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| Howard Pawley, the 18th premier of Manitoba, was at the centre of a lot of Canadian history in the 1980s. Source: University of Winnipeg (may be subject to copyright) |
Before him, I really had no idea what a New Democrat was, or that it
was possible they could form a government. By the end of the 1980s though, I
not only knew who Howard Pawley was, but how one person could influence a
party, a province, and the very nature of Confederation.
When I heard Howard Pawley, the former premier of Manitoba, had passed
away at the age of 81, I was reminded of so many things – Ed Schreyer, Sterling
Lyon, the 1982 Patriation, the Meech Lake Accord, minority government, and of
course the New Democratic Party.
It was a lesson in political science in the 1980s, and Howard Pawley
was at the centre of much of it.
Taming a Lyon
Although I had become interested in politics during the 1979 federal
election, I still had no real exposure to or understanding of Canada or
federal-provincial relations.
That all changed in 1981-1982 when the news was filled with coverage
of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s quest to “bring the constitution home.” It
seemed like every night there were pictures of these men in suits sitting
around a table.
They were the premiers of Canada’s provinces along with Trudeau.
Over time, I came to know them – Peter Lougheed of Alberta, who I
already knew; Bill Bennett of British Columbia; Allan Blakeney of Saskatchewan;
Bill Davis of Ontario; René Levesque of Quebec; and Sterling Lyon, of Manitoba.
They, along with the premiers of the Atlantic provinces, would
ultimately make an agreement on the constitution. Standing nearby Trudeau and
Queen Elizabeth II when the constitution came home was Ed Schreyer, Canada’s
governor general.
Back then, it was beyond my comprehension, and not really that well
explained by the media.
Yet, I had become familiar with those names.
Then, one day, things changed.
Manitoba had a provincial election, and Sterling Lyon had been
defeated by a man named Howard Pawley who led the New Democratic Party.
He had slain a Lyon.
Provincial affairs
Sterling Lyon led the Progressive Conservatives, who had won the 1977
provincial election by defeating incumbent NDP Premier Ed Schreyer. I had come
to know Schreyer as the Governor-General of Canada, so I was surprised to learn
he had such a prolific career in provincial politics. It was even more
surprising that a Liberal prime minister appointed a non-Liberal, much less a
New Democrat, to that position.
Howard Pawley was first elected to the legislature in 1969 and would go on to
hold several posts in the Schreyer government, including minister of government
services, minister of municipal affairs, and attorney general. In 1979, he had
been chosen to succeed Schreyer and was leader of the opposition during those
constitutional negotiations.
The Manitoba electorate would sour on Lyon, and turn him out in 1981,
becoming the first party in the province’s history to be voted out after one
term. Howard Pawley had won a majority to become the 18th premier of
Manitoba.
It was interesting for me, as a young observer, because the NDP was
not a viable force in Alberta then, and little was said about them out here.
Yet, In Manitoba they had formed government and now would again.
While Lyon was never heard from again, Pawley would go on to have an
eventful, albeit relatively short, career in politics.
Premier occasion
Pawley was sworn in as premier in 1981, having won 34 of 57 seats to
form a majority government. He won a second mandate in 1986, with a narrow
majority of 30 of 57 seats. This would become a factor in his second
administration.
In 1987, the premiers gathered at a then-unknown retreat at Meech
Lake, and came to an agreement to amend the Canadian constitution and “bring
Quebec into the constitutional family.”
Pawley represented Manitoba, in an agreement that finally had Quebec
sign the constitution. In return, Quebec received constitutional recognition as
a distinct society; increased provincial control of immigration; a curb on the
federal spending power; increased provincial input on the appointment of
senators and supreme court justices; and any future amendments to the
constitution required unanimous consent.
His government became increasingly unpopular, was beset by
resignations and, finally, a backbencher voted against the 1988 budget causing
the government to fall. Pawley resigned, and his party went down to defeat in
the subsequent election. No one won a majority in that election, but the
Progressive Conservatives under Gary Filmon won the largest number of seats to
form a minority government. Gary Doer, who succeeded Pawley as leader of the New Democrats, supported the PCs
and Sharon Carstairs of the Liberals was the opposition.
Parting thoughts
One item in particular that had been left unfinished by Pawley’s
government was ratification of the Meech Lake Accord. This would likely, in the
large swath of Canadian history, be his greatest legacy.
As the June 30, 1990 deadline approached to ratify, or approve, the Meech Lake Accord,
Manitoba was one of the provinces that had not done so. New Brunswick was the
other, but they would ratify at the 11th hour. However, Newfoundland
had also had a change of government and their new premier, Clyde Wells,
withdrew his province’s consent. That left Newfoundland and Manitoba.
Manitoba had indicated they would not ratify without public hearings.
As the deadline approached, there was still an opportunity to ratify, but
unanimous consent of the legislature was required.
This is where one of the most iconic images of the era emerged.
Denying unanimous consent, and waving a ceremonial feather to do it,
was NDP MLA Elijah Harper, a one-time chief and native rights advocate.
Without unanimous consent, legislation could not proceed and the
accord died. It met a similar fate in the Newfoundland legislature at the same
time when the assembly did not even come to a vote on ratification.
All of this was made possible, because of the demise of Pawley and his
government.
It was a pivotal moment in Canadian history and Howard Pawley was at
the centre of it.
It was just part of a career of public service and commitment.
*This is from the vault
*This is from the vault
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