Speaking for Myself: Politics and Other Pursuits

Paul G. Thomas is a professor of political science at the University of
Manitoba, the author of Parliamentary Reform Through Political Parties,
and the co-author of Canadian Public Administration: Problematical
Perspectives.

Duff Roblin is probably Manitoba’s most respected former premier. His
enjoyable and insightful book is a series of reflections on his private
and public life. The writing style is clear and concise, just like
Roblin’s spoken style. For a long-serving partisan politician,
Roblin’s judgments of issues and people are remarkably moderate and
fair. It is only on a couple of sensitive topics that he displays any
frustration with his political opponents and other critics.

Born into a political family in 1917, Roblin was determined at an early
age to become premier. His ambition was driven in part by a desire to
restore the family name, tarnished by a scandal involving his
grandfather, who was forced to resign after serving as premier from 1900
to 1915. The book deals briefly with his family’s past, his schooling,
his business experience, and his wartime service, but in the main it
covers his time in public life.

First elected to the legislature in 1949, Roblin led the Progressive
Conservatives out of the coalition government that had dulled party
competition in the province. Modern Manitoba politics really dates from
the victory of the Roblin Conservatives as a minority government in 1958
and the achievement of majority government status in 1959. Through
successive victories, Roblin remained premier until 1967, when he left
provincial politics to run unsuccessfully for the federal leadership of
his party.

As premier, Roblin transformed government into an active, positive,
presence thaat pursued the collective goals of Manitobans. The book
recounts in some detail his government’s accomplishments in economic
and northern development, transportation, health, social policy, and,
most importantly, education. In all these fields and others, Roblin saw
public spending as an investment in the future. He also recounts the
building of the floodway (popularly known as Duff’s ditch), which
recently saved Winnipeg from disaster during the flood threat of 1997.

His appointment by Mulroney to the Senate, a stint as Government Leader
in the Senate, and retirement from that institution at the age of 75
represent some of the closing events of Roblin’s distinguished
political career. Now in his 80s, he remains an active and influential
presence in Manitoba’s and Canada’s public life.

Roblin closes the book by reflecting on topics like national unity and
the disrepute into which politicians have fallen. We would be wise to
heed his observations because they reflect the understanding, judgment,
and wisdom that can only be offered by a thoughtful, dedicated, and
exemplary leader like Duff Roblin.