As polities are becoming more divisive, now more than ever, we must recognize and celebrate those who have upheld parliaments as flexible instruments of free debate.
Join Canadian Club Toronto in partnership with The Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy on November 24 as former Federal cabinet minister, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, PC receives the Society’s 2020 Award for Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy. This award places Mr. Goodale among Canadian political titans including past Prime Ministers, Premiers, Chief Justices and many distinguished Privy Councillors.
The Honourable Ralph Goodale, PC will be joined in conversation with David Herle (The Herle Burly Podcast) to reflect on his four decades as a parliamentarian, his views on the state of parliamentary democracy today and into the future.
The Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy is a non-partisan, charitable organization that honours the life of Sir Winston Churchill by facilitating education, discussion and debate about Canada’s parliamentary democracy.
The Honourable Ralph Goodale, PC
Former Parliamentarian and Member of the Privy Council
After graduating as Gold Medalist in his law school class at the University of Saskatchewan, Mr. Goodale was elected in 1974 at the age of 24 as Member of Parliament for the riding of Assiniboia—the first of nine terms he would serve in Ottawa. In 1981 he was chosen as leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal party including a stint in the provincial legislature between 1986 and 1988. During one of those summers, a young Jason Kenney was a staffer in his office.
Mr. Goodale returned to the House of Commons in 1993 as the Member of Parliament for Wascana. He served in the federal Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Minister of Natural Resources, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Minister of Finance—where he delivered two consecutive balanced budgets—and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
Mr. Goodale is currently serving as Special Advisor to the Government of Canada with respect to its response to the shooting-down of Flight PS752 near Tehran last January which claimed the lives of 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents.
Mr. Goodale will be the 37th recipient of the Churchill Society’s Award of Excellence. Every year since 1983 the Award has been presented at the Society’s annual dinner in November, however, given uncertainties caused by the current pandemic, the Society is exploring alternative measures to celebrate this year’s Award recipient.
David Herle, LLB
Principal Partner, The Gandalf Group
David has been a public affairs and communications strategist for over 30 years. He is the founder of The Gandalf Group, a public opinion research and strategic communications consultancy firm. With his dual expertise in strategy and research, David excels in helping organizations with brand image and reputation management. David served as Premier Kathleen Wynne’s campaign co-chair in 2014 and 2018 and as the national campaign chair for the Liberal Party in 2004 and 2006. He has participated in many other campaigns at the national and provincial level. David is also the host of the public affairs podcast, The Herle Burly.
