Book Review — My Life in Politics

Beg, buy or borrow—Read Lloyd Axworthy’s memoir

Judy Rinfret

Lloyd Axworthy, now a resident of Sandy Hill, is one of the very few meriting the honorific “the Honourable.” His recently published memoir, My Life in Politics, the story of a principled political and academic life, is priority reading, especially for those of us interested in the importance of public good and enlightened governance.

My Life in Politics is a generous account, neither boastful nor apologetic, of Axworthy’s career in politics and academia. Despite the harsh necessity of political maneuverings, he maintained his socially progressive liberalism and effected positive changes in his community, country, and world. World harmony, justice, public good, Aboriginal rights and reconciliation are his passions.

“Being Canadian is a great privilege, but not a sinecure. It takes all kinds of people, at different times, in different walks of life to create a functioning, prosperous, and tolerant nation, one that is willing and able to contribute to a fair and just world.”

For 21 years, the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy was the federal member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, sometimes the only Liberal west of Ontario. He served in the cabinets of Pierre Trudeau, John Turner, and Jean Chrétien, the latter as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

He remembers the Second World War and the ramifications of the Great Depression. Though he started with few obvious advantages, he credits his outstanding educational achievements and his success in the Canadian political arena to his upbringing as a prairie boy. He was raised by hard-working parents and had the support of family and community; his ideals and his constituency were well matched. He expresses special gratitude to his wife, Denise Ommanney, who has constantly encouraged and supported decisions that were optimum for him. He also frequently acknowledges family, friends, and colleagues for his successful elections and for their help with his research and idealistic enterprises.

Educated at the University of Winnipeg and Princeton, he participated in our world’s history—marching in Alabama for civil rights, working tirelessly for the banning of landmines and the establishment of the International Criminal Court, and acting as Canada’s delegate all over the world.

In 1988, he drafted his vision for our country: “In Canada, we have one nation that is prosperous, another that forages in food banks. One that can hire a lobbyist to get access to Ottawa, another whose rights are ignored and whose complaints aren’t often heard. I want to change these two nations into one nation, with equal chance for jobs, housing, and health. I want to reach out to those Canadians who feel helpless, ignored, and deprived. What concerned me was how the continentalist view, unfettered market policies, and anti-government ideology would erode the capacity of Canadians to design public policy and programs that would best serve that commitment.”

After retiring from politics, he became director and CEO of the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia. Later, he accepted the presidency of the University of Winnipeg where “building trust with members of the community was a priority and a necessity.”

When asked how his political career could possibly be useful to his appointment as head of a university, he was tempted to reply, “I (had) learned to stoically put up with confrontational questions from pompous people.”

He expanded the university’s mandate to include educational and recreational opportunities for the surrounding disadvantaged neighbourhood—science courses for elementary scholars, summer school camps for hundreds of neighbouring children and the Model School for First Nation, Métis, and new Canadians. He worked with Wab Kinew to redress Indigenous exclusion. The Wit Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre was established as part of the campus—a 24/7 community centre offering computer training, tutoring, cultural and Aboriginal language instruction and other courses. The Global Welcome Centre was set up to assist new Canadians.

“I’ve often been asked by individuals, ‘What can I do? I’m just one person.’ The answer is that a positive change should begin with each of us asking how we might take some responsibility for being a good citizen.”

For an antidote to current events, read Axworthy’s memoir. My Life in Politics inspires idealistic political motives at a time when that need has rarely been greater.