Maritime Morning - Andrew Krystal

Peter Mackay has not made a mistake in his role as Defense Minister. He was flawless, if fawning (Condoleeza) in his role as Foreign Affairs Minister (perhaps he took his title too literally). Simply compare Mackay to Foreign Affairs gaff-meister “Mad” Max Bernier, who put his foot so far up his mouth it came out his pants when he declared Afghanistan should change Governors (they should, but now they can’t, because it looks too influenced by “foreign affairs”).

Enter Peter Mackay.

Fresh off the Rick, “Curtis LeMay” Hillier grill laid the prostrate political corpse of Defense Minister O’Conner before him. Gordon O’Conner, perhaps the worst Defense Minister in Canadian History next to the bizarre Liberal Paul Hellyer, was taken to the media woodshed repeatedly by Chief of Defense Staff Rick Hillier who simply is a smarter man, harder working, and less ponderous.

Mackay has done two things which are significant: he managed up and he managed down. He has kept out of Harper’s way while staying relevant, needed, in the spotlight, and he has managed the unmanageable – Hillier, without showing conflict.  

By the way, the obstreperous, ego-ridden Rick Hillier would have had his head on a stick and would’ve lasted all of five minutes under Trudeau. He might’ve even made Hillier homeless; Diefenbaker would have stared him down and Chrétien would have grabbed him by the throat like a protestor; Mulroney would’ve have sworn a blue streak right to Hillier’s face. But, alas, we had Paul Martin, and, now, a Harper minority with the unfortunate conundrum of having the role of instilling loyalty toward a military that has been co-opted as part of the Conservative brand. Disciplining Hillier would’ve seemed “counter-brand”, self-alienating, disengenous (picking on a “straight shooter”) and, remember, Harper needs all the help he can get – you always do in a minority government.

Mackay has been nothing short of crisp. The poor guy had to contend with that massive shit sandwich that was the Atlantic Accord (thanks Steve and Jim), and maneuver through the minefield here in Atlantic Canada. The result: A seemingly decent facsimile of the Atlantic Accord (who the hell really knows?) and the cryptic, out-of-purgatory “Crown Share,” which sees $75-million land our way — money that may not be there at all if it wasn’t for Peter Mackay and the whole Atlantic Discord debacle he inherited from Finance Minister Flaherty.

Now there’s Peter Mackay’s announcement this week in Halifax of the $3.1-billion Frigate refit. Our Halifax class ships will be modernized and updated and our shipbuilders and East Coast dockyards will be busy. It was a good announcement. Peter even asked me to talk about the subs which he also cares about during an interview this week. The troubled subs aren’t being dusted under the carpet and he wanted everyone to know that. Again, good for him.

And when Stephen Harper leaves office guess who the lady in waiting is? You guessed it. Right now, no other Conservative could touch him in a leadership race.

Peter Mackay also lives here. He cares about his Province. And whether you vote for Stephen Harper or like his style you have to respect and care about the political fortunes of the main voice we have in the Prime Minister’s office.

We need Peter Mackay more than Peter Mackay needs us.

Deal with it.