Lloyd Axworthy is alive and well and living in Sandy Hill

Judy Rinfret

Among our many illustrious Sandy Hill residents is one who will need no introduction—Lloyd Axworthy. About two years ago, he and his wife, Denise Ommanney, arrived here from Winnipeg. They find Sandy Hill a very amenable and agreeable community, a central place in Ottawa both geographically and historically.

Lloyd Axworthy joined the Liberal Party in Winnipeg when he was in high school. By the time he was persuaded to seek political office, he had acquired wide-ranging and significant experience—community work, debating and discussion clubs, marching for civil rights, an impressive university education. His outstanding political achievements are well documented in his recently published book, Lloyd Axworthy: My Life in Politics, reviewed in the March issue of IMAGE.

Now that he is a Sandy Hiller, Axworthy kindly agreed to an interview with IMAGE. He told me his ideal of Liberalism was compromised during the governments of Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau: power became too centralized in the prime minister’s office; there was an assumption that private markets would take care of essential public needs; important crown corporations were cut off. For example, the Connaught lab, an outstanding international centre for vaccination development, was sold to a company in France and now Canada pays millions and millions for vaccines.

Axworthy says he is “increasingly interested in deliberative democracy”—an outcome of serious conversations and forums among Canadians—a much “broader base of involvement than just working through elections.” Political parties have become “mere election machines, too conceptualized, too mechanical.” Though he was elected eight times with the first-past-the-post system, he recommends electoral reform to encourage those who feel disinterested or non- or misrepresented, especially Indigenous Canadians, to become more engaged with our democracy.

Axworthy says the current American administration may have the benefit of forcing Canadians to be more independent. He points out that even Stephen Harper said we may have to pay a price for that. When asked what he might suggest to the current government, he said, “I’m an elder. It’s up to a younger generation of leaders to respond to current challenges—a transition that may not be easy, but it will be healthy.” However, he continues to speak and write to bring well-founded perspective to current affairs.

An aspect of Axworthy’s long service to public good that may not be as well known is what he achieved after his political career. As president of the University of Winnipeg, he sensed that residents of the surrounding downtown Winnipeg community felt alienated from that institution and that “the university was not living up to its responsibility to provide learning in the inner-city community.” Axworthy started by knocking on doors to find out what neighbours wanted and needed and hoped for; there was no shortage of ideas and aspirations.

As a result, the university has been “energized” as a genuine community resource˜—“a real gathering place” —offering education especially for those who might otherwise be left behind, a sports centre, employment and language training, summer camps, and more. Out-of-town, inner-city students are now part of the university community. A Community Charter was negotiated with local groups guaranteeing access to a new university recreation facility. “The community feels the university belongs to them.”

Axworthy also organized and founded a development corporation to build low-cost housing for single mothers (25 %), seniors (20%), and students (30 to 40%), as well as a few (10%) who could afford market rent. Affordable food is provided by local farmers and other agencies. Those tenants befriend and help one another; for example, students babysit, support and assist seniors; elders provide wise perspectives.

At a Christmas carolling party here in Ottawa last December, the pianist, on learning Axworthy was among us and celebrating his 85th birthday, switched from carols to When the Saints Go Marching In. A saintly politician would seem to be an oxymoron but perhaps not in the person of the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy.