Tobin quits politics

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This article was published 15/01/2002 (8750 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — In a shocking move that rocked Parliament and the Liberal leadership race, Brian Tobin resigned from politics yesterday, citing a desire to be with his family.

The sudden departure of the country’s powerful industry Minister sparked today’s cabinet shuffle which the Free Press has learned will see Veterans Affairs Minister Ron Duhamel, Manitoba’s senior federal minister, dropped from cabinet and appointed to the Senate.

Sources said last night that Asia Pacific Minister Rey Pagtakhan (Winnipeg North-St. Paul) will become Manitoba’s new senior minister, taking over from Duhamel in Veterans Affairs.

Today’s shuffle is also expected to see John Manley move from Foreign Affairs to the job of deputy prime minister, replacing 70-year-old Herb Gray.

But Manley would combine the deputy’s job with responsibility for anti-terrorism policy, in a kind of Canadian equivalent of the Office of Homeland Security created in the United States by President George W. Bush.

A leading candidate to replace Manley was said to be Bill Graham, longtime chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee.

His elevation to cabinet — without any previous ministerial experience — would likely be taken as a signal that the broad lines of policy would continue to be set jointly by Manley and Chretien.

Tobin’s resignation ends a remarkable 24-year political run, from member of the Liberal “Rat Pack”, to Captain Canada in a fish war with Spain, to Newfoundland premier, to crafting a Grit leadership campaign.

The always-ambitious Tobin leaves politics without a clear destination but insisted he will not seek the Liberal leadership.

“Let me be clear before you ask: This decision is not strategic…it is personal,” Tobin said in St. John’s at a news conference with his wife, Jodean, at his side. “This decision is not political.”

The 47-year-old Tobin had been running an all-out campaign to position himself as a potential successor to Chretien and was scheduled to be in Winnipeg on Thursday as part of a western swing which had a strong leadership component to it.

“What a shocker, I am absolutely stunned,” said Winnipeg Grit MP John Harvard.

“This is one of the most stunning announcements in my political life. This man had to be taken very seriously in the Liberal leadership race. He bore all the marks of a prime minister-to-be.”

Tobin said his decision to retire from politics, which caught his senior staff completely off guard, was made after reflection with his family during the Christmas holidays.

Tobin said he told Chretien about his decision during a visit Sunday night to 24 Sussex Drive shortly after the prime minister returned from holidays in Florida.

“The staff were surprised, no one expected this — I think it was even a surprise to the prime minister,” said John Ahlo, senior member of Tobin’s office.

“The stars were lining up pretty good for us in the leadership race. The organization was coming together very well. But I can’t blame the man for wanting to spend time with his family.”

Meanwhile, senior sources last night confirmed Duhamel, who has been battling cancer for the second time in three years, will fill the Manitoba seat in the Red Chamber left vacant since the death of Senate Speaker Gil Molgat last winter.

The St. Boniface MP, who just returned from an overseas trip to Paris, has consistently maintained since cancer treatments this summer that his health was improving and that he had no intention of leaving cabinet.

However, Duhamel reportedly has recently requested the move to the Senate.

Duhamel, who was first elected in 1988 and had his left kidney removed after his first fight with cancer in August 1999, was named Veterans Affairs Minister in October 2000.

“It’s a major loss for Manitobans and certainly for St. Boniface and the francophone community,” said Raymond Hebert, a political science professor at the St. Boniface College.

“I think objectively Mr. Duhamel has done a great job.”

Hebert said that while senators can impact public policy, their influence is certainly not as great as a cabinet minister.

Premier Gary Doer yesterday had high praise for Duhamel.

“Ron Duhamel has been the lead minister from here in Manitoba and he is a quality person,” Doer said.

In addition to naming a new Industry Minister to replace Tobin — likely Revenue Minister Martin Cauchon — Chretien is expected to drop Hedy Fry, the multiculturalism minister who last year wrongly said crosses were being burned in Prince George, B.C.

Sources last night said Jim Peterson, the junior finance minister, is also expected to be dropped. Expected to be promoted to cabinet are star Liberal candidates from the November 2000 election, John McCallum and Stephen Owen. Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief will be moved.

Environics pollster Chris Baker said Tobin’s explanation for his departure should be taken at face value.

“I think we have to take him at his word that this Christmas period did cause that moment of reflection just as Thanksgiving did it for Mike Harris,” Baker said.

Baker said Tobin’s exit opens the leadership door to Manley, who has impressed political observers since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“It is good news for John Manley, that is who the prime beneficiary is.”

David Walker, a supporter of Finance Minister Paul Martin, who is widely seen as the favourite to succeed Chretien, said Tobin’s departure could mean the entry of former New Brunswick Liberal premier Frank McKenna.

“If there is one less competitor, it may be Frank McKenna who comes in,” said Walker, a former Winnipeg Liberal MP.

“Is this the signal Frank McKenna has been waiting to come into it, that is the first thing that comes into my mind.”

Like everyone else, Liberals in Manitoba were caught off guard by Tobin’s abrupt resignation, especially since the man known as Captain Canuck was supposed to speak at a fundraiser in Winnipeg tomorrow night.

“It’s a huge surprise,” said provincial Liberal leader Jon Gerrard. Gerrard sat at the federal cabinet table with Tobin when he was elected as an MP in 1993.

“He was very creative, imaginative, a good communicator and a good leader,” said Gerrard. “He’s going to be missed in a big way on the national scene.”

Organizers of the party fundraiser at the Winnipeg Convention Centre said tomorrow’s dinner will go ahead, and they hope to find a replacement for Tobin.

Kevin Lamoureux, a former provincial MLA for the Grits who now serves as the party’s manager, said he was saddened to see Tobin resign.

“He was a strong advocate for his region much the same way Lloyd Axworthy was for Manitoba,” said Lamoureux.

Even those sitting on the other side of the political fence had kind words for the departed politician.

“I think Canadian politics will be a little duller,” said Doer. “Mr. Tobin was an articulate, passionate spokesperson for his own views and his own policies. I’m going to miss him on a personal level and I think Canadians will miss his unique brand of passion.”

Doer wouldn’t comment on what kind of political strategy Tobin’s resignation could be. But he said he doesn’t think Tobin’s goodbye is forever.

“I don’t know about the advantages or disadvantages of making his decision but I think with his talent and his passion that I don’t believe we’ve seen the last of Brian Tobin on the political scene.”

paul.samyn@freepress.mb.ca

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— With files from Mia Rabson