STELLARTON - At a tribute dinner in his honour Saturday evening, Peter MacKay took time to respond to Elizabeth May's comments on the event.
In a recent news release, May, the Green Party leader who will compete against MacKay in the Central Nova riding in the next election, mocked the $200-a-plate fundraiser, held at Stellarton's Museum of Industry.
"An unemployed TrentonWorks employee cannot afford a $200-a-plate dinner," May was quoted as saying in the release.
On Saturday, MacKay responded by defending his position on TrentonWorks.
"I've been meeting with Trenton workers from the day I was elected; I can throw a stone from my home and hit the Trenton plant," MacKay, the Central Nova MP, and Canada's defence minister, said. "There's not much about the Trenton situation I haven't been involved with."
He said he's continuing to work towards finding an owner/operator for the now defunct railcar plant. "I met with the president, Dave Fanning, and (union representative) Lawrence McKay two days ago with the premier. We're on top of these issues."
May has since received some criticism, most notably from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's communications director, because, according to her own website, the Green Party leader had a $100-a-plate fundraiser scheduled in Montreal that same day, an event she later cancelled.
When confronted with this information, MacKay was tight-lipped.
"All I can say is I'm very pleased with the turnout we have here tonight and the support I've received from the people of Central Nova," he said.
Thomas McInnis, who chaired the event, debunked the insinuations from May that the event was elitist.
"We're not naÏve. You have to have money to run a campaign," he said. "That's the way it works."
McInnis said he did not know just how much money the event raised, but it attracted a sellout crowd, with about 300 tickets sold.
Minutes before the event officially began, MacKay admitted to having butterflies. "It's very overwhelming and a bit nerve-wracking to have so many familiar faces and members of your own family in the same room," he said. "I'm deeply honoured. I feel very blessed when I look around and see the number of people who have supported me over the years."
In the 10 years since he was first elected, MacKay's responsibilities have grown exponentially, and now internationally since he was named minister of defence. As a result, MacKay said he's always trying to prevent himself from being stretched too thin.
"That to me is a major challenge, to keep those touchstones of your home town, your home province, on some parity with your other responsibilities in Ottawa and beyond," he said.
"It means keeping in touch with both the people and the places that are closest to you, but also keeping in touch with yourself, which is sometimes a challenge when you're being pulled in so many different directions."
But he said coming home grounds him by reminding him of his roots. Being surrounded by the people who were there when he was just Peter MacKay the person, and not Peter MacKay the politician, keeps him grounded.
"Coming home," he said, "reminds you of what's important and why you did this in the first place."
MacKay defends his efforts at tribute dinner
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- Published on March 31st, 2008
- Published on December 29th, 2009
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Cait MacIntyre
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Comments
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- Mike
- - January 18th, 2010 at 13:37:07
Well I hope Ms.May reads some of these comments. I for one, don't appreciate people who continually take shots at our elected representatives at every convenient opportunity. For her to use the Trenton Works' former employees as ammunition is a cheap shot. To keep harping on the $200 dinner is getting old. It costs money to run any political party, including hers. Any one of us could probably spend that amount (if we had it) at any up-scale local eatery if we wanted too. It's quite obvious to everyone Ms. May, that those who can, will, and those who cannot.... well, won't. Over the last few months I've noticed many small shots at the people that we have elected, and quite frankly, I don't appreciate it. When the next election comes around, I would appreciate it if you would not knock on my door asking for my vote. I will vote for the individual who represents themselves without a history of sniping there opponents
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- P
- - January 18th, 2010 at 13:20:46
Makes me wonder if she canceled her $100 plate dinner because she made a comment about Mac Kay's $200 a plate dinner..We don't all work for the government, most of us barely get buy from month to month..how are we supposed to afford a $200 dinner or even a $100 dinner? It is those of us who voted you in why should we be paying to have dinner with you?!
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- Dave
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:21:19
I am personally surprised that Mr. MacKay would bother to respond to such ridiculous comments. I would also like for Miss May to stop using the employees from Trenton Work as a pony ride for her peace of Central Nova. To date I have seen nothing that Miss May has done for Trenton Works employees and this kind of immature behavior is not impressive.
This County and Province needs real help with jobs and Elizabeth May should put her focus on real action and not on the ridiculous kinder garden hair pulling. Just so she knows most employed Trenton workers could not afford a $200.00-a-plate dinner.
The people of Central Nova are watching their representatives and are wise enough come election time to vote for real leaders.
As for Mr. MacKay I can say this, he has been working with the union on this issue since before the closer and continues to do so, He has been in contact with us by way of meetings, e-mail and phone including weekends and late evening and from several countries.
I want the employees of Trenton to know that if the MP of Central were not dealing with this issue you would have heard it from us. As we continual to represent you and work hard on your behalf we expect all government representatives to continual to do so as well. If our government is not working in our best interests we will call on you to help let them know. -
- Mildred
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:08:39
At least this dinner gives the Tories faithful a chance to rub elbows with Peter and hopefully when appointments to committees come up he remembers that they shelled out the two hundred. Any of us who has lived in Pictou County for some time could easily come up with the list of pick me peter. This is the way our system works, give money to the party and if they are successful then expect payback, if not craw into a hole and wait for another chance next election. Unemployed car workers, troubled forestry, lack of employment opportunities in Pictou County would not have been discussed.
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- Cristene
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:07:20
What people who are concerned that the dinner was $200 fail to recall is that just a few months ago there was a dinner for Peter MacKay that cost only $30. I was able to attend the first one, but not the one this weekend. But the reality is, it costs money to run a campaign, so I don't begrudge them the chance to raise that money.
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- baddogbob
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:46:38
Testimonial dinners have figured into the landscape of EVERY political party for years. People loose track of what these things are all about. If you pay $200, a small portion of that goes to pay for the meal while the remainder goes as a donation to the candidate. This is absolutely no different if one was to be held for Miss May or if one was held for Mrs. Lorifice or if one was held for the Liberal candidate. Actually, scratch that last one, apparently the contributions for the Liberal dinners go to Miss May as well. I did not go so I am not out $200 and I really do not care who was there. I was interested in getting some leftovers for my bad dog bob though.
