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Allan J. MacEachen, Canada's Medical Care Act, Confederation, Margaret's Museum, President Bill Clinton, Sheldon Currie, the Coady International Institute, Universal health care
Allan J. MacEachen
First elected into office in 1953, under the Liberal government of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, the Honourable Allan J. MacEachen was instrumental in designing Canada’s social programmes.
Although he was not reelected in 1958, his only political defeat, he did not leave Ottawa. He worked instead as a special assistant and consultant on economic affairs for the Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson, a Nobel Laureate.
Under Louis St. Laurent, Canada had begun putting into place social programs that would protect Canadians. For Mr MacEachen, this endeavour would culminate in the Medical Care Act, passed by Parliament in 1966, when Mr MacEachen served as Minister of National Health and Welfare (1965-1968). The implementation of Medicare was a major victory for Mr MacEachen and an enormous gift to Canadians. It was, in fact, a major historical moment. A nation was born.
Very few persons could have been as dedicated as Mr MacEachen in his role as Canada’s Minister of National Health and Welfare. Mr MacEachen had worked as professor of Economics at St. Francis Xavier University, which is home to the world-renowned Coady International Institute, founded in 1959 and named after the Reverend Dr Moses Michael Coady, a coöperative entrepreneur who created the Antigonish Movement. On 19 November 2009, during an interview with Steve Sutherland of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), Mr MacEachen said he was a “disciple” of Father Coady who wanted to “enable people to get a vision of possibilities. (StFX Digital Archives, Quotes by Rev. Dr. Moses Coady) ”
Moreover, Allan J. MacEachen was born in Inverness, Cape Breton, the son of a coal miner. The coal miners of Cape Breton toiled painfully, and often died, reaping coal deep underground and bringing it to the surface. (Have you seen Margaret’s Museum, a 1995 British-Canadian film based on a story by Sheldon Currie, a former teacher at StFX?) When interviewed by Steve Sutherland of the CBC, Mr MacEachen said that the miners of Inverness were “poor” and, that, when they had to retire, they did not have a “pension.” He had witnessed poverty.
The Honourable Allan J MacEachen studied at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT), and became a professor of Economics. In his CBC interview, he said that people were not interested in what he knew. They wanted to know what he could do for them. They had needs which he understood and he was in a position to help his nation. He had the knowledge and the shrewdness to do so.
During the same interview, Mr MacEachen stated that, as a politician, he had learned that he had to “obey” his constituents. He had learned to “listen” to the people, to “serve” them, and to “take Canada into account.” That interview is a lesson in leadership and nationhood. Mr MacEachen cared for the people, as should all elected officials.
Former US President Bill Clinton is a recent visitor to StFX University. On 11 May 2011, President Clinton opened StFX University’s Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership. That Centre has solid foundations.
The Honourable Allan J. MacEachen was Minister of Amateur Sport, Minister of National Health and Welfare, Minister of Manpower and Immigration, Minister of Finance, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Secretary of State for External Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, and a Senator. In this capacity, he was the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
For two decades, the Honourable Allan J. MacEachen was also my next-door neighbour in Antigonish, N. S. and a dear friend. I am honoured to say that he remains a dear friend.
© Micheline Walker
12 August 2011
updated 3 July 2017
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between a good hands we are seccur
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We were in good hands and very fortunate. 🙂
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Micheline, how fascinating about this history! MacEachan had a pivotal role in the medical care system that surrounds me today here in Canada. Wow, he was your neighbor?!!
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Yes, he was assigned the responsibility of building social programmes, medicare in particular. He built it from scratch in the early 1960s when Diefenbaker was Prime Minister. The Liberals had been defeated, but he was asked to stay behind, in Ottawa, and build social programmes. Medicare was passed into law in 1966, under Lester B. Pearson. When the Liberals were reëlected, with Pierre Trudeau became Prime Minister, Trudeau had a person he could trust. Yes, he was my next door neighbour and a very dear friend. Most of my backyard belonged to him and we shared a barn. I discovered a room filled with antiques at the back of the barn. I locked the room and when he came down, I showed it to him. He had various pieces refurbished. I inspected his house regularly and made sure he had no worries when he was in Ottawa. In return, he made sure I was safe. We both lived alone. He devoted his entire life to his work. Canada had a universal health care system by 1966. We are very lucky. Take care, Micheline 🙂
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This is even more awesome information about Canadian history, Micheline. I noticed you have a whole category of articles called “Canada” and I hope to have time to peruse them along with the rest of your informative reads. I’m loving what you post ♥
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Christie,
I think I’ve told the story of Canada. It is, however, episodic. I refer to former posts to give it a narrative. The voyageurs are a marvellous group of people. They needed the guidance of Amerindians or they would have died. They were on the same level as Amerindians and learned their language(s). This could be one of the starting-points of our multiculturalism. Not that Canada has always treated its Amerindians well. The scandal of the residential schools points to abuse. The voyageurs also guided explorers when beavers became rare. These men served.
The building of the train is also a precious moment. How could British Columbia enter confederation without a means of crossing the mountains, ranges of mountains. How could Quebec enter confederation. The first chapter is perhaps the finest: the Jesuit Relations. The Jesuits discovered the “bon sauvage,” the Noble Savage. Christie, there’s so much to tell.
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