Politics is not held in high regard these days, but every so often, we are reminded that public service can be a noble calling, that there are people who get into the business for all the right reasons – to serve their community.
The passing of Jim Bradley was such a reminder. He spent 41 years in the Ontario Legislature both as an opposition MPP representing the St. Catherines region and as a cabinet minister in the governments of Premiers David Peterson, Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne. Only one other MPP bettered that electoral record, Harry Nixon from 1919 to 1961.
But it was not just his longevity that deserves recognition, although winning 11 elections in a row is no mean feat. Nor is serving as a trusted cabinet minister for three different Premiers. And it was not just his ministerial record although that too is worthy of note – minister of the environment, tourism, transportation, municipal affairs and housing and community safety.
Many political observers consider him to be one of the best environment ministers the province ever had as he cracked down on industrial emitters of sulphur dioxide emissions, the major source of acid rain, passed legislation forcing companies to clean up environmental spills and introduced the “Blue Box” recycling program, the first of its kind in North America.
He was also noted for his devotion to his constituency of St. Catharines, keeping a finger on the pulse of his community, making sure he knew and could successfully push for initiatives that would benefit his constituents, like a new hospital. Given his electoral longevity, the voters recognized a good representative when they had one.
But what distinguished him the most, particularly in today’s often poisonous political environment, was his ability to “reach across the aisle,” and deal with members of different parties with respect, even affection. Whether it was as an effective opposition member – and he didn’t pull his punches when challenging the government of the day – or as a cabinet minister strongly defending his own government’s actions, he regarded the politicians he faced as opponents, not enemies.
In the words of former TVO journalist, Steve Paikin, a longtime observer of politics with a great affection for (and knowledge of) those who put their name on a ballot, Bradley was “just a super nice guy (who) was born to do politics.”
“Bradley just loved public life and the public was clearly happy to have him in it,” Paikin wrote in a moving column that marked his passing.
It was very true. After he lost his seat in the 2018 election when Premier Doug Ford swept into power with a majority government, Bradley threw his hat in the ring for the election of chair of Niagara Region a few months later.
Many politicians have tried to replicate success at one level of government by running for a seat at another, but it often does not work. In this case, the voters felt otherwise, electing him to serve as chair until 2025, when he felt enough was enough and gave up the political game.
He has left an important political legacy that needs to be remembered by all those who are in the game these days. He was a passionate Liberal but he could work with members of other parties – as he did with this author to protect an environmentally sensitive area in the riding she used to represent in the east GTA.
It is a different time in politics now, more strident, more extreme, more vicious even. Lots of factors have contributed to it but it appears that sadly, there is no going back. So every so often, it is good to remind today’s current practitioners that it is possible to work with those of different political persuasions for the greater good.
Rest in peace Jim Bradley. Thank you for your service.
Janet Ecker is a former Ontario Finance Minister, Minister of Education, Minister of Community and Social Services and Government House Leader in the governments of Premier Mike Harris and Premier Ernie Eves. After her political career, she served as the founding CEO of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance, a public-private partnership dedicated to building Toronto region into an international financial centre. She currently sits on a number of corporate and non-profit boards, agencies and advisory committees.
Ms. Ecker received the Order of Canada for her public service contributions and was recognized as one of the “Most Influential People in the World’s Financial Centres” by Financial Centres International. She also received a “Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award” from the Women’s Executive Network and the Richard Ivey School of Business, among other awards. She is also one of the founders of Equal Voice, a national, multi-partisan organization working to elect more women.
