Tonight was a real blast! partially because it is the first Friday night since Christmas that I haven’t worked but more so because I had the distinct pleasure of meeting former member of parliament and leader of the official opposition Preston Manning and his wife Sandra. our local conservative Electoral District Association (EDA) celebrated Sir John A. MacDonald’s birthday and Preston Manning was our special guest speaker who delivered an engaging and entertaining keynote address.
This was the culmination of a busy week for our EDA having also hosted, with the assistance of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment. The lunch on Tuesday proved to be very interesting and it was great to be able to attend. Indeed a week of firsts in my infant political involvement.
Back to tonight. about 120 people were in attendance even though the snow was falling – after all it is Canada, right? Sure, let me also grab another beer (eh) from the snow bank. Other notable guests at the dinner were regional organizers Wally Butts and Marian Meinen as well as candidate of record Brent Barr. Also joining us was former (PC) MP Bill Winegard and former MPP Brenda Elliott as well as other assorted current and past mayors and councillors.
the Sir John birthday dinner is part social gathering and celebration of our party roots as well as fundraiser for the local EDA. This year marks even greater importance in both roles because it is the first Sir John celebration with our party in power, which is grounds for the celebratory part most definitely.
However the dinner roll ((role) pun intended) was also as a fundraiser as the much needed new Federal Accountability Act is now law. The Act simply disallows gifts from corporations and massive donations from “old money” – a move that had to be done to ensure government wasn’t being bought. There is now a limit of $1100 per year to the National Fund and an additional $1100 to any local EDA, candidate or nomination contestant.
With a spring election possibly looming we must continue to build the war chest so we can get a majority and continue making great change.
Mr. Manning’s address was a combination of political pep rally for our local chapter as well as light hearted toasts to our first Prime Minister which of course poked a bit of fun at his well known love of drink. Posthumous earmarks of Sir John rally on in the Canada we know and love to this very day and as Canadians we must do our all to keep his dream alive!
Cheers go out to the organizing committee of our EDA who made the night the success that it was on all levels. Great job gang!
The evening was over too quickly. a final toast closed Preston’s keynote address and was by far the grandest of the evening. Mr. Manning, while looking down at the youth seated at the foot of the podium and staring back, gave a mighty cheer; “…to the future Sir John A. MacDonalds!”.
