Public servant. Mentor. Honest. Champion. Friend.
That was how the late John McLellan (Jack) Johnson, former MPP for Wellington-Dufferin-Peel, was remembered last week in the Ontario Legislature.
Johnson served his constituents in that legislature from 1975 to 1990, and passed away in June of last year.
The people he represented were, by all accounts, extremely fortunate to have what Liberal minister Jim Bradley called “the ultimate constituency person.
“He was an individual who saw no problem as being too small a problem for his constituents to bring that problem to Queen’s Park,” said Bradley of his former Progressive Conservative colleague.
He added, “Jack was, indeed, a strong Conservative. He was very loyal to his party, but he always understood the viewpoints of others in the House, whether they were from the left, centre, or right, and he respected very much his colleagues in the House.”
Bradley’s remarks echoed those of New Democrat MPP Gilles Bisson.
“He was one of those rare individual politicians who happen to come along and understand that, at the end of the day, it’s not just about serving your constituents but sometimes being civil to each other,” said Bisson.
Long-serving MPPs Norm Sterling and Ted Arnott remembered Johnson’s tireless work for his community, as well as his character and friendship.
“He was a great man for all of us,” recalled Sterling.
Arnott, who succeeded Johnson in the legislature, said, “He was very much my mentor … a real political hero for the man who he was, and the way he approached his responsibilities.”
Arnott concluded his remarks with a call to serve. “As we gather today to celebrate and give thanks for Jack’s outstanding service, we resolve to ensure that the timeless values of integrity, commitment, family and community – all the things he believed in and all things he represented – will be carried on by the service we can render to others in his memory.”
