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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-04-27, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1988. Aides keep minister on tight schedule Continued from Page 7 when standards are harmonized, they will be to the highest, not the lowest, level. He stands, left hand on hip, gesturing with his right hand in answering the questions. When London Free Press reporter Gord Wainman asks, from his front row seat, about demands from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Queen’s Bush Ministry that the province step in to provide long-term financing to farmers that isn’t being provided by the federal government’s Farm Credit Corporation, Mr. Riddell looks him in the eye and says that such a program would cost the province $1.5 billion a year, and would mean huge cuts in other farm programs. Instead, he says, he is trying to work with federal minister, John Wise to get Farm Credit working the way it should be. The minister keeps on answer­ ing questions beyond the deadline for him to make it to the Legislature on time; finally Mr. Dimmick ends the questioning, although Mr. Riddell appears ready to go on. Outside the door, however, he's stopped by a TV crew and another reporter for more questions. The interviews go on for several more minutes before Mr. Fitzgerald gently interrupts to get his boss away. Mr. Riddell hasn't had any lunch. Downstairs, Jim Lehman waits with the car. Mr. Riddell jumps in the front seat while others pile into the crowded back seat. Hans Feldmann, Mr. Lehman says, has phoned three times already worry­ ing where the minister is. The car phone rings again. Mr. Riddell picks it up himself, says that no, Jack’s not there, he’s gone back to the apartment feeling sick, and could Hans please sit in his seat in the House. A few minutes through the swirling traffic, and the car pulls up outside the Legislature. Hans Feldmann waits impatiently with an eight-inch thick brief case filled with documents the minister may need as background during ques­ tion period. Mr. Feldmann, who’s in charge of the legislative end of the office, will wait in an anteroom with the briefcase in case any background is needed. He’s also in charge of taking any bills through the legislative process, as well as looking after the minister’s politi­ cal work in the five or six ridings where Mr. Riddell is the designat­ ed minister to attend party organiz­ ational meetings and such. Mr. Feldmann is nervous be­ cause they were supposed to have had a briefing session at 11:30 on what might come up in the house, Late Minister makes aide nervous but were too far behind schedule. Now he has a quick briefing as they hurry through the halls, past the guard at the door of the Premier’s office, and into the room off the Legislature. Question Period hasbegun as Mr. Riddell takes his seat beside Lily Munro, the Minister of Culture and Communications, on the front bench of the government (they often joke that they both deal with culture). There’s an allotted time for members’ statements (today marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of Israel and also the anniversary of the Armenian mass­ acre. Then it’s time for ministers’ statements, as Rene Fontaine, Minister of Northern Develop­ ment, announces a new program and is heckled by the opposition, who, Mr. Fitzgerald whispers, know they can get under his skin. They do, and Mr. Fontaine gets angry, at one point sitting down and refusing to go on with his speechuntil the Speaker, Hugh Edighoffer, brings order to the House. For Mr. Riddell, however, it’s probably the quietest time he’s spent all day. As the questions from the Opposition begin, they’re all directed at Treasurer Robert Nixon, based on his budget from the day before. Mr. Riddell sits quietly, not taking part in the sniping and joking that goes back and forth across the house. There is still tension, because he has to be prepared to answer any question thatmightcomeup, buthesays afterward he didn’t expect any­ thing today. Mr. Riddell may get a couple of questions a week from the Opposi­ tion, Bruce Stewart says, and perhaps a couple more from Liberal backbenchers. The minister spends more time in the Legislature on Mondays, when it’s his “duty day’ ’. Each member of each party has desig­ nated days when he or she is supposed to be in the house to keep up his party’s representation. Some members have more than one duty day, but as a cabinet minister, Mr. Riddell has just Mondays. He makes use of the time, much of which would other­ wise be spent listening to catcalls, signing hundreds of letters his staff has prepared. Meetings may also be arranged in the anterooms around the chamber. Today, however, he leaves as the question period ends and the New Democratic Party starts reading its long list of petitions against Sunday Shopping. Outside the doors the reporters and TV camer­ as wait to grab the bits of news that will be seen on the nightly news or make headlines the next day. Noone notices Mr. Riddell go by this day, but he may be caught by media scrum a couple of times a month, Mr. Stewart says. Dealing with the press gallery is different than dealing with the farm press because the Queen’s Park report­ ers don’t have a lot of expertise in agriculture. Hans Feldmann falls in step with the minister as they enter the hall and head for the door. Jim Lehman is watching outside and the car pulls out of the lineup and up to the steps as Mr. Riddell comes outside. Minutes later they’re back at 810 Bay, Mr. Riddell having taken another phone call along the way. Back in his office there are a few minutes of relative relaxation. He takes time to chat about things not related to business. But outside Jim Lehman is already pacing. It’s 3:30 and he’s starting to worry about the growing rush hour traffic that will soon seize the city. Mr. Riddell has a Free Trade informa­ tion session in Trenton tonight and he wants to beat the traffic. Mr. Riddell, Lou D’Onofrio says, is one of the busiest of all the cabinet ministers, speaking three or four nights a week on average. There are so many invitations for him to speak that he can’t meet all the requests^ Bruce Stewart says. By four p.m. the minister is on theroadagain, accompanied by Jim Fitzgerald and Bob Seguin, Director of the Economics and Policy Branch. Mr. Fitzgerald takes along another thick briefing case filled with letters. Along the way Mr. Riddell will sign another 200 letters. There’s also an informal briefing in preparation for the meeting, although Mr. Riddell has spoken so often on the subject of Free Trade that he has most facts at his fingertips. * They arrive in Trenton about six and take time for supper, the first meal Mr. Riddell hasJiad since breakfast. A 7:30 there are about 100 people and eight reporters at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Mr. Riddell speaks for about 20 minutes, speaking in a calm, business-like manner, not breath­ ing fire as he sometimes can on the subject. Mr. Seguinfollows, giving a slide presentation on some of the items in the Free Trade Agree­ ment. It’s followed by a question and answer period, some of the questioners taking advantage of the chance to ply the minister with questions on other topics, such as Sunday Shopping. It’s back in the car about 10:30 and back to Toronto to prepare for another day that will begin again at 8 a.m. The Legislature doesn’t sit Fridays, and Mr. Riddell gets upset if he can’t spend most of the day in Huron, an aide says. The day ends back in Toronto at 12:30 a.m. Lou D’Onofrio has said earlier that it’s too bad it was a rather quiet day to follow the minister around. 1987 Pontiac 6000, 4 door with air 1986 Pontiac Bonneville, 4 door with air. 1985 Pontiac Bonneville, 4 door with air. 1984 Pontiac, 4 dr., Station- wagon with air. 1982 Chev Monte Carlo, 2 door HAMM’S CAR SALES Blyth 523-4342 •Gas Pumps •Repairsto most makesand models Now isthetlme to have your air conditioning service done & alignment wheel balance service & tune-up. Be Ready to Go In The Nice Weather! We’re Searching For A Heart Of Gold Selflessness. Willingness. Understanding. Qualities you may see in someone you know. Someone who goes out of his or her way to make your community a better place to live. 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