What to do with Jim Prentice?

[Michael Bluth]

From Chantal Hebert's column in today's Star. Link

As a bruising spring for the government comes to an end, Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice stands out as a rare ministerial success story.

On one of the most challenging files on the federal plate – one that is not considered a forte of the Conservatives – he has delivered a credible, distinctive policy.

His decision to overhaul the land-claims process and set up an impartial tribunal to deal with a massive backlog constitutes a significant departure from the Liberal past. It also amounts to a step forward on an issue where movement has too often been confused with progress. It may not be a substitute for the defunct Kelowna accord negotiated by Paul Martin, but Prentice's plan still earned grudging kudos from the opposition and the aboriginal leadership last week.

The only question about Prentice is whether Harper can afford to leave him in his current position in the cabinet chain when he has so many weak links that need replacing.

Jim is an unfortunate victim of circumstances.

He is the most qualified Minister of Indian Affairs in decades. He has been performing extremely well in the job. So he is trapped in a lower profile portfolio because he is so good at his job.

He is a much more even-tempered and charismatic man than Harper. His French, while not perfect, has vastly improved and he is probably in the same league as Harper now.

If not for one little thing Prentice would be considered the heir apparent as the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Geography.

Because Prentice is from Calgary he will never have the chance to become Prime Minister of Canada.

Canadians as a whole are worse off for it.

[August1991]

I agree that Prentice is competent and has the potential to be leader. OTOH, Indian Affairs is not an important dossier anymore. Natives have used up whatever goodwill they had and people are now fed up of land takeovers. On balance, Prentice would have appeared to do well regardless.

The real test of Prentice's talents would be if he had Environment. Given the current Tory mindset, the Environment ministry amounts to squaring the circle and will be a killer for any minister. Harper will have to realize that his government depends on a credible (and perceivably credble) environmental policy.

As all those boomers start to retire, this will be a decisive issue for them.

[Fortunata]

Prentice has a couple pluses going for him: he was a Progressive Conservative which may end up being important if people decide Steve's type of governance is not for them; he has been involved in First Nations affairs for a number of years so has the expertise we are now seeing; he hasn't gotten involved in the general smearmongering that his counterparts in the "new" conservative party have been. The test will be for him, though, is if he gets moved to another portfolio in which he hasn't had the years of background and experience. If he is successful at it we may see a future Con PM in the making.

[jdobbin]

Prentice has a couple pluses going for him: he was a Progressive Conservative which may end up being important if people decide Steve's type of governance is not for them; he has been involved in First Nations affairs for a number of years so has the expertise we are now seeing; he hasn't gotten involved in the general smearmongering that his counterparts in the "new" conservative party have been. The test will be for him, though, is if he gets moved to another portfolio in which he hasn't had the years of background and experience. If he is successful at it we may see a future Con PM in the making.

Very true that he isn't the noisemaker we have seen from Baird, Van Loan and a few others who try to make sure they get their partisan shots in before doing anything in their respective areas. He kept his head down, doesn't seem to have had to wait for PMO walking papers to do his work and has kept various disparate groups involved in the process.

If only there were more ministers like him.

Still, lots of work to do in that department. I'd hate to see it ruined by having him moved to somewhere else and see Baird come in and basically get everybody upset by bashing anyone that got in his way.

[Michael Bluth]

Prentice has a couple pluses going for him: he was a Progressive Conservative which may end up being important if people decide Steve's type of governance is not for them; he has been involved in First Nations affairs for a number of years so has the expertise we are now seeing; he hasn't gotten involved in the general smearmongering that his counterparts in the "new" conservative party have been. The test will be for him, though, is if he gets moved to another portfolio in which he hasn't had the years of background and experience. If he is successful at it we may see a future Con PM in the making.

Regardless of previous party affiliation Prentice is a committed member of the CPC and that's the key for me.

He does follow the general messaging the Government is using for Senate reform and questiong Dion's flip flopping. Maybe he isn't see as a smearmongerer because of his personal style.

I don't think he'll get moved out of DIAND. If anything Harper will officially make him Deputy PM. Which he is in all but name at the moment.

[jbg]

The real test of Prentice's talents would be if he had Environment. Given the current Tory mindset, the Environment ministry amounts to squaring the circle and will be a killer for any minister. Harper will have to realize that his government depends on a credible (and perceivably credble) environmental policy. As all those boomers start to retire, this will be a decisive issue for them.

I disagree. Especially with regard to global warming, it is an elite, not a mainstream issue. As long as the air they're breathing doesn't smell bad, most people don't care.

No one will lower their standard of living to, perhaps, reduce a temperature on one day by 0.1C. And that theory is loopy anyway. People know it.