Northeast News

By Melanie Robinson

NORTHEAST – When Jay Hill started his political career 22 years ago, he certainly did not think it would be a career that lasted as long as it did.

 

The MP for Prince George-Peace River, who first ran for federal politics in the 1988 election for the Reform Party, announced last week he would not run again in the next election.

Hill said the decision did not come easily, but he has always said he would get out of politics when things continue to go well, and he believes now is that time.

 

“I’ve always believed that, unfortunately, a lot of politicians stay beyond their best before date so I’ve always wanted to exit while things are going well and I thought I was still reasonably well thought of,” he said. “I think that’s, hopefully, still the case and so I started to look towards the next election and believed it was the right time for me to leave.”

Leave politics, not his love for the Northeast or the people in it.

 

Hill was born in Fort St. John in 1952 and, through his connection with agriculture, was able to represent the industry when he served as the president of the BC Grain Producer’s Association and as the director for grain with the BC Federation of Agriculture.

 

He was first elected into federal politics in 1993, and since then, has seen a lot of changes, especially in the last six years.

 

With minority governments, Hill said he’s seen an increase in partisanship both at the federal level and also through relationships with provincial government’s and municipalities.

It is those partnerships Hill said he’s proud of, and what have allowed Canada to get through the downturn so successfully.

 

Those relationships, however, did not come easy.

 

“[You’re] always sort of one vote away from an election and so it’s very difficult to take the partisanship out and actually work co-operatively and collectively as a Parliament to get things done for Canadians,” he said. “I think that’s the biggest difference that I have noticed, compared to the first three Parliaments that I was part of, which were majority Liberal governments. Although I was certainly not happy being in opposition for those 13 years, it did provide a stability for the country by having majority governments as opposed to having this constant threat of an election campaign.”

 

Hill is not the only one to notice the difference that partisanship has made, either. He said he was surprised by the number of phone calls and e-mails he received hours after making the announcement of his decision.

 

A phone call from Opposition House Leader, Ralph Goodale, is just one example of the relationships he’s created over the years.

 

“I found Mr. Hill a person that you could do serious business with, especially when you are trying to make parliament function in the situation of a minority government,” said Goodale to the Northeast News. “I appreciated his candor and we could arrive at a conclusion on what we would do on an issue – we could just look at each other and shake hands and we both knew the next steps to take.  His words could be counted on and I will miss him on the job.”

 

Hill speaks fondly of the accomplishments he’s made in the past 17 years – some on a personal level, some political.

 

He spoke fondly of the ability, after 10 years of arguing for it, being able to reinstall the northern living tax deduction for residents of MacKenzie. He said he believes the deduction was removed by error and he’s indebted to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty for the sense of foresight and fairness he showed in that situation.

 

Politically, Hill said he’s proud of the changes the federal government has made to bring financial stability and low taxation to the nation.

 

“I hope that we’re not going to see the end of that,” he said. “Canadians, whether they realize it or not, currently pay the lowest taxes that they have in 50 years under our government. As well, the changes we have made and continue to make to the justice system of Canada, bringing a greater level of accountability – those that break the law will be held accountable for their crimes under our government. Lastly, I think the continued focus on democratic reform, in particular of the upper chamber of the Senate to try and bring elections to the Senate of Canada and also term limits to ensure that somebody doesn’t serve for 30 years, I think, are worthwhile goals and certainly supported by the people in western Canada and in Prince George-Peace River. So some major accomplishments there, and some jobs still left to be done, but I would look towards that.”

 

Hill said there have been many challenges with his career in politics, but that’s the nature of the job in providing strong leadership for northeastern British Columbia. He said the new MP for Prince George-Peace River will face continued challenges in industries such as agriculture, forestry and oil and gas.

 

“We’re a long ways from Ottawa up here in northern BC, and it takes a lot to be noticed, it’s hard work and I would commend that hard work to them to address those challenges,” he said. 

 

While Hill and his wife, Leah, are intending to relocate to Calgary, where two of their children now live, he is quick to add that does not mean he has lost his connection with the place he was born and raised.

 

Hill said he has a love for the Northeast, and the people in it, and laughs when he says he drank the water from the Peace River quite early in his life.

 

That laughter didn’t last long, however, as he thought about what he would say to the constituents who, after many years, have continued to support him and what he has done to represent the region.

 

Hill, in fact, could be seen choking back tears when asked that question and his response can easily be summed up in two words: “thank you”.