Accolades poured on veteran MP - Apr. 27, 2010
By BARB RAYNER
barbrayn@nbnet.nb.ca
ST. GEORGE – New Brunswick Southwest MP Greg Thompson was described as a true gentleman who has served his constituency tirelessly during his 19 years in parliament, at a reception here Saturday.
Municipal representatives from all over Charlotte County gathered at the town’s community centre to show their appreciation to the veteran MP who has announced he will not be reoffering in the next federal election and resigned earlier this year from his position as Minister of Veterans Affairs.
St. George Mayor Sharon Tucker said Thompson stood head and shoulders above many others and had been elected time after time. She said he has worked with all three levels of government and has always demonstrated his ability to look at the big picture.
“He has very close alliances with our provincial government that is not the same political stripe but that doesn’t matter because you are working for the people. At the local level that is what we have had benefit from.
“I guess the most important thing I want to say to Greg today is thank you. You are a true gentleman who knows that when the election is over it’s time to go to work and you have never lost sight of the big picture.”
St. Andrews Mayor John Craig said Thompson will always be “the honourable Greg Thompson” to them and he has done so much for the town of St. Andrews helping them to get funding for infrastructure projects such as the $3 million for the sewage lagoon.
“One thing I have learned from Greg is that when the election is over everyone works together. Our town has benefited so much and it has been great working with you.”
St. Stephen Mayor Jed Purcell said Thompson had been an MP for more than 18 years and he was leaving on a high which was fantastic. He said Thompson had done a lot for the town and had been a great help to him personally since becoming mayor.
“He was very instrumental with Ganong Place and the same with our post office. It was Greg who stepped up to the plate. He has also helped us on the civic centre. Greg, I really did appreciate working with you and I knew you were there if I needed help.”
Grand Manan Mayor Dennis Greene said he had been involved in municipal politics for 20 years and he had never seen cooperation between the different levels of government that he has seen with Thompson and Charlotte-The Isles MLA Rick Doucet.
“It is a great cooperation. They throw politics aside and work for the good of the community,” he said noting that Thompson has left his mark on the island in the fisheries, harbour development and recreation to name but a few.
Blacks Harbour Mayor Terry James said the village has benefited from Greg’s service with such projects as the improvements to their water supply distribution and their waste water facilities.
Doucet said Thompson came in on a high and he is leaving on a high. He said working with Thompson for the past four years has been outstanding and a highlight of his career.
“I think working together there have been some tremendous projects we have been able to bring to the table and, in a lot of cases, get done.”
Becoming a federal cabinet minister is quite a feat, he said, and it will probably be many years before they see another federal minister from this area because you have to earn your stripes.
“Greg has earned his degree every step of the way. To work with him has been a sheer pleasure and honour. Politics are put aside and you work for the best interests of your community.
It has been a highlight of my career to be working shoulder to shoulder with this guy.”
The municipalities presented Thompson with ten passes to the Fairmont Algonquin golf course including the use of a cart along with some other golf paraphernalia.
Thompson said he still loves his job but he didn’t want to be like the athlete who stays one season too long and embarrasses their family, their friends and themselves.
He spoke of his past health problems and described himself as a bit of a walking miracle but added that he felt he became a better politician as a result of going through that.
“It is a job you love. You love serving the public. ..It has been fun and there are so many things I do remember and there are so many things we have accomplished in Charlotte County over the years.”
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