The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge Good Talk -- It's a Bob Rae Day
Dec 19, 2025
Bob Rae, a seasoned politician and former Canada's Ambassador to the UN, shares insights from his extensive political career. He reflects on his early days in Parliament and the downfall of Joe Clark's government. Rae discusses modern floor crossings and their implications, while critiquing the concentration of power in party leadership. He also highlights the strains in Canada-U.S. relations and warns of global security risks, including nuclear proliferation and regional conflicts.
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Fragility Of Strong Minorities
- Strong minorities are fragile and require active relationships with opposition to govern effectively.
- Bob Rae says assuming a minority can govern 'as if' a majority is like jumping from a plane without a parachute.
How The 1979 Government Fell
- Rae recounts the 1979 Crosby budget defeat and the miscalculations that led to Joe Clark's fall.
- He highlights misreading Liberal adaptability and failing to court the Social Credit balance of power.
Treat Floor-Crossing As Political Reality
- Do not assume floor-crossing is immoral or anti-democratic; treat it as part of political reality.
- Rae advises being alert to conversations and friendships that can shift caucus alignment.