Susan Hickman
It could be said that Premier Dalton McGuinty, LLB 81, was destined for politics. Son of Dalton James McGuinty, PhD 58, who represented the provincial riding of Ottawa South until his death in 1990, the younger McGuinty’s childhood was mired in the “political activity” of knocking on doors, stuffing envelopes, pounding in campaign signs, distributing pamphlets and making phone calls. He became aware early on about the reality of politicking — “the long hours, the lousy pay, the cynical environment, being called upon to reconcile the irreconcilable.”
As a child, he believed he was destined to teach, like his father, who taught English at the University of Ottawa during the 1960s. But after graduating from high school, his interest in medicine helped him land a job as an orderly at Rideau Veterans’ Hospital in Ottawa.
“Looking after old veterans,” McGuinty recalls, “taught me respect for human dignity and an important lesson in health care.” McGuinty went on to complete two years of pre-medicine at the University of Ottawa before earning a science degree in Biology at McMaster University. But he decided to follow another passion and enrolled in law school.
“I had some decided views on the world,” McGuinty admits. “Law seemed to be a good place for training.” With his law degree in hand from the University of Ottawa, and admission to the bar in 1983, McGuinty practised law until 1990. From law to politics was not such a great leap.
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He believes it is his responsibility to reawaken the public confidence. “There are a lot of good people on all sides of the House — people who are dedicated to public service and who are in politics for all the right reasons and who are motivated by a sense of idealism.”
Premier McGuinty believes his responsibility to serve the public is a privilege. “I am in a position to meet so many thousands of people and bring their concerns to bear in our political debates. And I am in a position to directly influence public policy, and in so doing, lend shape to the future.”
A man who likes to speak in metaphors, McGuinty sees his role has shifted on a tall ship “I was in the crow’s nest, able to devote my time to looking over the distant horizon, but now I must captain the ship. I have the advantage of my time in the crow’s nest to steer us in the right direction. And that is a real privilege.”
He believes his ability to synthesize complex issues quickly, and develop and articulate positions “in a world of seven-second sound bites” was nurtured during his years at the University of Ottawa’s law school. “It is wonderful training for politics. Law school teaches you to think quickly on your feet. It also taught me to see the other side of an issue.”
McGuinty also has developed a network among other University of Ottawa law school graduates, such as federal cabinet ministers Allan Rock, BA 68, LLB 71, and John Manley, LLB 76, and Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton, LLB 83. “It’s a secret society,” he laughs. “Slowly but surely, [University of Ottawa alumni] are taking over the world.”
