|
"He was born Ramon John Hnatyshyn, but everybody called him Ray. His
grandparents had been illiterate immigrant farmers, one of many Ukrainian
families that settled on the Canadian prairies in the 19th century.
"One of his proudest moments, he once said, was to return to his ancestral
homeland as governor-general after Ukraine won independence when the
Soviet Union collapsed."
By JEFF SALLOT
Globe and Mail
Toronto, CANADA
Thursday, December 19, 2002 - Page A3
OTTAWA -- Ray Hnatyshyn, the modest, warm-hearted grandson of a Ukrainian
immigrant family who rose to become Canada's 24th governor-general, died
yesterday of cancer at the age of 68. He had been ill for almost three
months.
Mr. Hnatyshyn, the proud native of Saskatoon, first made his mark in Ottawa
as a Progressive Conservative politician, serving in the cabinets of both
Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney.
He was defeated in the 1988 election after 14 years in the House of Commons
and he went back briefly to his law career.
He returned to public life when, in October of 1989, Mr. Mulroney named him
governor-general.
It was a controversial move because it was seen by some as a political
patronage appointment. Mr. Hnatyshyn also faced criticism for his difficulty
with French.
But his good humour, common touch and lack of guile won over many Canadians.
He was lauded for opening up the grounds to Rideau Hall and its skating rink
to the public. His Everyman style and self-deprecating humour stood in
marked contrast to the formal and polished presence of predecessor Jeanne
Sauvé.
Last night, recalling their years together in politics, Mr. Mulroney
described his former justice minister and government House leader as a
"happy warrior."
Mr. Hnatyshyn was "one of the only partisan players I knew who was
completely lacking in malice," Mr. Mulroney said.
The former prime minister remembered the day he told Mr. Hnatyshyn he was
going to be named governor-general. Mr. Hnatyshyn was sworn to secrecy until
the official announcement.
Mr. Hnatyshyn was bowled over, but quickly recovered, saying that if he was
hit by a bus or died in some other accident before the announcement he hoped
Mr. Mulroney would leak word to the press that he had been picked for the
vice-regal post.
Mr. Hnatyshyn loved the company of other politicians and political
journalists. He befriended many MPs, not just from his own caucus but also
from other parties.
He was the perfect choice to serve as government House leader, a thankless
job that often required smoothing the ruffled feathers of opposition MPs,
Perrin Beatty, another former Tory cabinet minister, said last night.
"Because of his grace and warmth he could work with everybody across the
floor of the House. He loved his party, and he loved his country, and he
never confused the interests of the party with the country," Mr. Beatty
said.
He missed politics after his electoral defeat, but he took great pleasure in
returning to Parliament Hill in the governor-general's formal uniform to
read the Throne Speech and to see all of his old friends again, Mr. Beatty
recalled. "He would come in with this big, warm smile and he would be just
busting his buttons."
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said "he was a guy who believed public service
was a very noble occupation, and he was friends with everyone." Mr. Chrétien
said he remembers times in the House when Mr. Hnatyshyn would make a "big
partisan speech" and then afterward would break into laughter, "telling you
not to take it too seriously. He was a good man."
Tributes poured in from politicians of other parties. NDP Leader Alexa
McDonough's was typical: "Ray Hnatyshyn first served his constituents and
then all Canadians with dignity and humility."
Reporters remember his gift for avoiding difficult questions with bafflegab.
He could keep on talking for what seemed an eternity without ever actually
addressing the point of the question. And he would laugh with the reporters
later about their inability to find a usable sound bite.
He was born Ramon John Hnatyshyn, but everybody called him Ray. His
grandparents had been illiterate immigrant farmers, one of many Ukrainian
families that settled on the Canadian prairies in the 19th century. One of
his proudest moments, he once said, was to return to his ancestral homeland
as governor-general after Ukraine won independence when the Soviet Union
collapsed.
His father, John Hnatyshyn, had been involved in Tory politics in
Saskatchewan and was named to the Senate.
Mr. Hnatyshyn was first elected to the House in 1974. He was given the
demanding energy portfolio in Mr. Clark's minority government after the 1979
election.
In opposition again in 1980, Mr. Hnatyshyn honed his parliamentary
negotiating skills as the Tory House leader.
Mr. Mulroney tapped him for president of the Privy Council after the Tory
electoral win in 1984, a key position as the government conducted an
extensive review of programs and departments.
In 1986 he was named justice minister, the job he held until his defeat in
the general election two years later. It was the free-trade election, and
Mr. Hnatyshyn believed local opposition to the initiative did him in.
As governor-general, he and his wife, Gerda, made the work of Canadian
musicians and actors their special cause, inaugurating the
Governor-General's Performing Arts Awards.
He returned to law when he left office in 1995 and continued to support
charitable causes.
Mr. Hnatyshyn leaves his wife and their two sons, John and Carl.
The Glove and Mail, Toronto, CANADA, For personal and academic use only
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/PEstory/TGAM/20021219/URAYYN
/Headlines/headdex/headdexNational_temp/3/3/35/
|
back
