The party won 9.99% of the vote in the 1986 provincial election,but only Goodale was elected to the legislature,defeating Engel in a rematch. Goodale ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility in this election,arguing that both the Progressive Conservative and New Democratic parties favoured excessive spending policies,typified by their proposals for a Keynesian-style stimulation of the provincial economy through subsidized home improvement and renovation schemes.[citation needed]
Goodale then spent five years in the private sector,working for companies such as the Pioneer Life Assurance Company,Pioneer Lifeco Inc.,and Sovereign Life Insurance Co.;he has stated in interviews that he felt his political career had ended.[citation needed]
In government,1993–2006
Goodale in 2004.
Goodale contested Regina—Wascana again in the 1993 federal election and was elected as part of the Liberal landslide that year. As a member of the new Chrétiencabinet,Goodale was named Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. He has the prenominal "the Honourable" and the postnominal "PC" for life by virtue of being made a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada on November 4,1993.[7] He was reelected for this riding,known as Wascana from 1997 to 2015,in the next seven federal elections.
A close ally of Paul Martin,Goodale was appointed to the senior portfolio of Finance Minister when Martin became Prime Minister on December 12,2003. In that capacity he tabled two consecutive balanced budgets and launched the Government's productivity agenda.[citation needed]
On December 28,2005,a letter surfaced from Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) CommissionerGiuliano Zaccardelli confirming the force was launching a criminal investigation into whether details regarding government tax policies relating to income trust funds were leaked from the Finance Minister's office. Goodale said he would co-operate completely with any investigation,but would not step aside while the RCMP continued their probe. The investigation dealt only with the Department of Finance,and not the minister himself.[9] On February 15,2007 the RCMP announced the conclusion of the income trust investigation and laid a charge of 'Breach of Trust' against Serge Nadeau,an official in the Department of Finance,[10] who pleaded guilty in 2010.[11] Goodale was cleared of any wrongdoing,[12] and blamed the NDP's Judy Wasylycia-Leis for sabotaging the Liberals in the 2006 election.[13]
After the Liberals' defeat and Paul Martin's election-night announcement that he would resign as party leader,Goodale initially indicated that he was not interested in succeeding Martin in that post. "I do not anticipate ever having to cross that bridge," he said. "I rule it out."[14] On March 13,2006,the Toronto Star reported that Goodale was reconsidering his decision,and stated that he may enter the Liberal leadership election after all.[15] In the end,he declined,citing his inability to speak French as a key reason. On November 28,2006,he endorsed Bob Rae to be the next leader of the Liberal Party.[16] After the third ballot,Bob Rae,who finished third,was eliminated. Goodale then endorsed Stéphane Dion,the eventual winner.
Goodale was re-elected once more in the fall of 2008. One month later,in November 2008,the Liberals and their fellow opposition parties in the Canadian parliament,the NDP and Bloc Québécois,indicated their intention to defeat Stephen Harper's Conservative government in a motion of no confidence,and expressed their desire for Governor GeneralMichaëlle Jean to ask a member of the opposition to form a new government. While there was initially some speculation that Goodale would become Prime Minister of Canada as leader of the proposed coalition government,[18] the coalition agreement simply made "the leader of the Liberal Party" Prime Minister. The Liberals agreed shortly after that Stéphane Dion would lead the government on an interim basis until a new Liberal leader was chosen.[19] In the end,at Prime Minister Harper's request,Jean prorogued Parliament before a confidence vote could be put to the House. By the time Parliament resumed in January 2009,Michael Ignatieff had become interim leader of the party. He did not seek to bring down the government and agreed to support Harper's budget with amendments.[citation needed]
The NDP surpassed the Liberals in number of seats,becoming the official opposition,resulted in priority in choosing parliamentary offices. They requested that Goodale forfeit his suite in the coveted Central Block. The Liberals saw this as a measure of disrespect to Goodale,noting that he had seniority as a former cabinet minister and house leader,despite this being standard practice and noting the Conservatives had not asked any Liberals to give up their offices.[13]
Goodale sought re-election in the 2019 federal election,but lost his bid to Conservative Party candidate Michael Kram in a rematch of the 2015 race. Despite having represented the riding since 1993,Goodale was defeated by more than 16 percentage points.[23]
Post-politics
On March 31,2020,Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the appointment of Goodale as Special Advisor to the Government of Canada's response to Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 crash.[24] Goodale will "examine lessons learned" from Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752,Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302,Air India Flight 182 and other air disasters and "develop a framework to guide Canada's responses to international air disasters."[25]
Diplomatic career
Goodale with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2022.
Goodale was appointed the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom on April 13,2021,[26][27] replacing Janice Charette,who was appointed the interim clerk of the Privy Council.[28] Goodale's priorities in the position will include "working with the U.K. on climate change and the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic" as well as replacing the "transitional trade agreement with a permanent deal in the wake of Brexit".[28]
On December 13,2023,Goodale was appointed as representative of Canada to the Ismaili Imamat.[29]
Reactions to appointment
The appointment drew praise from Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe,who called the appointment "well deserved" and stating Goodale will be "a real advocate and a great representative for the nation and Canada,but he’ll also be,in many ways,a great representative for the province of Saskatchewan",as well as Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong,who said Goodale "brings a lot of experience to the job".[28]
↑ Gordon, Sean (March 13, 2006). "Rae speaks today, and Liberals are listening; Ex-NDP premier not expected to formally announce leadership bid yet But Winnipeg address raises profile in a crowded field of potential rivals". The Toronto Star.
↑ Whittington, Les; Tonda MacCharles; Bruce Campion-Smith (November 30, 2008). "Tories blink first in showdown". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 14, 2018. One prominent name being mentioned is former Liberal finance minister Ralph Goodale.
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