A Trip Down Memory Lane

~ UPEL SUN. VOLUME 11 ISSUE 17 ‘1980 16' PAGES

PIERRE TRUDEAU SURGES TO POWER

WHILE JOE CLARK SINGS THE TORY BLUES

By Alan Buchanan

After an election carpal gn which ‘managed to ease the id-winter "doldrums '', the electorate decided to treat themselves to that rare Canadian dish- a majority iovernment. The swing to Pierre Trudeau and the Liberals, .tarted in Newfoundland, held through the Maritimes, and jained momentum in Quebec and Ontario, before it qround to 1 halt in Manitoba.

Quebec, a traditional Liberal stronghold, went verwhelmingly in favour of Trudeau, electing Liberals in all but one riding, completely destroying the -reditiste and defeating PC Cabinet Minister Heward raf tEy BUTE Was TH OMT arto where the Ltberals made ‘heir most substantial gains, gaining 22 seats for a ‘otal of 54. The PC's, who previously held 57 Ontario eats were reduced to 35, and the NDP managed to hang on 'o their total of 6. In the Atlantic Provinces the iberals made moderate gains, capturing 5 seats from the PC's, and managing to wrestle 2 away from the NMP.

'n Newfoundland, Cabinet Ministers John Crosbie and James McGrath held on to their seats, but NDP man

Fonse Faour went down to defeat at the hands of the ‘iberals. In Nova Scotia, Liberals Gerald Regan and olleen Campbell] upseated Tory incumbents George Cooper ind Charles Haliburton, but the big surprise was Liberal Mave Dingwell's victory over long-time NDP member from ape Breton, Father Andy Hogan. In New Brunswick, iberals increased their total to 7 from the 6 seats ‘hey hela at the dissolution of the last Parliament in Jecember.

PE! gave Mr. Clark the first real indication that his arty was in danger with the defeat of Secretary of State david MacDonald in Egmont. The well liked and highly respected MacDonald, who had held the seat for 15 years, vas soundly thrashed by former Provincial Fisheries ‘inister George Henderson. Although many political sundits had predicted a close race in Egmont, few expected » Liberal win, and even fewer expected Henderson to win vith such a convincing majority (over 1600 votes). Several factors, however, can be attributed to the fownfall of MacDonald: the 18¢ per gallon exise tax on lasoline; the leadership of Joe Clark; and the PC “isheries policy. It has also been suggested that the >C team in Summerside was only half-hearted in their support of MacDonald this time, following a controversy ver the appointment of the new Lieutenant Governor. \pparently a prominent PC supporter and‘organizer felt

‘e had been overlooked by the party when they made

“heir selection.

In Malpeque, PC incumbent Me! Gass was returned, but sith a reduced majority. Gass, who took the seat from iberal Don Wood in the May '79 election, was opposed

ry his former advertising manager Dave Peppin, and NDP ‘andidate Vic Arsenault. Although Peppin showed a

jain over Wood's '79 vote, he set the stage for his own

= = ——

Thursday, November 2nd, 1989

FEDERAL LIBERALS WIN MAJORITY

with renewed vigor.

political demise at his nominating ‘convention where he delivered a scathing attack of Mel Gass which fell only slightly short of libel. Clearly Gass's stronqest opposition came from his own party policies. Here again the 18¢ budget, the fisheries policy, and the perceived ineptness of Joe Clark took their toll.

In Hillsborough, voters chose incumbent Tom McMillan despite a strong bid by Liberal Gerry Birt. McMillan came dangerously close to losing control! as his majority was pared from over 3,099 to less than 600 by the political newcomer Birt. Bob Crockett ran a respectable third, gaining slightly over 1200 votes, and although this total is down slightly from last year, red ged should not be disheartened considering ¢! traditional voting patterns of the province.

The Cardigan riding proved another turn-around. A re-juvenated Dan MacDonald, the former Minister of Veterans Affairs, came back to avenge his May 72 defeat by bettering PC incumbent Wilbur MacDonald by more than

500 votes. Ina largely fishing and farming district, Dan MacDonald made full use of the unpopular PC budget and fisheries policy in regaining his old seat. It

is possible that he was aided in his attempt by the NDP candidate Aubrey Cantelo » 2 former Tory supporter who polled over 1,009 votes, some of which would have undoubtedly gone to PC Wilbur MacDonald.

With the election over, and a Liberal majority guaranteed, Trudeau's job now is to formulate a cabinet to carry on the job of governing. Trudeau has some old faces and some new faces from the Atlantic region that he must put into cabinet positions. Veteran Allan J. MacEachen from Cape Breton, the ''old man" of Maritime politics, could very well be sitting in his old office as Minister of External Affairs.

Romeo LeBlanc is almost guaranteed his old position as Minister of Fisheries. Look for Dan MacDonald back at his desk to finish off the job of moving DVA to Charlottetown, and don't be surprised if Gerald Regan becomes the new minister responsible for DREE. Although George Henderson is new to federal politics, the ‘'giant killer'' must be rewarded; he'1l1] be the new Parliamentary Secretary’ for Fisheries.

Just to round off my inventory of predictions:

Lloyd Axworthy will become the next leader of the Liberals; Joe Clark'’will be scrapped; David MacDonald will run (and win) tn 2nd Prince; David MacDonald wil] be the next leader of the provincial PC's; Wilbur MacDonald will run in 4th Queens after Angus MacLean or Dan Compton retires; Gerry Birt will get a new job as co-ordinator of DVA's move to Charlottetown; a Liberal Senator from the West will be appointed to cabinet; the Liberal government will introduce a budget similar in kind to that of John Crosbie; and Kathryn Schmidt will continue her assault of the rich