The BIG David (Anderson) Podcast

Canadians interested in federal politics, current public affairs and British Columbia issues can listen to Canada’s-longest serving Environment Minister and five-term Vancouver Island Liberal Member of Parliament discuss current issues and a federal Liberal Party record spanning five decades.First elected as a Vancouver Island MP for Esquimalt-Saanich in 1968 with Pierre Trudeau’s first government. He returned to federal politics in 1993 as MP for Victoria with the election of Prime Minister Jean Chretien. From 1993 to 2004, David held a series of federal Cabinet portfolios. In addition to Environment, David served as Minister of Transport, Revenue, Fisheries and Oceans.In the sixth and final episode, David talks about his service during Jean Chretien’s government as the senior federal Minister responsible for British Columbia.  From a new convention centre and rapid transit line in Vancouver to Canada’s bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics, David describes this as one of the most difficult but rewarding parts of his job. As a former BC Liberal Party Leader in the early 1970s, David talks about what it was like to work with BC Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell in the early 2000s, including the introduction of Canada’s first carbon tax and the signing of the historic Treaty with the Nisga’a First Nation.In this final episode, David also talks about his hometown, Victoria BC, and his many accomplishments as Member of Parliament. He shares behind-the-scenes accounts of the creation of Royal Roads University and a memorable visit from Jean Chretien that the Prime Minister said was his best day of his 1997 election campaign. David describes how one of his last acts as Victoria MP nearly led to the defeat of Paul Martin’s government. Other topics focus on: David’s long-standing relationship with Victoria’s Chinese community; multiple community, cultural and infrastructure investments across BC’s Capital Region; establishing a CBC station in Victoria; historic research investments at the University of Victoria; and the successful struggle to secure local control of Victoria’s harbour and airport.   In a special third segment, David offers closing thoughts on his retirement decision in 2006.  He identifies his political mentors and provides sage political advice to future (and current) elected officials before concluding with personal thoughts about his devoted and loving political family.

Canada’s Longest Serving Environment Minister David Anderson discusses current events and a career with the federal Liberal Party spanning five decades.Canadians interested in federal politics, current public affairs and British Columbia issues can listen to Canada’s-longest serving Environment Minister and five-term Vancouver Island Liberal Member of Parliament discuss current issues and a federal Liberal Party record spanning five decades. First elected as a Vancouver Island MP for Esquimalt-Saanich in 1968 with Pierre Trudeau’s first government, David became BC Liberal Leader and Victoria MLA in 1972.  He returned to politics in 1993 as MP for Victoria with the election of Prime Minister Jean Chretien.From 1993 to 2004, David held a series of federal Cabinet portfolios. In addition to Environment, David served as Minister of Transport, Revenue, Fisheries and Oceans. He also served as Prime Minister Chretien’s senior political Minister for British Columbia.In the fifth episode, David talks about his service during Jean Chretien’s government between 1993 and 2003. As a former Minister responsible for the Canadian Coast Guard, David discusses the timely issue of Canada’s northern sovereignty.  We go behind the scenes when Prime Minister Chretien decided not to support the US War in Iraq and get’s David’s take on the internal Liberal party leadership dispute that led to his eventual retirement from federal politics in 2006.David also discusses Mr. Chretien’s leadership and shares a story of a memorable BC fishing trip.

Canada’s Longest Serving Environment Minister David Anderson discussescurrent events and a career with the federal Liberal Party spanning five decades.Canadians interested in federal politics, current public affairs and British Columbia issues can listen to Canada’s longest-serving Environment Minister and five-term Vancouver Island Liberal Member of Parliament discuss current issues and a federal Liberal Party record spanning five decades.First elected as a Vancouver Island MP for Esquimalt-Saanich in 1968 with Pierre rudeau’s first government, David became BC Liberal Leader and Victoria MLA in1972.  He returned to politics in 1993 as MP for Victoria with the election of Prime Minister Jean Chretien.From 1993 to 2004, David held a series of federal Cabinet portfolios. In addition to Environment, David served as Minister of Transport, Revenue, Fisheries and Oceans.He also served as Prime Minister Chretien’s senior political Minister for British Columbia.In the first episode, Current Events and Negotiating with the USA, David discusses the current state of affairs in Canada and the performance of Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney.  He provides insight into his experience negotiating international agreements with the United States related to climate change and Pacific salmon conservation. David also recalls the time Canadian fishermen took an Alaskan passenger ferry hostage in Prince Rupert BC during the Canada/US salmon war in 1997.

Canada’s Longest Serving Environment Minister David Anderson discusses current events and a career with the federal Liberal Party spanning five decades.Canadians interested in federal politics, current public affairs and British Columbia issues can listen to Canada’s longest-serving Environment Minister and five-term Vancouver Island Liberal Member of Parliament discuss current issues and a federal Liberal Party record spanning five decades.First elected as a Vancouver Island MP for Esquimalt-Saanich in 1968 with PierreTrudeau’s first government, David became BC Liberal Leader and Victoria MLA in 1972.  He returned to politics in 1993 as MP for Victoria with the election of Prime Minister Jean Chretien.From 1993 to 2004, David held a series of federal Cabinet portfolios. In addition to Environment, David served as Minister of Transport, Revenue, Fisheries and Oceans.He also served as Prime Minister Chretien’s senior political Minister for British Columbia.In this second episode, David discusses Prime Minister Chrétien’s role in resolving the Pacific Salmon War before turning his attention to the oil-tanker moratorium along BC’s north coast, which he started working on as an MP in Pierre Trudeau's first government.From a lawsuit against the US government in the early 70s to his unwavering support for the moratorium over decades, David talks candidly about the Alberta Premier’s hope for a northern pipeline through northern BC, the recent Canada/Alberta MOU on resource development and potential unity implications.

Canada’s Longest Serving Environment Minister David Anderson discusses current events and a career with the federal Liberal Party spanning five decades.Canadians interested in federal politics, current public affairs and British Columbia issues can listen to Canada’s longest-serving Environment Minister and five-term Vancouver Island Liberal Member of Parliament discuss current issues and a federal Liberal Party record spanning five decades.First elected as a Vancouver Island MP for Esquimalt-Saanich in 1968 with Pierre Trudeau’s first government, David became BC Liberal Leader and Victoria MLA in 1972.  He returned to politics in 1993 as MP for Victoria with the election of PrimeMinister Jean Chretien.From 1993 to 2004, David held a series of federal Cabinet portfolios. In addition to Environment, David served as Minister of Transport, Revenue, Fisheries and Oceans.He also served as Prime Minister Chretien’s senior political Minister for British Columbia.In this third episode, David talks about his decision to enter politics in the late 1960s and join the Liberal Party of Canada. He recounts the 1968 election in Victoria and what it was like to be swept up in Trudeaumania.David also talks about what it was like being an elected 31-year-old environmentalist and Member of Parliament on Parliament when very few people knew what an environmentalist was. This episode concludes with David’s decision to leave Ottawa after one term and enter provincial politics in 1972 as Leader of the BC Liberal Party.

Canadians interested in federal politics, current public affairs and British Columbia issues can listen to Canada’s-longest serving Environment Minister and five-term Vancouver Island Liberal Member of Parliament discuss current issues and a federal Liberal Party record spanning five decades.First elected as a Vancouver Island MP for Esquimalt-Saanich in 1968 with Pierre Trudeau’s first government, David became BC Liberal Leader and Victoria MLA in 1972.  He returned to politics in 1993 as MP for Victoria with the election of PrimeMinister Jean Chretien.From 1993 to 2004, David held a series of federal Cabinet portfolios. In addition to Environment, David served as Minister of Transport, Revenue, Fisheries and Oceans.He also served as Prime Minister Chretien’s senior political Minister for British Columbia.In the fourth episode, David talks about his comeback – and the decision to return tofederal Liberal politics in 1993 with soon-to-be Prime Minister Jean Chretien. He discusses the 1993 election in Victoria, his return to Cabinet and the new Chretien government’s first major crisis – the 1995 Quebec referendum.David also talks about his relationship with Mr. Chretien, including the story of how they collaborated during David’s first term to establish Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island.