The latest from Ottawa

Does everyone forget the fact that one of the Senators named yesterday is none other than a rabid, frothing-at-the-mouth pit bull at one time intent on destroying, or knee-capping, the career of every senior public servant who had ever worked within a Liberal government?

Apparently yes, because the guy to whom I refer is Peter Harder.  When Brian Mulroney was elected in 1984, one of the first things he did was set up a political office across from the Hill, headed by Eric Neilsen -- another politician who believed he had been deprived of power for far too long.  At his side was none other than Mr. Harder.  Their task?  To compile a hit list of public servants perceived to be big-L Liberal who were to be taken down or out. 

"I've seen the list and your name is on it," warned a Conservative friend at a cocktail party one evening.  He was referring to B, who had been a senior executive in the PCO before the Conservatives swooped into office.  Everyone who worked at the centre when Pierre Trudeau was PM was automatically considered an "enemy of the state".  This was apparently how performance reviews were now to be conducted, solely from a partisan point of view.  (I often wondered if this attitude affected my career because I took my husband's unique surname when I married, a surname no one else had in Ottawa except B's former wife.  Probably did.)   

"And what do you do," Mr. Harder asked me at another party one evening.  "I am the DG of Communications at Customs and Excise," I replied.  "Oh," he sniffed disparagingly, "You must be a Grit."  With that he rudely turned his back and walked off.  I kid you not.  That's the kind of attitude they had, apparently forgetting what Jean-Luc Pepin had so wisely said a number of years ago:  "Public servants must be political, but not partisan."  Well, of course that is correct because regardless of the party in power, it is the duty of public servants to offer advice and watch their masters' backs.

When the Liberals stormed back under Chretien, Mr. Harder deftly switched horses and got himself out of the partisan world and into a senior position within the new government.  So there he now sits, a Senator in a Liberal government.  Will wondrous politics never cease!!