ST. JOHN鈥橲, N.L. 鈥� John Crosbie, a former federal cabinet minister who was known as much for his sharp wit as for his politics, has died at the age of 88.
His death early Friday followed a period of declining health that saw an outpouring of support from both politicians and average citizens, particularly in his home province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
His family issued a statement saying they were heartbroken by their loss.
鈥淭o Newfoundland and Labrador and to sa国际传媒, he was an independent spirit, a passionate nation builder, an orator of biting wit and charm, and always 鈥� forever 鈥� a tireless fighter for the people,鈥� the statement said.
鈥淗e relished the cut and thrust of politics throughout his life, not for sport, but for people, whose best interests he embraced as his own. On the wharf or around a table, he listened, he heard and he resolved to deliver.鈥�
Crosbie, who was perhaps best known as an outspoken fisheries minister under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, was born to a political family in pre-Confederation St. John鈥檚 in 1931. He was an exemplary student, graduating with honours from Queen鈥檚 University in Kingston, Ont., and Dalhousie Law School in Halifax.
A practising lawyer, he entered politics in 1965 as a city councillor in St. John鈥檚. Within a year, he was appointed to the cabinet of Liberal Premier Joey Smallwood and shortly afterwards was elected to the legislature.
After a dispute with Smallwood over the leadership of the party in 1969, Crosbie crossed the floor to join the Opposition Progressive Conservative party led by Frank Moores. The Conservatives were elected to govern in 1972, and Crosbie held a number of cabinet positions before deciding to run federally in 1976.
As finance minister in the short-lived minority government of Prime Minister Joe Clark, he brought in a tough budget containing tax increases in 1979, and the government fell on a motion of non-confidence after less than nine months in office.
鈥淟ong enough to conceive, just not long enough to deliver,鈥� Crosbie quipped at the time.
He ran for the party鈥檚 leadership in 1983 but, hurt by his inability to speak French, he lost to Brian Mulroney.
Questioned about his unilingualism, Crosbie shot back, 鈥淚 cannot talk to the Chinese people in their own language either.鈥�
Mulroney became prime minister in 1984 and Crosbie was named justice minister. In an exchange in the House of Commons in 1985, Crosbie told Liberal MP Sheila Copps to 鈥淛ust quiet down, baby,鈥� prompting Copps to reply, 鈥淚鈥檓 nobody鈥檚 baby.鈥�
He riled Copps again in 1990 during a fundraiser in Victoria, sa国际传媒, saying Copps made him think of the song lyrics, 鈥淧ass the tequila, Sheila, and lie down and love me again.鈥� The sexist quip was caught on camera, sparking an uproar. Crosbie later acknowledged the comment was 鈥渋ll-considered.鈥�
He said he and Copps played up their squabbles for mutual gain. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a professional politician, and I was as well,鈥� he said in 2011. 鈥淲e鈥檙e good pals now. We鈥檙e very friendly, and she鈥檚 married to a Newfoundlander, so she鈥檚 a fine woman as far as I鈥檓 concerned.鈥�
During his time in the Mulroney government, he was one of the most vocal proponents of the sa国际传媒-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
Crosbie鈥檚 final cabinet post was as fisheries minister, and he oversaw the closure of the cod fishery in Atlantic sa国际传媒 鈥� a move that put thousands of people in his home province out of work.
Defending himself in front of protesting Newfoundland fishermen in 1992, shortly before he announced the fishing moratorium, Crosbie said, 鈥滻 didn鈥檛 take the fish from the God damned water!鈥�
He would later describe the moratorium as the most difficult moment of this life in politics. However, when he left the political arena he earned praise for the compensation the government offered to those thrown out of work.
Marjory LeBreton, a former Conservative senator and long-time party insider, said Crosbie was ahead of his time with his ill-fated 1979 austerity budget. She also hailed his tough stand in the face of the cod crisis.
鈥淗e is revered in the Conservative party for his intelligence, his courage and for his incredible wit,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e could fill a book with Crosbie-isms, some of which would not pass the 鈥榩olitical correctness鈥� restrictions we currently live with.鈥�
Crosbie was made an officer of the Order of sa国际传媒 in 1998, and he went on to serve five years as lieutenant-governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. On his first day as vice-regal representative in 2008, Crosbie said he had no regrets about his straight-shooting style.
鈥淚 have never hesitated to offer my opinions from time to time, verbally or in writing, on the public issues of the day,鈥� he said.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 the point of being around if you don鈥檛 give your opinions, whether anybody wants to hear them or not? I never gave a darn if they wanted to hear them or not, I鈥檒l tell you that.鈥�
Crosbie is survived by his wife Jane, and children Michael, Beth and Ches, who is leader of Newfoundland and Labrador鈥檚 Progressive Conservative party.
The family鈥檚 statement said Jane Crosbie had lost the love of her life.
鈥淭o us as kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, he was simply dad, granddad, great-granddad 鈥� our bedrock of support,鈥� the family said.
Mulroney issued a statement praising Crosbie as 鈥渙ne of the giants of our generation,鈥� saying he would be remembered for his courage, humour and passion.
鈥淗e was one of the most valuable public servants for sa国际传媒 and his province during our challenging debates over resources and our Constitution,鈥� Mulroney said.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball described Crosbie as a tireless advocate for the province.
鈥淢r. Crosbie was a spirited and proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian,鈥� Ball said in a statement. 鈥淜nown for his colourful personality, he ensured that the interests of Newfoundland and Labrador were heard loudly and clearly over the course of his storied career.鈥�
