- Reaction score
- 4,310
- Points
- 1,160
The Ottawa Citizen reports that "Flora MacDonald, former Conservative cabinet minister, dies at 89."
I knew Ms MacDonald slightly (I commanded a unit in Kingston and she was, of course, a regular visitor to the garrison mess). I do not believe that she was an especially able or productive minister, but there were, to be sure, a great many who were a lot worse.
She was a trail-breaker for women in politics, and for that, alone, she deserves our praise. She was also a "good" public servant, in the broadest sense of that word: she put country before self. For that, too, she deserves our praise. She was, as I recall her, a pleasant, witty woman who learned her briefs well. So, maybe not one of the great parliamentarians, but a good one and a lady who will be missed.
Of course, no mention of Flora would be complete without recalling Dief the Chief's quip (when Flora (who was the PC Party Secretary, I believe, organized Dalton Camp's campaign to dump Mr Diefenbaker): the Old Chief took the podium and began, as one does, by addressing the Party executive ... when he came to Flora he said something like, "Oh, yes, and Miss MacDonald, the finest woman to ever walk the streets of Kingston!" The great thing was that Flora enjoyed that story. :nod:
I knew Ms MacDonald slightly (I commanded a unit in Kingston and she was, of course, a regular visitor to the garrison mess). I do not believe that she was an especially able or productive minister, but there were, to be sure, a great many who were a lot worse.
She was a trail-breaker for women in politics, and for that, alone, she deserves our praise. She was also a "good" public servant, in the broadest sense of that word: she put country before self. For that, too, she deserves our praise. She was, as I recall her, a pleasant, witty woman who learned her briefs well. So, maybe not one of the great parliamentarians, but a good one and a lady who will be missed.
Of course, no mention of Flora would be complete without recalling Dief the Chief's quip (when Flora (who was the PC Party Secretary, I believe, organized Dalton Camp's campaign to dump Mr Diefenbaker): the Old Chief took the podium and began, as one does, by addressing the Party executive ... when he came to Flora he said something like, "Oh, yes, and Miss MacDonald, the finest woman to ever walk the streets of Kingston!" The great thing was that Flora enjoyed that story. :nod: