May 11, 2000
A Look at... Time and Chance - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- A few years ago, I came home to a package waiting for me on the counter just behind the front door. The return label said the envelope was sent by CKNW. It was a big yellow envelope and in it was a book on the history of the radio station which was a gift from one of the station’s senior VP’s. I opened it up and in the front cover was a note signed by someone. I didn’t know who it was so I wrote back asking who it was...
I recently picked up Kim Campbell’s memoirs, Time and Chance. It’s a book chock full with the former Prime Minister’s memoirs of a very political career. Ms. Campbell has led a very interesting life and this book is a terrific insight into that. She started her political career as a trustee on the Vancouver School Board in early 1980. By 1984 she was in Provincial politics and a member of the Legislature under Bill Bennett. When the Bennett Jr. retired from politics, the race to replace him came to a head at Whistler. The year was 1986 and one of the most exciting leadership conventions in BC history. Something like 11 candidates were in the running, some of them: Grace McCarthy, Bud Smith, Brian Smith, Bill Vander Zalm, John Reynolds and Kim Campbell. Although that convention will go down in history as the beginning of the decline of the Socreds with Vander Zalm getting elected, Campbell upstaged everyone (even the Zalm) with her memorable line, (about Vander Zalm,) “Charisma without substance is a dangerous thing.”
Who knew Kim Campbell was right?
After floundering in the Zalm’s back benches, often clashing with the Premier, she was called upon to replace Pat Carney in her Commons riding of Vancouver-Centre in 1988. Ms. Carney, was elevated to the Senate and Ms. Campbell intended to continue her legacy as that constituency’s MP. She won the riding handily and as Dr. Foth once said has yet to thank Senator Carney for her guidance. Prime Minister Mulroney noticed the chutzpah in Kim, that he named her a minister in his cabinet. From Indian Affairs to Defence to Veterans Affairs; when Mr. Mulroney self-destructed after Charlottetown (not to mention Meech Lake before that) and the dismal shape of the economy, it was clear the Tories needed a leader that could take them into the general election of 1993. After the almost-for -certain’s Barbara McDougall and Mike Wilson declined to run, it was up to Jean Charest, Garth Turner, Kim Campbell and others to joust for the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives.
That convention was really between Charest and Campbell and they fought onto a second ballot. Campbell led the first, and narrowly beat Charest in the second ballot to take the leadership and residence at 24 Sussex Drive. (Actually, only Harrington Lake, as Brian and Mila refused to give up the Sussex Drive digs.)
Her Prime Ministership was brief. She played to one G-7 summit and then had to call an election. Mulroney had set it up to take the party down with him, according to Campbell. She lost that election to Jean Chrétien, and it’s safe to say that the destruction of the Tories was not her fault. From a majority of almost 200 seats, the Tories went down winning only 2 seats in the general election of 1993.
It is also noted with her, sheer disappointment that her seat was not retained amongst those two the Tories did win.
She wrote of her admiration and respect of Brian Mulroney. She kinda thanks him for giving her the chance to be the first female PM, through his promoting her in his cabinet. By the end of the book however, her embarrassing defeat is blamed on the people behind her campaign, namely the backroom boys that Mulroney had put in place before his resignation. She characterises Mulroney as a conniving, deceitful man who said one thing and after the fact, said something else. He had a smile and nothing else, is what I walked away with after reading this book. Reminds me of Vander Zalm, in terms of the lacking substance.
She also tells the stories of being a woman and being in politics, two difficult tasks not made any easier by putting both together. She had three failed marriages in the wake of assuming the Prime Ministership, and a string of flings along the way.
Kim Campbell is one of those really fascinating people in all of Canadian politics. Sheila Copps in her wisdom, and I mean that lightly, characterised her as, “Brian Mulroney in a skirt.” Allan Fotheringham in his supreme wisdom, and I mean that absolutely, said Copps was wrong and that she was really, “Pierre Trudeau in a skirt.” Whatever the diagnosis, she’s a colourful character.
...By the way, a couple weeks later I did get a response from NW, (from John Plul, senior VP, mind you,) and it said that my copy of the book was signed by Kim Campbell. It’s signed: “To Joseph Planta, with best wishes from a new member of the ‘NW family, Kim Campbell.” It’s a nice book and a nice introduction. I still have it.
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