…who perfectly describes Ottawa.

This thing is just getting started. Some are now frantically trying to get ahead of it, and some are trying to pretend it’ll all blow over.

It ain’t going to blow over. And it’s pretty hard to get ahead of a tsunami.

(Oh, and this: documents can be disappeared. The people who prepared them, not so much.)

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Royal and corresponded with each other: I’ll bet you didn’t know that.  He favoured the old-fashioned writing of notes.  I loved getting them, and am sad that – following his sad passing a few days ago – I won’t be getting any more from him.

Here’s the last one he sent.

Hello again, Warren. 

For years,  people have been telling me to write about what I’ve witnessed since I began my political involvement in 1962.

That year, the federal election was held June 18. Albert Lavigne had won the Liberal nomination in Stormont by four votes over Phil Gignac. The meeting was held in Finch, the physical centre of fhe County. But Lavigme died of a heart attack June 5. So, the election was “differed” until July 16.

Lionel Chevrier came to Cornwall to pay his respects to the widow. From there, he went to the funeral parlor for a private viewing. From there, he called Gignac to encourage him to seek the nomination again. Then, with his wife, he went to Lamoureux’ house for supper.

On June 25, also in Finch, on a hot summer evening, Lamoureux won the nomination by landslide. After the judicial recount, Lamoureux won the election over the Tory incumbent Grant Campbell by 70 votes.

In any event, I haven’t written. Very few books from has been politicians hold any interest, even to their families.

I remember Jimmy Gardiner’s “None of it came easy.” It is pretty self serving. I liked him, and was 18 when I read it. But you didn’t even know it existed. Lloyd Francis, a former Speaker of the House, couldn’t find a publisher. He had money, and self-published. You didn’t read that one either. JNT wrote a book. So did Brian Mulroney. I read neither. People wrote books about them. I didn’t read them.

Didn’t read the book by Paul Martin. I checked if he gave me credit for his dad’s “Right Honourable” designation. He didn’t.

Andrée Champagne wrote an autobiography. She sold me a copy. In it, she lies about me. Garth Turner also lies about me in his book. Dalton Camp does not lie about me in his account of the 1979 federal election.

Be that as it may, I didn’t have time to write when I was a Conservative MP for a Liberal fiefdom. Didn’t have time for foreign jaunts, or for building friendships on the Hill.

Given a choice between St. Petersburg, Russia, and a bean supper in a church basement in Orléans, I went to the bean supper. This actually happened. Also turned down St. Martinique in March (Champagne wrote about it), Beijing, Istanbul, London, Seoul, and many other destinations.

Since Nov. 2015, I have focussed on my many and varied treatments. Yesterday, they replaced the number 4 tracheotomy for a larger number 6. It stretches the slit in my throat and despite the discomfort makes breathing easier. On the other hand, it impedes even the limited ability to talk that I had.

With the weekly blood tests and other monitoring, I get blood and platelets transfusions, as needed. The result is that I have regained some of my energy.

You have been so kind to me in your recent communications that I have decided to write to you about things that may be of interest, but that you didn’t witness because you are 13 1/2 years younger than me.  So far, some 8,500 words. But I can’t retrieve what I’ve already sent you. Can you send back to me the recent emails that I’ve sent to you? I will weave some of that information in my new – long-winded text.

Thanks again.

Have a great weekend. 

Royal.

P.S.: I will not advise how wrong you are about Andrew Scheer’s election as 24th Prime Minister of Canada. I like him.

 

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And, that’s not all: I’m hearing Caroline Mulroney may not run for PC leader after all.  That would certainly change the dynamic, quite a bit.  Here’s some of the release from Loralea’s team:

Loralea Carruthers to seek Ontario Liberal Party nomination in York–Simcoe

HOLLAND LANDING—Loralea Carruthers, a veteran local school trustee and recent chair of the York Region District School Board, announced today that she will seek the Ontario Liberal Party nomination in York–Simcoe. 

“There just comes a time when you need to say enough is enough and you need to step up. I did that when our school board faced serious issues, and I worked to right the ship as chair. Today, our riding needs an experienced, local leader who understands our local needs firsthand,” said Loralea. 

“We need to invest to improve traffic congestion and work to improve access to education, to raise wages and ensure high-quality health care,” said Loralea. “With decades of local experience advocating for people here in York–Simcoe, I’m ready to use that experience to fight for our communities at Queen’s Park.”

“I want to salute Julia Munro for her years of public service as our local MPP, and wish her and John well in her coming retirement. Her community service began as a local teacher, and it has always been a pleasure working with her over the years representing our local communities on shared issues,” Loralea added. 

“I know our growing communities need continued representation by an experienced, local leader who understands the issues our riding faces firsthand from living here, someone who has worked to improve our schools, enhance our public services and protect our natural environment. I am ready to contrast my local experience and judgement with the Conservatives’ parachute candidate,” Loralea concluded. 

Loralea Carruthers is a public-education champion, environmental activist and community leader. As the Ontario Liberal candidate in the 2014 provincial election, she increased the York–Simcoe Liberal vote to the closest result in over four decades.

 

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People noticed. Good.

UPDATE: My friend took out a cabinet minister. Wow.

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