In the lead up to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s first cabinet shuffle last week there was one name that wasn’t seriously bandied about during the pre-shuffle media speculation. I’m referring to Gordon O’Connor.

I’m sure that when Harper went up and down his cabinet roster, one of the first names he skipped was O’Connor, the minister of national defence. No need to even consider a change there!

I think it is more than fair to say O’Connor, a Kanata resident and the Member of Parliament for Carleton-Mississippi Mills since June 2004, is one of the stars of Harper’s first government. In my view he is THE star! In an interview with me last Friday, which appears elsewhere in this week’s Record News EMC, he nixed a rumour that ran around Ottawa last week which said he wouldn’t be seeking re-election the next time Canadians go to the polls.

Calling the defence portfolio “my dream job” he stated emphatically that he will seek a third term in office when the next election is called. O’Connor has already been acclaimed as the Conservative Party candidate in Carleton-Mississippi Mills.

Referring to the retirement rumour he chuckled, “I think that’s just wishful thinking on someone’s part.”

Certainly there is no one more suited to the position of national defence minister. O’Connor served Canada as a military officer for more than 30 years, joining the regular force as a Second Lieutenant and retiring with the rank of Brigadier General. This is a man who knows from whence he speaks!

There’s no doubt he has been one of the most high profile cabinet ministers considering the heavy focus and the controversy surrounding Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan. Since being appointed defence minister, following the Conservatives’ election win last January, O’Connor has definitely been on one of the hottest cabinet seats. Yet he’s handled things with skill and diplomacy, demonstrating the same self assured style and low-profile “cool” that so impressed me the first time I met the man.

I was among the media horde at the aptly named ‘O’Connor’s Pub’ in Kanata, who greeted the then newly-elected Mr. O’Connor on election night 2004.

What impresses me most about the man is the way he carries himself. He arrived at his own post-election party alone. Well, certainly he walked into the victory party by himself. No crowd of supporters, no aides or party workers to buffer him against the poking microphones, prying cameras and the jostling crowd of men and women furiously scribbling his every word.

O’Connor was calm, cool and collected throughout. In fact there was barely even the hint of a smile, despite the fact he had just been elected to Canada’s Parliament for the first time.

Very successful
It was clear to me from the outset that he is here to do a job and I believe there can be little argument when it is said he has succeeded at that – probably beyond anyone’s expectations, except his own of course. This is a man with very high standards and clearly defined objectives. He definitely sets the pace at National Defence Headquarters. Just 20 months after that election, I had the task of covering O’Connor’s second election night for this newspaper. This time I knew what to expect.

He arrived at his campaign offices in Kanata (an opponent booked his “favourite” pub ahead of him) with a much larger plurality, but with exactly the same style I had witnessed less than two years earlier. Okay, the smile was a little more evident this time. But who could blame him? O’Connor was now part of the national government. This time the media crowd was much larger than it had been in 2004. That’s because there was intense speculation – well founded as it turns out – that O’Connor would be named defence minister, if Harper and the Tories formed the government. When he arrived for the post-election celebration it was already clear the Conservatives would be taking over following more than a dozen years of Liberal rule.

But O’Connor was having none of the speculation. He played the role of loyal party member to the hilt (a part he continues to play very capably and sincerely), refusing to be drawn into any conversation on the subject of a cabinet post.

I know, because like any self-respecting journalist I asked him the question – point blank! O’Connor refused to bite. He told me bluntly “cabinet decisions are the responsibility of the prime minister.”

He obviously knows better than to make Harper’s task more difficult than it already is. O’Connor is known for his loyalty, as well as for his determination. He demonstrated that on election night 2006.

I wasn’t surprised, however, when last Feb. 6 the pre-election speculation was confirmed. O’Connor was seconded to what is, arguably, the most difficult post in cabinet, next to the PM’s of course. He certainly hasn’t disappointed.

O’Connor, who is now 67, took on one of the most demanding and stressful cabinet positions and he did so with gusto. In less than a year on the job he has, arguably, done more for the Canadian Armed Forces than any defence minister in more than 40 years. Well, certainly since Liberal Paul Hellyer’s infamous “Greening” of the army, navy and air force in 1965.

Although the uniforms were returned to “normal” years ago, members of the Armed Forces are taking increasing pride in wearing them today. That has never been more obvious than during O’Connor’s brief but productive time in office.

No matter what you think about the Afghanistan mission you have to admit it has raised the profile of the Canadian Armed Forces considerably and instilled some purpose and sincere pride in the military.

Support rises
The public in general are also backing the men and women of the Armed Forces in a way we haven’t seen in Canada since the world wars and the Korean conflict.

Most important, in the post-9/11 world, this government has committed itself to purchasing badly needed equipment at all levels, as well as expanding numbers. Both of those obligations are critically important to the country at present and O’Connor tells me he intends to pursue those objectives vigorously.

The so-called “left wingers” hate it of course. They would rather see all of our defence spending go to social causes.

While social spending is important, so is defence spending in a world that is proving to be less and less stable. The terrorist threat is very real and, like it or not, we have to be prepared to defend ourselves, first and foremost, as well as to take offensive action when and where indicated.

We have been “committed” to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) from the beginning. Unfortunately Canada’s commitment to military spending was so poor that we couldn’t be considered a serious member of the alliance for decades. Harper, O’Connor and company are changing that and I believe they’re to be commended.

Obviously I’m not privy to behind the scenes discussions on O’Connor’s role and the military’s reaction to him. But if what we see on the surface is any indication (and it usually is) then it’s apparent the Tory government, and O’Connor in particular, has been a breath of fresh air during their short time in office. The normally smiling faces of General Rick Hillier, the chief of defence staff and O’Connor, whenever they are in each other’s company, is a sure sign of the good relationship that has developed between the government and our military leadership. Clearly that attitude has trickled down to military members in general.

O’Connor’s two visits to Afghanistan in 2006 helped underline the Tories commitment, not only to the mission but to the long-term improvement of the Canadian Armed Forces.

I am also told by those who watch the daily ‘Question Period’ in Parliament, that O’Connor is one of the “stars” on the government benches in the House of Commons. He handles any and all questions, no matter how pointed, with the same calm, self assured style I was first exposed to in June 2004.

He is also highly regarded by people in his own riding where he and his staff have done an outstanding job in a relatively short period.

I enjoyed my first-hand opportunity to speak with O’Connor about his inaugural year as defence minister, although I will let that piece speak for itself.