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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-11-22, Page 17U Lueknow Sentinel, Wednesday, November 22, 1989—Page 15 A day in the life of Murray Elston By ERIC BEYER Shoreline News What are our elected representatives doing when they are not in their ridings? This question spurred this reporter to follow Murray Elston, MPP for Bruce, around for a day at Queen's Park Thursday, Nov. 16. Associating with politicians for a day helped me understand—and empathize— with them and what they do. First elected to Queen's Park in March, 1981, Elston has been given in- creasing responsibility through ministerial appointments. Today, he is minister of Financial In- stitutions, chairman of Management Board and chairman of Cabinet. He was the minister of health from 1985-87. His other duties include: chairman of the Round Table of the Environment, and memberships to the Premier's Health Council, Policy and Priorities Committee and the Agenda Committee. 1 arrived at Elston's office about 10 a.m. and spent about six hours there. Rod MacDonald, Elston's special riding assistant, had told me beforehand, on the telephone, that Elston's schedule is busy and I found out he is right. Disappointingly, I had only 20 minutes to interview Elston. Though the inter- view was short, I still managed to learn something about him and the political life from MacDonald. As I clung to the assistant during the day, he kept me up-to-date on the day's happenings while filling in other gaps of my knowledge. 11 assistants .work with him Elston's office is most of the seventh floor of Frost Building South, across the street from Queen's Park. He has a wwhich Matti ld;•Trom Kincardine, is one. Two of the 11 assistants work at ° Elston's constituency office in Kincardine. MacDonald said when a cabinet minister gets shuffled into another port- folio, he moves with his assistants and adopts the existing ministry bulwark. With all the cabinet flip flopping that takes place, a minister must take on a new ministry with relative ease. Though arriving in the morning,. I could not see Elston until about 1:20 p.m.; he had confidential and impromp- tu meetings to attend including one with Robert Nixon, Ontario's Treasurer. During this time, I had an opportuni- ty to ask MacDonald questions, meet Elston's staff, tour the Ontario Legislature and accompany ilacDonald to a briefing session with Ron Lipsett, MPP for Grey. Elston's weekly schedule starts with a basic structure and becomes filled up as the week approaches and progresses. MacDonald said he is now taking book- ings for January and February dates. He joked that Elston does not have time to eat. The following is a synopsis of Elston's structured schedule (impromptu meetings are pencilled in for the emp- ty spots) for the week: Monday morn- ing, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Management Board briefing; 10 a.m. to noon, caucus meeting; Monday afternoon, agenda committee meeting; Tuesday afternoon, House duty; Wednesday morning, Cabinet meeting, than policy and priorities committee meeting, then ques- tion period; Thur "ays, meetings are slotted in around afternoon question period; Fridays, it's back to the riding fpr appointments and meetings; Satur- days it's social events and gatherings in the riding; Sunday it's time with his family Family members include his wife Trudy and five children, Jeannine, 12, Erin, 10, Jim, 7, Gillian, 5, and Sean, 3. One could say Elston has two homes, a house in Walkerton and an apartment in Toronto. Attended confidential briefing At about 12:15 p.m. MacDonald had to deliver a briefing to Lipsett, MPP for Grey, on a confidential Grey -Bruce qo issue. I went along as we walked to another office building a short but cold distance away. Once there, discussion was frank and interesting, I cannot disclose what they talked about but can say it was enlightening to sit in on. Finally, at about 1:20 p.m. I had an opportunity to talk with Elston and take pictures of him before he was schedul- ed to sit in the House for question period. I spoke to him within the gover- ning party's lobby behind the assembly with VIPs walking by, back and forth. Elston said his responsibilities are much different than when he was health minister. As chairman of Management Board, he manages the purse strings of various ministries. He works with about $42 billion a year. His duties are more low-key than the high-profile health ministry post when, for example, doctors walked out over extra billing— sparking full scale media attention. Since becoming a minister in 1985, he has noticed subtle changes in his character; he is better at reading peo- ple, his analytical skills have improved and he has a better appreciation for "folks" and family. And they also have a better appreciation of him though his busy job is hard on his immediate family. • He does question himself when con- troverial issues, such as extra billing, arise. "If you're going to be any good to the public, you have to re-examine your assumptions," he said. Proud of his country roots Elston is proud of his country roots, sayng it was never a problem for him to be amongst big city politicians. He says the problem with his schedule is that there are too many set meetings. "It would be nice to have the mid set around my schedule," he saAs minister with two portfolios, time constraints cause him to cancel out of many entire day events in the riding, those he had once attended. There is still much contact with his riding but it's just not the same: "I miss being with folks for their 50th wedding an- niversaries," he said. After the interview, I watched ques- tion period. But Elston wasn't called on to speak so I eventually left for home. What are our elected representatives doing away from their ridings? In Elston's case, helping to decide the agenda of the province, not to mention putting Bruce County on the map. AIM b In 1913, a year before the First World War started, there was a terrible storm on Lake Huron. It happened on Sunday November 9. Around here in the forenoon it was nice outside and people went to church with their horses and buggies. By noon two weather systems met over Lake Huron with big waves over 50 feet high at times and heavy snow storms so that no one could see any distance. On land here some folks went to the morning church services but were unable to return home and had to stay with friends or neighbours. On the lake were a number of large boats loaded with grain from the elevator in Port Arthur. Two of these were the James Carruthers and .the Wexford, an older boat built in 1884. The Carruthers was a new boat laun- ched in May of that year (1913). It is thought the Carruthers sank somewhere south of Point Clark. The horn on the Wex- ford was heard Sunday for help from 2 o'clock to 4 in the afternoon and then no more. Eight ships sank right here in Lake Huron with a loss of 235 sailors. On Friday morning Nov. 14, 1913 George Jardine .states in his book that he found one man inthe sand at the water's edge and I found six men and one woman bet- ween my home and the Lighthouse and quite close to it I found the Captain of the Carruthers. As I found them each had to be covered with sand to keep the sea gulls from picking their eyes out. The Captain was quite a heavy man and I •had to ask for help to draw him up the shore. 'The woman was' lying on a sand bar - a little out in the water. • IPLEY BY AB WYLDS The next day the undertaker, J. B. Mar- tyn came from Ripley and the bodies were taken by wagon to Ripley. They were plac- ed on tables in the Martyn Funeral Home. A man came from Toronto and made ar- rangements for burial. The bodies laid out on tables and were viewed by folks here. The next day they were loaded in the fore- noon in a wagon and taken to Goderich after the driver and his helper had lunch at the Royal Hotel. The driver and his helper at the "Livery Barn" took the afternoon for the trip there and back. A later trip was made from Amberley but we do not have the details. WORDS MAY BE —The things we use to conceal the truth. —The sign of great wisdom or of great folly. --The tell-tale evidences of our faithlessness. • —The marks by which the world judges our sincerity. —The most expensive things with which we deal. —The ghosts that rise to haunt us. —The most precious possessions of our lives. Ben Hogervorst (left) Is congratulated -ay Tom Robinson, Regional Sales Manager of Ralston Purina Canada, on his .certification as a :Hog .Feeding Advisor. Ben hai suc- cessfully completed all ;facets of the certification, including completion of R.P. Hog Module with 'written (exam, farm :;records completion and 'attendance at Ventilation and Swine Health Schools. Ben Hogervorst and ids wife, Jenny are owners of +aw Farm Supply.