MacKay as MND
Well, well...
Peter MacKay is the new Minister of National Defence. Off the top of my head, there are positives and negatives to this:
I have two other related thoughts on this move.
First, I wonder what this says about the importance Harper places on the mission? It's widely reported that Harper doesn't like MacKay. I wonder if he's giving MacKay defence in order to put a trusted lieutenant and stylish communicator into the job in order to turn public opinion around, or if he's tossing MacKay into a sinking ship, and hoping he drowns as the public face of it. I'm inclined to believe the former, but I'm an optimist at heart. Political types (yes, my referral logs show you visitors from the House of Commons, as well as the Hill journalists), feel free to drop me a line with your opinions on the matter, confidentially if you wish.
Second, I wonder if Isabelle Bouchard, O'Connor's ministerial communications director, is going to stay on with MacKay? I suspect not, and I know I'm not alone in hoping a new approach is taken by the incoming MND. Whether you can take a new approach with the same old communications staff is an interesting question.
Update: The Ruxted Group thanks Gordon O'Connor for his service as MND, which, I am ashamed to say, I neglected to do:
Hear, hear!
Which reminds me: name me another MND who has been able to take a major procurement from blue-sky concept to first unit delivery in eighteen months. O'Connor did it with a multi-billion dollar aircraft. Well done, sir.
Peter MacKay is the new Minister of National Defence. Off the top of my head, there are positives and negatives to this:
- Positive: MacKay is familiar with the Afghan mission, and brings with him a very broad perspective from Foreign Affairs. Not to mention his contacts in country (Afghan gov't, Cdn foreign service, NGO, etc).
- Positive: MacKay is a much more articulate communicator than O'Connor, and will get more positive face-time with the press.
- Negative: MacKay has no experience with the military, other than peripherally as MFA. Of course, neither did Bill Graham, and he did a pretty decent job. And as far as military requirements are concerned, the uniformed staff in place under Hillier can provide excellent guidance on that. So I wonder how much of a negative his lack of military experience really is...
I have two other related thoughts on this move.
First, I wonder what this says about the importance Harper places on the mission? It's widely reported that Harper doesn't like MacKay. I wonder if he's giving MacKay defence in order to put a trusted lieutenant and stylish communicator into the job in order to turn public opinion around, or if he's tossing MacKay into a sinking ship, and hoping he drowns as the public face of it. I'm inclined to believe the former, but I'm an optimist at heart. Political types (yes, my referral logs show you visitors from the House of Commons, as well as the Hill journalists), feel free to drop me a line with your opinions on the matter, confidentially if you wish.
Second, I wonder if Isabelle Bouchard, O'Connor's ministerial communications director, is going to stay on with MacKay? I suspect not, and I know I'm not alone in hoping a new approach is taken by the incoming MND. Whether you can take a new approach with the same old communications staff is an interesting question.
Update: The Ruxted Group thanks Gordon O'Connor for his service as MND, which, I am ashamed to say, I neglected to do:
Minister O'Connor served the armed forces well – as an officer and as a politician. The military is getting thousands of new people; Gordon O'Connor steered the requirement and the money through cabinet in competition with many other government priorities. The military is getting much needed new equipment. Gordon O'Connor took on some projects started by his predecessors and saw them to fruition. He started other important projects and managed them to approval and now new kit, necessary kit, is being delivered. Well done, Mister O'Connor!
Some critics in parliament and the press tried to sensationalize Mr. O'Connor's previous career as a lobbyist. Gordon O'Connor was a man of integrity who served his country, then his clients, and then again his country when called, without unduly favouring anyone. His reputation for personal integrity is unsullied.
Hear, hear!
Which reminds me: name me another MND who has been able to take a major procurement from blue-sky concept to first unit delivery in eighteen months. O'Connor did it with a multi-billion dollar aircraft. Well done, sir.
posted by Babbling Brooks at 5:00 p.m.
3 Comments:
Overall I think it is good.
Gordo showed his real strength and skillsets in getting programs and funding through both Cabinet and the twisty corridors of CFHQ. Huge accomplishment.
Big honkin kudos to Gordo.
He has done a spectacular job of getting new kit, really good kit, into the hands of the troops, of restoring pride among service members, of beginning the long road back from forty years of (mostly) Liberal neglect.
But he is not telegenic, not a great orator, he has, when dealing with Opposition or the MSM, the patience of a Platoon Sergeant doing a Monday morning barracks inspection and he was unable to counter a hostile wolf pack of journalists who smelled blood.
Having him in Revenue is still a good thing for the Forces - he da man with da money and the CF is the team that needs more bucks.
Afghanistan now is a communications challenge. Mackay has a very capable CDS so he can concentrate on the message.
Having Maxime Bernier as FA Minister is also a good move as the communications strategy for Quebec is a major plank that needs to be covered.
Gordo pitched six great innings. Got tagged for a few hits, but retired a lot of batters and kept the score.
He was do for some relief.
My comment about the Harper-MacKay dynamic, for what it's worth, is that Harper can't politically afford to have MacKay fail on this front. Harper needs MacKay to garner public support for the mission to help Tory chances next election as Afghan is the one issue that will ruin his re-election chances if things don't go well.
There is a second reason as well IMHO. There are many Conservative Party supporters out there like myself who use the Harper-MacKay relationship as a key bellwether as to how whole Progressive Conservative-Reform dynamic is working out. Harper needs to keep our support (and money apparently after yet another phone call last night) as well as the general public. The party can't afford to divide again, especially when we are in power (and doing a good job btw).
His French is decent... he's got not much baggage that I can think of within Quebec, and he can actually communicate.
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