Although he served nearly three decades as Summerside’s mayor, I most vividly recall Basil Stewart’s tenacity and persistence early in his tenure when he faced a crisis that threatened the town’s economic future.
Stewart was in his fourth year as mayor in 1989 when the federal government confirmed CFB Summerside and its 1,200 military and civilian jobs was on a list of bases to be closed.
As I gathered reaction on the bombshell announcement, I reported, “the news fell like a guillotine.” It seemed appropriate as everyone I interviewed, including the mayor, was in shock and disbelief. With good reason. A special task force report suggested 33 per cent of the town’s population would be affected by the closure, and that it would be a serious economic blow to the economy of the entire province.
It was a crisis that demanded strong leadership and Stewart was often leading the charge – first to convince government to reverse the decision and, when it became apparent that was not going to happen, to ensure the town would be fairly compensated for the devastating loss.
Thankfully, there were many leaders – political and civilian – who fought tirelessly along with thousands of concerned citizens and business people in the face of the impending closure. Stewart always made himself available for an interview and he usually had a good quote, none better than one he offered on the eve of a meeting in Ottawa with a key federal cabinet minister, when he made it clear he was ready for a scrap. “You should never get into a fight with a pig,” he said. “You’ll get covered in mud and the pig will love it.”
The base closed as announced in 1991 but not before the town secured, as compensation, a new federal tax centre and the transfer of the base and all its assets to Slemon Park Corporation. Today, the tax centre employs close to 1,000 people and the corporation has created more than 1,000 jobs in the private sector, mostly in the aerospace industry.
Earlier this week, federal and provincial government officials were at Slemon Park to announce $5 million to upgrade and expand facilities at the former base. ACOA minister Navdeep Bains said aerospace is “the fastest growing industry in P.E.I., a success story built on innovation.”
The announced closure of CFB Summerside was one of the darkest days in the town’s history but thanks to the leadership of men and women like Basil Stewart, Summerside is much better economically positioned today than it was before the base closed.
Stewart’s contribution to the post-CFB Summerside success story is likely just one of the reasons he was given the country’s highest civilian honour – the Order of Canada – in a ceremony in Quebec City last week. But in my books, it’s perhaps his greatest political accomplishment.
I ran into Stewart and his wife, Gail, a few months ago walking briskly around the track at Credit Union Place. He had a serious health scare last winter but he said he’s feeling great now.
Congratulations to the Island’s newest Order of Canada medal recipient. May he and his wife enjoy continued good health in the city they love.
- Wayne Young is an instructor in the journalism program at Holland College in Charlottetown.
