Hell or High Water by Paul Martin

Author:Paul Martin [Martin, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-55199-332-4
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
Published: 2008-08-11T04:00:00+00:00

Fifteen months passed from the Chicoutimi caucus meeting till the leadership convention, which was scheduled, after a bruising fight by the party executive, for November 2003. For me, it was very different from the leadership race of 1990. This time, instead of being the underdog, I was the favourite. This time, instead of having to put together an organization from duct tape and binding twine, the challenge was to make room for newcomers in an organization already bursting with talent.

It was well known that I had a large group of intensely committed supporters that had been nicknamed “The Board” by my longtime personal assistant, Thérèse Horvath. Thérèse had been in Pierre Trudeau’s PMO, where she worked very closely with Jim Coutts. Later on she became Raymond Garneau’s assistant. When he was defeated in 1988, my first act was to commiserate with him. My second was to ask if I could hire Thérèse. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. She has been with me ever since, and I could not function without her. Her ability to deal with people is extraordinary. In opposition, in the minister’s office, in the Prime Minister’s Office, or out of office dealing with Africa and the wide range of Aboriginal issues that involve me now, she has the knack of making everyone feel special, a knack that has turned night into day for me on too many occasions to count.

Thérèse’s nickname for the group of my closest advisers stuck. The Board was a name that none of them relished, but it became their media moniker. I used the term myself, mostly because I knew it bugged them. The group did not issue membership cards, and it changed composition with the passage of time. But a snapshot of the group taken at Terrie and David’s cottage in the Gatineau Hills a few days after the Chicoutimi caucus captured the group fairly well as it then was. It included Terrie and David, of course. Elly Alboim, whom I came to know as finance minister, brought his exceptional policy mind and communications skills. Michele Cadario, who had long been a road warrior in my cause, painstakingly building my organization across the country, became campaign director in the leadership campaign. Véronique de Passillé, who was president of the Young Liberals at the time, and Pietro Perrino, an important strategist for the provincial Liberals, were my main organizers in Quebec; Dennis Dawson was one of my principal advisers on the province. John Duffy had been involved in drafting my policy platform in 1990 and would do similar service now. Brian Guest, a passionate advocate for cities and the environment, now also became communications director. Karl Littler was an exceptional organizer who would lead our effort in Ontario along with Charles Bird. Scott Reid, who had left my staff by this time, was working closely with Brian on providing media and communications advice. Tim Murphy, an experienced organizer, formidable policy adviser, and a former member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament, continued to work as my chief of staff.

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