Don Mazankowski was deputy prime minister, finance minister and agriculture minister in Brian Mulroney’s government
Former federal agriculture minister and Alberta MP Don Mazankowski died last week at age 85.
A powerful western voice within the Progressive Conservative caucus, he was sometimes called the “minister of everything” for his work in a number of portfolios.
Maz, as he was known, gained his interest in politics from John Diefenbaker and his idea that the West had a meaningful role to play in confederation and shouldn’t be left out.
First elected in 1968 in the riding of Vegreville, Alta., Mazankowski was re-elected seven times and served until his 1993 retirement.
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The first nine years were in opposition, where he became known as a critic of transportation and policies that limited trade in the West.
He was transport minister in the short-lived Joe Clark government in 1979 and worked to redraft the National Transportation Act and ease regulatory burdens on business. He was also responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board at that time.
He was named government House leader and deputy prime minister by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in 1986, while also serving as minister of finance, minister responsible for Alberta, and from 1988 to 1991, agriculture minister.
His legacy includes the Farm Income Protection Act, the North American Free Trade Agreement and Western Diversification.
Barry Wilson, former Ottawa correspondent for The Western Producer, recalled Mazankowski as a good MP and a nice guy.
“Farmers in Canada really were well served by Maz,” Wilson said. “No matter his portfolio he always kept a close eye on the issue and made sure the ag minister was doing the best job possible for ‘his farmers.’ ”
He said Mazankowski’s presence kept the Mulroney government’s attention on the agriculture sector.
And, he said Mazankowski often would leave a scrum with other reporters to talk to Wilson about agriculture policy and the state of the prairie crop.
Alberta premier Jason Kenney issued a statement Oct. 28.
“At the heart of his public service was a belief that Western Canada needed strong voices to defend its economic and political interests in the Canadian federation,” the statement said. “Maz was such a voice for decades. For that and for all that he did, Albertans are deeply grateful.”
Even before he left public life, Mazankowski established the Don Mazankowski Scholarship Foundation to help Canadian youth obtain post-secondary education.
Afterward, he served on numerous boards and remained involved in politics. He was considered a key figure in the Unite the Right movement in 2003 that resulted in the Conservative Party of Canada.
That same year he was named a recipient of the Alberta Order of Excellence. Ten years later he received the Companion of the Order of Canada, which is the highest honour.
Prior to his retirement, in 1992, he was given the title of Right Honourable, which is usually reserved for those who have been prime minister, governor general or chief justice of the Supreme Court.
Mazankowski is survived by his wife Lorraine, their children and grandchildren. A private service is planned, with a public service when it is possible.
