It was on this date in 1973 that Joe Clark - not yet PC Leader or prime minister, delivered his maiden speech in Canada's House of Commons. When it comes to Canada's recent PMs, dating back to Mr. Diefenbaker, few would argue that of all the group it was the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark who was a true House of Commons man.As MP, Leader of the Opposition, Prime Minister, cabinet minister, and later party leader once again, Mr. Clark’s Parliamentary skill and presence are the stuff of legend. And in this regard, I highly recommend the recent book, A Man of Parliament, edited by friend (who also hails from the Scarborough Homeland), Queen’s professor Jonathan Rose. His volume takes readers on a wonderful journey through Mr. Clark’s many years in Parliament. It is a true “greatest hits” package for the House addresses through four decades by a very distinguished Canadian.A link to Mr. Clark’s maiden address to the House of Commons can be found here.[caption id="attachment_527667" align="alignleft" width="800"]
Former Prime Minister Joe Clark[/caption]Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.
Former Prime Minister Joe Clark[/caption]Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.