Monday, November 24, 2008

Bob Rae Remembers Who the Best PM in History Was

How many times have I said it. He was the best PM...and the accolades continue to come in.

8 comments:

Red Tory said...

Hardly. MacDonald, Laurier and Borden were all, arguably, better prime ministers. But of course it’s a matter of opinion.

A Eliz. said...

I think Pierre was a very good one, our "PET"..brought the Charter home.

James Curran said...

Borden? Didn't the Military Service Act and the Conscription Crisis of 1917 kinda split the country up?

James Curran said...

Borden? Didn't the Military Service Act and the Conscription Crisis of 1917 kinda split the country up?

Red Tory said...

Yes, you could choose to focus in on that highly controversial aspect of his government, but on the plus side, he was also the first prime minister to chart a more truly national course for Canada based on the enormous sacrifices made during WWI. I think the challenges that he faced were, by many orders of magnitude, far greater than what Mr. Chrétien had to confront during his time at the helm.

James Curran said...

Kinda like people choose to harp on Bob Rae's Ontario.

An Ontario where he inherited Peterson's deficit, faced the introduction of the most hated tax in Canada, the GST, had to deal with Meech Lake, NAFTA and, instead of firing thousands of people, chose to give them days off.

Ted Betts said...

Where does Rae say Chretien was the greatest PM?

All I remember is him saying about Chretien and the Liberals before 2006 was:

"[The Chretien budget] literally ends the Canada that we've known and sets us on a much meaner course." (Toronto Star, 1995)

"My problem with the Liberals was, and is, their smugness. People often express surprise at my choice of political family, but it followed a logical progression. I drifted from the Liberals as I realized how conservative Pierre Trudeau really was." (From Protest to Power, page 63)

Again and as always, if he's changed his mind about Chretien and the Liberals, that's great and welcome aboard and let's see where he says it.

But last I heard from Rae about this was him saying that HE didn't move his views to the LIBERALS but that the LIBERALS moved to HIM.

dillon said...

Even tho I have resolved not to rise to the bait I cannot let this blasphemy obtain credibility by repitition.

Many Canadians,myself included, supported Martin because the stench of corruption of the Chretien regime became overpowering. From the Bronfman tax waiver arranged by Kolber to the golf course deal Chretien was the most corrupt politician in Canada since his mentor arranged the sale of the family service stations to the national oil company.