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Vol. 15, No. 49, Wednesday, November 4, 2020 www.LamontLeader.com
Stelmach remembers Maz as a mentor Former Deputy Prime Minister and local MP passes away at age 85 “It was in the fall and was very hot. BY JOHN MATHER Former Vegreville MP Don Maz had just flown in and came directMazankowski who died last week at ly from the international airport,” age 85, was fondly remembered by for- recalled Stelmach. “So there he was mer Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach for and he made his speech and then he his help in the Lamont County area stayed right until the end of the ceremony. The next morning during his 25 years in he was at his office in government. Vegreville. The Vegreville riding in “He was definitely a the 1980s and 90s took in great mentor to me perthe area of eastern sonally,” said Stelmach. Lamont, covering His advice, recalled Andrew and Mundare. Stelmach, was that the Stelmach, the former constituents always came Reeve of Lamont County first. and an Andrew area resi“He said always dent, knew Mazankowski address their issues,” statvery well. ed Stelmach. “Return “When he was in office, my first dealings with Former Alberta Premier their calls, try to help him were when I was & former Lamont Reeve them as best you can. You Ed Stelmach can’t solve all their issues with the County,” he said. but try. Respond as quick“We worked together on a number of files involving seniors and ly as you can with a phone call.” That, adds Stelmach, was why the Yellowhead Highway.” “When I got the call, when Maz Mazankowski was so widely popular. “He said when I had become prepassed, I was thinking how many parades or high school grads did he mier, to treat everyone in the house attend during his 25 years,” he said. with equal respect. Sitting across from “The politics of being an MP and how you is a member in opposition. But much work he did in the riding that remember, they have been elected by didn’t pertain to his cabinet positions. their constituents and you have to He was always so busy when he came respect that. “That was incredibly good advice,” back to the riding.” Stelmach recalled one time when Stelmach said. “It allowed me to build Mazankowski attended a high school a good working relationship with my critics. graduation at the Andrew School. “His skills made him respected by all his critics no matter what party they belonged to.” Stelmach said he was a man of principles who finished his career with his integrity intact. On Oct. 30, current Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs stood in the House of Commons and gave a tribute to the man, who Known as Maz (left), the former Deputy PM had the had held the riding she Mazankowski Heart Institute named after him. Here now represents, for so with former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
many years. The Lakeland riding was spun out of the Vegreville, Wainwright, and Beaver River ridings in 1996. “The Right Honourable Don Mazankowski served Canadians with dignity and integrity for more than 20 years as the MP for Vegreville. As Deputy Prime Minister, he was called “The Minister of Everything”, where apparently the Prime Minister ’s instructions to everyone else was to “Run it by Maz”,” said Stubbs. “He was inspired by former Prime Minister John Former Deputy Prime Minister Don Mazankowski, died last D i e f e n b a k e r ’ s week at the age of 85. He was a former MP who represented visit to the Lamont County area. Vegreville and under two prime ministers - Joe Clark his message that the West needs to play and Brian Mulroney - and as a meaningful role in national business. Conservative deputy prime minister Maz was a powerful voice for Alberta, from 1986 to 1993. Mazankowski was for the West and for our role in also the MP for Vegreville for 25 years, Confederation.” winning seven general elections startShe added that while he was in ing in 1968. Ottawa he never forgot his home roots He was founding chair of the and was a “staunch” advocate for the Institute of Health Economics, chair of Vegreville constituents. the Canadian Genetics Diseases “He was said to have no enemies Network and member of the Board of after over 20 years in politics, which Governors of the University of Alberta. really is a remarkable feat on its own!” He was chair of former Premier Ralph Mazankowski, who served as mem- Klein’s Advisory Council on Health ber of Parliament for decades and was and reviewed Alberta’s health system. also a former director of ATCO, passed The Mazankowski Heart Institute of away Oct. 27. Alberta was named after him. He served as a cabinet minister