Class act

John Manley bailed. So did Herb Dhaliwal. Allan Rock also left, though not before accepting the plum post of Canadian ambassador to the United Nations in New York City.
It might have been just as easy for local MP Robert Nault to jump ship as well after it was confirmed Friday morning that he would not be part of Prime Minister Paul Martin’s first cabinet. After all, being demoted certainly isn’t very good for anyone’s ego—let alone someone who is taken down a notch in such a public manner for all to see.
Further adding to his woes was word even earlier this month that Charles Fox, a regional aboriginal leader rumoured as being groomed as the next Indian Affairs minister, was eyeing a run to contest the Liberal nomination against Mr. Nault for the next election—apparently with the blessing of incoming Prime Minister Martin’s team.
Talk about a low blow—not only as a cabinet minister but also an MP with 15 years’ experience.
Whatever your political stripe, Mr. Nault deserves credit for taking the high road amid all these shots. He issued a press release Friday congratulating the new cabinet, and made it very clear he intends to run again in the next election—widely expected to be called this spring.
He described his four years in cabinet as a “wonderful learning experience” while accepting his demotion as a fact of political life.
In effect, Mr. Nault has chosen the hard road, swallowing his pride (several times) over the past few weeks and looking to move on instead of falling on his proverbial sword.
Frankly, it’s refreshing to see a politician willing to put the interests of his or her constituents—and region—ahead of their own personal ambitions and ego.