Clyde Jackman is the latest provincial Conservative to quit politics.
That’s not surprising. He was supposed to go in 2011 but hung around to make sure the party didn’t have to make an serious changes in people or policies.
Jackman had a few colourful moments during his political career, not the least of which was his stint as fish minister. He scuttled an historic agreement to reform the fishery. Clyde and his colleagues couldn’t be arsed to spend money on it when they had all their cash tied up in other things.
Then there was the time Clyde and his colleagues couldn’t be arsed to fund an historic commemoration when Clyde was responsible for tourism.
Other than being part of the crowd that added more public debt to the back’s of provincial taxpayers than all the other administrations since Confederation combined, Clyde Jackman had a relatively tame political career compared to some of his colleagues.
Now Clyde is retiring. Not surprising really. In 2011, he barely scraped back into office in a situation where his party didn’t face huge opposition. Clyde wasn’t alone. Lots of his colleagues kept their seats by only the thinnest of margins. it’s only when you look at the numbers that you realise how just close the Conservatives came to losing in 2011. It wouldn’t have taken much,.
Good bye and good luck, Clyde.
Enjoy the grand-kids.
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