Robert (Bob) Elgie passed away last night. You have likely not heard of him but you should google him. He is the type of conservative politician that you don’t see much anymore.
Bob was trained as a neurosurgeon and then a lawyer, but left these two lucrative professions for public service. He was a Cabinet Minister in the Bob Davis Progressive Conservative government in Ontario. He was fiscally responsible and socially progressive. He treated everyone fair. As Labour Minister, he was a powerful voice for the unions in a government that normally would not have a lot of time for them. Why? The government is suppose to represent all of the citizens and as Labour Minister he saw his job as looking out for labour, knowing full well they would be back on the side of the New Democrats in the next election.
He didn’t/wouldn’t play to fractious, interest based politics, as the current lot of Conservatives is inclined to do. He thought the job of a politician was to represent the best interest of all; not to play to just enough interests to get you elected.
We need more people like Bob Elgie in politics.
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