The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
No, this column is not about itinerant fruit pickers in the Okanagan, but about two political guys with the same name. The first Orchard is Donald, a retired PC MLA who represented the riding of Pembina from 1977 to 1995, serving in the cabinet of two premiers. A farmer, Don, considered a right-wing rural populist, was appointed Highways minister by Sterling Lyon, serving until that government was defeated four years later. He was involved in the ensuing PC leadership contest, though not as a supporter of the winner, Gary Filmon. In fact, Don was part of a group of MLAs who wanted Filmon replaced after he lost the 1986 election. At a meeting, Don talked to me about calling a leadership convention instead of our planned policy conference. I told him that the party president had to support the leader, which chilled our relationship for some time. When Filmon won government in 1988, the new premier overlooked the slight and appointed Orchard as Health minister, a portfolio in which he served well until 1993. Known as a hard-nosed minister, Orchard refused to let medicare pay for Dr. Henry MorgentalerÕs abortions, but did not eliminate the clinic. He also put an end to the Òdouble dippingÓ in Manitoba pharmacare. With their prescriptions covered by a union contract, some people would use the receipts to claim a refund from pharmacare Ð an unethical practice indeed. There was a softer side to the Health minister. My long-time Flin Flon friend Blake was diagnosed with lung cancer and had to travel to Winnipeg for treatments. The local health authority provided him with a return bus ticket. Blake called me, saying the return trip was horrible after his chemo, and could I call the minister? Orchard demanded that Blake and others be given air tickets, which they were. When I expressed BlakeÕs gratitude, DonÕs assistant told me, ÒSometimes we do it right.Ó Orchard was Energy minister from 1993 to 1995, after which he retired back to the farm. He was a strong supporter of the PC/Canadian Alliance union, unlike the second D. Orchard. The second Orchard, David, is a never-elected political gadfly who now wants to be the Liberal MP of the Desneth-Missinippi-Churchill River riding. The organic farmer from Borden, Sask., has described himself in the past as a Red Tory, but many like MP Brian Pallister consider him a socialist. Pallister said during a PC leadership debate that ÒOrchard is so far to the left he thinks Svend Robinson is a right-wing maniac.Ó Orchard ran twice for the PC leadership, in 1998 and 2003, eventually supporting Peter MacKay in the latter one on the basis MacKay would review free trade and not join with the Canadian Alliance (meaning the Conservatives would be forever out of power.) Orchard also ran for the PCs in Prince Albert in 2000 and finished fourth. David campaigned viciously against the amalgamated Conservatives. In 2006 he joined the Liberals and supported Stphane Dion as leader, bringing Dion an impressive 150 delegates, 32 of them from Saskatchewan. David wanted to run in last MarchÕs Desneth by-election, but wasnÕt allowed to seek the Liberal nomination because Dion appointed Joan Beatty. Undaunted, Orchard easily defeated Beatty in the more recent nomination. David Orchard has his own agenda. He is solidly anti-American and adamantly opposed to free trade with the US and Mexico. As a Tory historian told The Corner: ÒOne would think that 20 years after the (free trade) agreement was signed (and subsequently expanded to include Mexico) that Orchard would find some other issue to fixate on, but thatÕs not the case.Ó Do we want this character representing Creighton, Denare Beach, etc., or do we want a hard-working government MP like Rob Clarke, who has already brought in over $2 million to the riding? What do you think? RogerÕs Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
