Ralph Goodale

Location: Saskatchewan | Profession: Politician

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Karen Kain 1971

Ralph Goodale was born on a farm in Wilcox Saskatchewan. He pursued a dual arts/law degree at the University of Saskatchewan and, after practicing law for two years, he ran for a seat in the 1974 federal election as a Liberal. At twenty-four, he became one of the youngest MPs in Canada. He spent the eighties in provincial politics but, won his riding hands down when he returned to the federal scene. He became Paul Martin’s Fincance Minister in 2003.

Karen Kain 2005

Profile

Life Lessons:

So much of his success owes a great deal to those years in his early twenties when his interest in politics moved from the wings to centre stage. Does he regret abandoning a solid career in law for the roller coaster lifestyle of a politician? Perhaps he misses the objectivity that was central to his broadcasting jobs at the CBC?

“I’ve rerun that question about the what-ifs, and [if it would] have been useful or interesting to have some years at the bar before becoming involved politically. Yeah, I think it would have been. At the same time, it might have made it less likely to make the decision to give politics a try. You know, [once] you get your roots down, and get well-established and get a partnership and so forth, it’s difficult to disengage.”

The opportunity to run for office presented itself and he took advantage. Had he waited several years, the position might not have been open. Sometimes, according to Goodale, you have to take your chances when they’re available.

In the broader picture, things flow in cycles. For young Canadians, interest in politics vacillates pretty regularly. When Goodale was growing up, interest was low. With Pearson, it began to grow. With Trudeau, it was lifted “a quantum leap into the future”. That was when he first got involved, along with many other figures in government today. “That’s a period I think where more and more young people did get engaged.”

Now things are at a low again. Will they ever reach the heights of the early 70s? Only time will tell. One thing is certain: it will be an uphill battle for politicians to engage the youth of today. “When young people have that range of things to fascinate them, and not just at a local level or personal level – they can go global as individuals – politics has to rise to a particularly compelling high-calibre level in order to compete with all of the other things that young people can take an interest in.

“And I think that’s a real challenge for our era as we move into the twenty-first century: the reengagement of our youth in believing politics is worth their while.”