Politician turns author

The former NDP MLA from St. John’s, Gord Mackintosh held a launch for his new book “Stories Best Left Untold – tales from a Manitoba legislator”  at McNally Robinson Book Sellers in Grant Park mall on Tuesday evening.

More than 100 people were in attendance to hear the former Manitoba Attorney General tell stories about his life in politics. Anyone who has interviewed Mackintosh over the years knows he has a well developed sense of humour and that sense of humour was on display throughout the evening.

Although rumours surrounding the launch touted it as being a possible tell-all, it is not. It does, however, give us a peek into how divided the caucus really was over the attempted coup by the “Gang of Five”. 

” Greg (Selinger) told the five they could withdraw their comments or resign and committed to meet with the five later in the week. Stan (Struthers) admits that by then, “We were in the rapids.” Meanwhile, Greg called a number of caucus Members to defiantly stand with him at a press conference that afternoon to announce he wasn’t going anywhere. I was in my Legislative office and had no inkling that fifteen of my thirty-four colleagues were heading to a press conference. When I later asked why he hadn’t called me, Greg replied. “I figured you wanted to stay above the fray.” I appreciated that as time went on.”

The book is a fun read even if you are not into politics and does share some behind the scenes stories from Mackintosh’s political career. 

“At a public appearance, I was introduced as “Keeper of the Great Seal,” maybe because some comic staffer wrote that. School children wondered where I kept the fella.

There wasn’t much pressure managing the Great Seal portfolio. I commend it. I asked a guy called Fed who’s, truth be known, the real Keeper who did all the sealing, what my Great Seal looked like. He brought it to the House for a swearing-in-ceremony. What a letdown. It’s a Panini press. It’s the embossing doohickey for gold foil certificate seals on appointments, notably the Lieutenant Governor’s. I never saw it again. This is a good example how the Legislature has funny old things kicking around from Queen Victoria to impress Americans.”

After nearly 45 minutes of story telling the event ended in typical book launch fashion with a book signing.

-News4 Staff-

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