Eves is out- Welcome the chance to get things done
JOHN IBBITSON
http://www.globeandmail.com/gam/Commentary/20010203/UIBBIM.html
Saturday, February 3, 2001
Some will say that Ernie Eves's departure as Ontario Finance Minister is a blow to the Mike Harris government, reinforcing the impression of a regime without moorings. Exactly the opposite is true.
Mr. Eves's resignation presents the Conservatives with a vital opportunity to break the logjam of indecision, procrastination and caution that afflicts it. Now, finally, something might get done.
And the job that the Finance Minister has finally chosen could offer an intriguing glimpse into a possible major new initiative: the privatization of the province's energy assets.
Mr. Eves confirmed yesterday that he is leaving for the job of vice-chairman of the investment bank Credit Suisse First Boston Canada.
It has been an open secret for months that the Finance Minister had been exploring job opportunities. After 20 years in the legislature, the man needs to make some real money. Mr. Eves had given his friend the Premier a deadline of Jan. 31, by which time he would announce his decision to stay or go. He decided to go. In theory, Mr. Eves is prepared to remain on the job until April 1, when he assumes his new duties as vice-chairman of the bank's Canadian operations. In fact, the Premier must shuffle his cabinet immediately. The government is paralyzed, as ministers and staff await word on what new duties they may be assuming or surrendering.
And Mr. Harris can hardly be seen jetting off to China next Thursday on a trade mission with both his finance and economic development ministries in suspended animation. (Economic Development and Trade Minister Al Palladini has also announced his desire to leave cabinet.)
Mr. Eves acknowledged as much yesterday in an interview with The Globe and Mail.
"If I was the Premier, I'd want to do it sooner rather than later," he said. "But that's his call."
Increasingly, over the past year, officials in other ministries have complained that the Finance Minister's distraction has delayed progress on policy. There are some big decisions that are overdue: How is the government going to respond to the low-level civil war that high-school teachers are waging by refusing to supervise extracurricular activities? How quickly, and how far, is the government prepared to proceed in introducing the new "smart" identity card? Is the government ready to take another swipe at rewriting the roles and responsibilities of municipal governments? And when, if ever, will the government proceed with deregulating the electricity industry?
Mr. Eves's decision to join CSFB may provide a clue to that last question. The government is thinking hard about selling off the assets of the Ontario Power Generation Corp. and Hydro One, the newly created Crown agencies that manage the province's electrical power plants and transmission lines.
But thanks to the energy crisis in California, the Tories are likely to defer privatization for at least a year. Mr. Eves is bound by law not to involve himself in government relations for one year. He could emerge from deep freeze just as privatization moves ahead.
Since Mr. Eves knows more about the mechanics of energy privatization than just about anyone, he would be an invaluable asset in CSFB's bid to win the multi-multi-multi-million-dollar contract to underwrite any Initial Public Offering.
Mr. Eves prefers not to speculate on what he'll be doing for the bank. What matters, for him, is that his departure will allow the Premier to inject new ideas and new blood at the most senior level of his administration.
The next finance minister will be, automatically, the favoured candidate to replace Mr. Harris if he too decides to move on.
"It's important, quite frankly, to have people in the government who want to become premier one day," Mr. Eves believes. New ideas, new energy, new determination, are "a healthy thing to have, as long as the ambition doesn't get carried away."
He's right. It was time to go. |
