John Crosbie
Minister of Justice | |
---|---|
In office September 17, 1984 – June 29, 1986 | |
Prime Minister | Brian Mulroney |
Preceded by | Donald Johnston |
Succeeded by | Ray Hnatyshyn |
Minister of Finance | |
In office June 4, 1979 – March 3, 1980 | |
Prime Minister | Joe Clark |
Preceded by | Jean Chrétien |
Succeeded by | Allan MacEachen |
Member of Parliament for St. John's West | |
In office October 18, 1976 – October 25, 1993 | |
Preceded by | Walter C. Carter |
Succeeded by | Jean Payne |
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for St. John's West | |
In office September 8, 1966 – September 4, 1976 | |
Preceded by | William G. Adams |
Succeeded by | Hubert Kitchen |
Personal details | |
Born | John Carnell Crosbie January 30, 1931 St. John's, Dominion of Newfoundland |
Died | January 10, 2020 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada | (aged 88)
Political party | Conservative Progressive Conservative (1969–2003) Liberal (1966–1969) |
Spouse |
Jane Ellen Furneaux (m. 1952) |
Children | 3, including Dalhousie Law School |
Profession | Lawyer, Politician |
John Carnell Crosbie
Crosbie was best known for his outspoken, blunt, and controversial rhetoric. However, at the same time he was seen as a leader of the
Crosbie ran unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1969, losing to Smallwood,[2] and was also a candidate in the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada's 1983 leadership election, placing third.[3]
Early life
Born in pre-Confederation St. John's, Newfoundland, he was the son of Jessie (Carnell) and Chesley Crosbie,[4] and the grandson of Sir John Chalker Crosbie, the latter two were both prominent businessmen. His father was leader of the Economic Union Party in the 1940s and a leading opponent of the campaign for Newfoundland to join Canadian Confederation.[5]
Crosbie's early education was in local schools and at
Crosbie went on to study law at
Local and provincial political career
Crosbie first entered politics as a councillor of the St. John's City Council in 1965, and was briefly deputy mayor in 1966. He served on council until he was appointed to the provincial cabinet of Liberal Premier Joey Smallwood in 1966. Crosbie was sworn in as Minister of Municipal and Housing, and soon after won a seat in the House of Assembly. As Minister he was responsible for the creation of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.[7]
In 1967, Crosbie became Minister of Health and was instrumental in creating the Newfoundland
In 1969, Smallwood announced his retirement from politics. However, when Crosbie, who had resigned from caucus, became the apparent front runner to succeed him as leader Smallwood decided to run for the leadership of the party. Smallwood won the leadership race and Crosbie crossed the floor to join the
The Progressive Conservatives were now seen as a viable alternative to the Liberal Party, and in 1972 Crosbie helped the Tories defeat Smallwood and come to power.[8] In Moore's government Crosbie held the portfolios of Minister of Finance, President of the Treasury Board, and Minister of Economic Development; Minister of Fisheries and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs; Minister of Mines and Energy; and Government House Leader. He left provincial politics in 1976 to enter federal politics.[6][7]
Federal political career
Crosbie won the seat of St. John's West in the House of Commons of Canada in a by-election on October 18, 1976 as a candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, which was in Opposition at the time.[10]
Finance Minister under Clark
When Joe Clark's Progressive Conservatives formed a minority government after the 1979 general election, Crosbie was appointed Minister of Finance.[6] He presented a tough budget that included tax increases in what Crosbie quipped was "short term pain for long term gain." A motion of no confidence on the budget brought the Clark government down on December 13, 1979, resulting in a new election which the Tories lost. Clark's government would last a total of nine months less a day. Crosbie famously described it as: "Long enough to conceive, just not long enough to deliver."[11]
Leadership bid
Though a leadership convention was not called following their defeat at the polls, Crosbie felt that a convention would be held in the near future. In 1981, he quietly organized a team for his prospective leadership bid, while making sure not to undermine Clark's leadership. At a leadership review held at the party's general meeting, in Winnipeg, in 1983, 66.9% of delegates voted against holding a leadership convention. Clark felt however that this was not a strong mandate and recommended that the party executive hold a leadership convention at the earliest possible time, in which he would be a candidate.[12]
A leadership convention was called for later that year, and Crosbie announced his candidacy. At the convention he placed third behind Brian Mulroney and Clark on all three ballots. While Crosbie may have been the most popular of the candidates,[dubious ] he was hurt by his inability to speak French.[13] His response that he did not know how to speak Chinese either was not well received. Less notable was the failure of the "John Crosbie blimp" to operate properly during his campaign's demonstration on the floor of the convention.[3]
Mulroney cabinet
In 1986, he was named Minister of Transport. A lifelong supporter of
In 1990, Crosbie proposed the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO).[15][16] Crosbie was proud of his baby; in his autobiography he writes:[17]
The WTO came into being at the end of 1993. It's a great achievement, a Canadian achievement. It was my initiative and I'm proud of my success.
At a fundraising dinner in Victoria, British Columbia in 1990, Crosbie took another dig at Sheila Copps by saying that she made him think of the song lyrics, "Pass the Tequila, Sheila, and lay down and love me again," a comment he subsequently acknowledged was ill-considered.[13] He would later again rankle feminists and progressives with his recurring references, in the late 1980s and early 1990s (during the 34th Canadian Parliament), to the "Four Horsewomen of the Apocalypse", in reference to Copps, fellow MPs Dawn Black, Mary Clancy, and National Action Committee on the Status of Women President Judy Rebick.[18]
He later said he and Copps played up their squabbles for mutual gain. “She's a professional politician, and I was as well,” he said in 2011. “We're good pals now. We're very friendly, and she's married to a Newfoundlander, so she's a fine woman as far as I'm concerned.”[13] After Crosbie's death was announced, Copps called Crosbie "a great Canadian", writing that "His contributions to the province and the country he loved will be long remembered."[19]
In contrast to his often
Crosbie's final cabinet post in the Mulroney government was
He oversaw the decision to close the cod fishery industry in Atlantic Canada due to the collapse of cod stocks. Crosbie called this decision, which put some 35,000 Newfoundlanders out of work, the hardest political moment of his life.[25]
When Brian Mulroney announced his resignation as party leader, Crosbie did not stand as a candidate at the
Life after politics
In 1997, he published his memoirs, entitled No Holds Barred: My Life in Politics (
Crosbie remained in the Progressive Conservative Party until its dissolution in 2003. Despite his earlier opposition to the Canadian Alliance, he did not oppose the merger of the two parties and joined the new Conservative Party of Canada. In 2004, he served as an advisor to Tony Clement's unsuccessful campaign for the leadership of the new party.[27] In the 2004 federal election, he publicly considered running for the Conservatives against Liberal incumbent John Efford in the Newfoundland riding of Avalon, but ultimately decided against doing so.[28]
From 1994 until 2008, he served as Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland. In 1998, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Crosbie continued to practise law with the law firm of Cox & Palmer in St. John's until his appointment as Lieutenant Governor.[6]
Lieutenant governor
On February 4, 2008,
2015 federal election
John's son,
Personal life and death
Crosbie married Jane Ellen Furneaux on September 8, 1952, and they remained married for the rest of his life. His eldest son, Ches Crosbie, is a lawyer and former politician. Ches was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador on April 28, 2018 serving until March 31, 2021.[34][35] His younger son, Michael Crosbie, is a lawyer with McInnis Cooper in St. John's. His daughter, Beth Crosbie, is a former real estate agent, and was a candidate in the 2015 and 2019 provincial elections.[7][36]
Crosbie died in St. John's on January 10, 2020, after a period of declining health.[9][37] Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney eulogized him in glowing terms at his state funeral:[38]
If a PM of Canada is lucky—and I mean really lucky—he will wind up with a John Crosbie in his cabinet. One. Not two. As I sat across the cabinet table from John for nine years and watched him in action, I knew that as prime minister I had been handed a major gift.
Honours and decorations
- John Crosbie was appointed to the Post Nominal Letters "PC" for life.[39]
- On 6 May 1998, John Crosbie was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada giving him the post nominal letters "OC" for life.[40]
- He was given the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador upon being appointed Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2008, giving him the post nominal letters "ONL" for life.
- Also upon his appointment as the Lieutenant Governor, he was made a Knight of Justice of the Order of St John, giving him the post nominal letters "K.stJ" for life, however these are only used within the order itself.
- He received his Grant of Arms and Supporters on May 15, 2009.[41]
- He was appointed as a Queen's Counselgiving him the post nominal letters "QC" for life.
- Decorations
- John Crosbie was awarded the Canadian Centennial Medal in 1967, while in provincial politics, the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in 1992 as a sitting MP. He was given the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002[40] and the Canadian Version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012[40] for service to Canada.
Ribbon bars of John Crosbie | ||||
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Coat of arms
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Honorary degrees
John Crosbie has received many honorary degrees for his service to Canada. These include:
Location | Date | School | Degree |
---|---|---|---|
Nova Scotia | May 1984 | Dalhousie University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D)[42]
|
Newfoundland and Labrador | May 1999 | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Doctor of Laws (LL.D)[43]
|
Nova Scotia | May 1999 | Cape Breton University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D)[44]
|
Ontario | 2011 | Queen's University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D)[45]
|
Memorable quotations
- "Why are you yelling at me? I didn't take the fish from the God damn water, so don't go abusing me."[24]
- "They don't need to go berserk. Trying to batter on doors to frighten me. In the first place, I don't frighten." (Referring to protesters outside of his press conference on the Cod moratorium.)[46]
- "Americans were far more popular in Newfoundland than Canadians, so I was never hung up about the United States. There's always seemed to be a hang up with the Toronto cultural literati about the US. But that's never been the feeling in Newfoundland and Atlantic Canada."[47]
- "Someday we're going to have a North American continent that's an economic union. That's inevitable. These economic forces are there, and government policy can't stop them. It's only a question of, How do you get into a more secure position? They're next door and geography dictates. Like it or not, we're going up or down with the US."[48]
- "No, and I'm goddamned not going to either! I'll tell you that, and I'm telling you that there isn't one person in the whole goddamn government who's read it. I'm the only one honest enough to say so ... At this stage of my life I don't have to kiss anybody's ass, I can say what I goddamn well like." (On reading the 1987 Free-Trade Agreement)[49]
- "It is better to be honest and sincere in one language than a twister, a trickster and a twit in two." (referring to his own unilingualism and Trudeau's bilingualism)[50]
- "No, I don't speak Mandarin Chinese either." (his response when asked if not speaking French would hinder his ability to be Prime Minister)[23]
- "The Canadian economy needs a transfusion and who do they give us, Dracula." (reference to the appointment of Marc Lalonde as Canada's new Finance Minister, 1982)[51]
- "The Hon. leader of the Opposition knows all about butts. He has had his hands on more butts than there are members of this House." (to Turner's 1984 election campaign gaffe on TV when he was caught slapping Liberal MP's Iona Campagnolo's buttocks.)[52]
Archives
There is a John Crosbie fonds at Library and Archives Canada.[53]
References
- ^ Crosbie 1997, p. 270-276.
- ^ Crosbie 1997, p. 73-84.
- ^ a b Crosbie 1997, p. 206-231.
- ISBN 9780458967902.
- ^ "Chesley Crosbie". Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f "Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador Biography". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g Maher, David (January 10, 2020). "John Crosbie, Newfoundland and Labrador political giant, dead at 88". The (St. John's) Chronicle-Herald. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ a b "Provincial Government: The Smallwood Years, 1949-1972". Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Firebrand N.L. politician John Crosbie dead at 88". CBC News. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "History of Federal Ridings since 1867 By-Elections". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Outspoken former federal cabinet minister John Crosbie dead at 88". CP24. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Crosbie 1997, p. 200-205.
- ^ a b c d e "Outspoken former federal politician John Crosbie dead at 88". National Post. January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ Crosbie 1997, p. 333.
- ISBN 9780226454870.
- ^ Crosbie 1997, p. 306-329.
- ^ Crosbie 1997, p. 324.
- ^ Crosbie 1997, p. 348.
- ^ "Condolences pour in following death of N.L. icon John Crosbie". CBC News. January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ Crosbie 1997, p. 276-277.
- ^ Crosbie 1997, p. 271–273.
- ^ Crosbie 1997, p. 350-351.
- ^ a b Murphy, Rex (10 January 2020). "One of the finest, and perhaps the last, of Newfoundland's true characters". National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
- ^ a b "1992: Newfoundlanders protest cod moratorium". CBC Digital Archives. CBC. July 2, 1992. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- ^ "Crosbie calls cod moratorium his hardest political moment". CBC News. 27 June 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ Crosbie 1997, p. 450-461.
- ^ "John Crosbie to aid Clement in Conservative bid". CTV News. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 16 July 2011. [dead link]
- ^ "Crosbie considers political comeback". CTV. 26 May 2004. Retrieved 18 July 2011. [dead link]
- ^ "John Crosbie named N.L.'s lieutenant-governor". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
- ^ "Royal couple wrap N.L. visit". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
- ^ "Frank Fagan to be province's new lieutenant governor". The Telegram. February 5, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
- ^ "Why the Tories rejected Ches Crosbie, a big Newfoundland name". www.macleans.ca. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
- ^ "John Crosbie accuses N.L. Senator David Wells of sabotaging Ches Crosbie's bid". CBC News. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- ^ "The new leader of the Progressive Conservative party in N.L. has a familiar last name". CBC News. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ "PC Leader Ches Crosbie wins Windsor Lake byelection". www.cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ "There are 3 sets of siblings running in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, May 5, 2019.
- ^ Curry, Bill (14 January 2020). "Outspoken MP John Crosbie was a staunch defender of Newfoundland - The Globe and Mail". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Mulroney, Brian (9 January 2020). "Read Brian Mulroney's eulogy of John Crosbie: 'I had been handed a major gift'". National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
- ^ "Counsel to the Clerk - Privy Council Office". Archived from the original on 2016-02-15. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
- ^ a b c General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor (June 11, 2018). "Recipients". The Governor General of Canada.
- ^ General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Crosbie, John Carnell [Individual]". reg.gg.ca. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
- ^ "1892 - 1999 Honorary Degree Recipients - Convocation - Dalhousie University". Archived from the original on 2013-05-06. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
- ^ https://www.mun.ca/senate/honorary_degrees_by_convo_listing.pdf [permanent dead link]
- ^ "Honorary Degree Recipients | Cape Breton University - HAPPEN". Archived from the original on 2015-05-03. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
- ^ "Queen's University - HONORARY DEGREES Honorary Graduands are added to this list after they have received their degree (updated April 14, 2015)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
- ^ Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (July 2, 1992). Cod moratorium deemed 'The biggest layoff in Canadian history'. CBC. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
- ISBN 0-7710-5663-X., p.45
- ISBN 0-7710-5663-X., p.101
- ISBN 0-7710-5663-X., p.153
- ISBN 0-13-171349-3., p.116
- ^ "The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- ^ "CBC News Indepth: Canadian Government".
- ^ "Finding aid to John Crosbie fonds, Library and Archives Canada" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-09-02.
Bibliography
- Crosbie, John (1997). No Holds Barred: My Life in Politics. McClelland and Stewart Inc. ISBN 0-7710-2427-4.