "I don't know." Highly unusual says Carney, as it is the custom that diplomats brief their ministers when in a visiting country.

Another anecdote that Carney shares in her book, is while on a flight from Canberra to Brisbane, she looks out the window and points toward the Australian interior asking, "What's out there?" Schreyer merely dismisses her query with, "Nothing."

Carney doesn't forget when she recounts the concern he conveyed as he took her to the airport. It seems, just as his tenure as Australian high commissioner was ending-a post he took up after his governor general stint ended-he wanted Carney to know that he hadn't been notified of his next posting from then minister of external affairs Joe Clark. Carney, it seems didn't have the heart to tell him that an appointment from the Conservative government wasn't forthcoming, if only that his performance in Australia, according to senior diplomats was undistinguished.

In Ted McWhinney's highly recommended and readable book The Governor General and the Prime Ministers: The Making and Unmaking of Governments (Ronsdale Press, 2005), Schreyer comes across well, in the undertaking of his duties as governor general. It seems he took the time to consider the dissolution of parliament for an election requested by Joe Clark, when his government fell in a non-confidence vote in the House, and he did much to foster goodwill amongst First Nations leaders.

His entry back into the active political fray is nonetheless curious. Constitutional experts like McWhinney will doubtless have much to discuss, such as whether governors general should be derived from the political realm. As well, should having been a viceroy prevent one from seeking political office long after their service has ceased.

What's perhaps interesting is how Schreyer's return to political life is gaining a bit of attention. How will voters react to his candidacy? Will voters vote for a statesman? He hasn't held political office in nearly 30 years, will that be a hindrance?

The big question is why an old warhorse like Schreyer is seemingly resurrected if only to boost the NDP's flagging profile. Is the party that devoid of ideas or new blood that it needs to bring Ed Schreyer back?

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The leaders of the political parties, except the Green one, will debate in this city today in French, and tomorrow in English. Trina McQueen will moderate the English debate on Friday. Steve Paikin, who appeared on this website this past May to talk about his book on John Robarts (Public Triumph, Private Tragedy), will moderate the second English leaders debate in January. I think he's a rather good choice. Now, here's hoping that the consortium of broadcasters will let Paikin be himself, because for all of his personality, he'd make the usually staid and rigid debate a bit more bearable.

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Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca

An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE.