H. Ian Macdonald, former chief economist and deputy treasurer of Ontario, writes about Donald C. MacDonald, whose obituary appeared on April 17.
I came to know Donald MacDonald well during my decade as a senior public servant in the government of Ontario. In those days there was a cordial atmosphere among politicians of all parties and members of the public service.
Two interesting recollections resonate in my mind from lengthy conversations about political behaviour. Donald MacDonald loved public policy and all aspects of the process leading to its formulation. On one occasion, he was describing his role as an opposition critic facing Premiers Frost, Robarts, and then Davis. Rather wistfully, he remarked: "You have no idea how difficult it is to oppose such governments. They steal all our best ideas and are shrewd enough to reject our more impractical notions."
On another occasion, we enjoyed in a long exchange about political philosophy in which he suggested that there was a strong common denominator between the Progressive Conservatives of that day and the NDP - a basic respect for the needs and rights of the individual citizen. He then went on to describe the Liberals, somewhat dismissively, as "the party of middle management."
I could quote many more such conversations. He was a true teacher, and devoted to the principles of parliamentary democracy. He taught me a great deal about how it was expected to work, and why it sometimes fell short.
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