It was an agonizing decision-making process that brought the emotions to the surface. Doreen Eagles can be excused for a few brief tears. She’s earned that right to shed a few after more than 30 years in government service, 15 of them as the Member of the Legislative Assembly representing Estevan and the surrounding area.
A self-described back-up singer in the Brad Wall-led Saskatchewan Party, Eagles told the Mercury she felt she could contribute more meaningfully within the ranks and was pleased to serve the provincial government as caucus chairwoman for several years. She twice turned down potential cabinet jobs, citing the toll they take on a person’s physical and mental well being, as one of the major reasons.
“I have seen what it can do to some very good people. Cabinet ministers pay horrible prices,” she said.
Eagles said that once the job expires, with the calling of the next provincial election, which could be as soon as next fall, she’ll be happy to step aside and take more time to be with her family. She noted her two children have been very good at keeping the family farm moving forward following the death of her husband Vic a few years ago. They are now dealing with some health issues of their own, and, the MLA said, spending more quality time with her own mother, is imperative.
“The kids have been great, my son has put in crops, my daughter has kept the yard looking good. I want to get back into some gardening. I haven’t done that in a long time. My favourite time of the year on the farm is spring.”
Over the years, the spring legislative sittings have robbed her of those opportunities to connect with farm and family.
In the early part of 2014, Eagles said she would be making up her mind about pursuing another term by the end of summer, but she stretched that deadline out a bit, because of the love of her job and the people she has represented.
“But, as I gave it closer scrutiny, by the end of the next term I would be very close to 70 and I don’t know how many more road trips I want to take in the early mornings and late nights,” she said, referring to the job and the frequent legislative sessions and caucus meetings in Regina or elsewhere.
The wise politician never provides a recommendation for a successor either, knowing party members will do that job, so she was not about to try to anoint anyone. But commenting on that, she recalled her first victory.
“Well, you were there,” she points to the veteran reporter. “It was so emotional and so eye-opening because I knew at that point there were going to be thousands of people counting on me because they had just given me their vote and trust.”
Now with many years as the local MLA behind her, with the Wall government well represented, and having won the Estevan seat in convincing fashion in successive elections, she’s ready to move on into the background as a Sask Party supporter.
“It’s been a tough decision to make because Brad Wall is a caring and honest guy who wants to get jobs done. He has my respect and I’ve shared a lot of tears and laughs with my party colleagues and I’ll miss them and I’ll miss those moments,” she said.
“Brad may have been a big influence on me, but the constituents have been the ultimate influence on my activities. I never lost sight of the fact they placed their trust in me and, in return, I can say I never took any vote in my favour, for granted.”
Eagles said she’ll miss the excitement of the political chase. “I know that sounds nerdy, but it’s true. I’ll even miss being at some of those meetings I know will be happening. Crazy, but true. But not all of them, I’m not that crazy,” she added with a laugh.
Eagles got a good introduction into the crazy world of politics when she took on the Estevan constituency office administration job for Grant Devine in 1983. Working in the premier’s local riding office, until his retirement in 1995, gave her a good heads up into what kind of world she would be stepping into when she decided to seek election in 1999.
“At least I thought I knew what was up with MLAs and their work. I found out I knew nothing about this 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. job. I learned you were on the job every day, no matter where you were or what function you were attending.”
The best advice she could leave for her replacement?
“Don’t take the vote for granted and be a team player. You are rarely going to get your way, but you have to keep lobbying for your constituency to make things happen and if you get good at it, they will happen.”
Eagles’s record on that count proves a point since she had a hand in landing such things as the Saskatchewan Energy Training Institute, major highway resurfacing and truck bypass projects and the recently launched project to twin Highway 39, a long term care facility in Radville, CT scanner for Estevan and provincial input into the BD3 clean coal project and procuring funds for a new arena and events complex.
“I can’t say any one of these items was greater than the other. There is such a variety of things and if I managed to play a small part in getting them here, well, that’s the job. But I will say that for the most part, we have so many great community leaders here, they are the ones who deserve the bulk of the credit. They were relentless … polite and respectful, but relentless,” she said with a laugh. “I salute them. All these community leaders on all fronts, they deserve your respect.”
Over the years, Eagles said she’s encountered many interesting personalities and events, starting with Wall who she shared desks with at the outset when the SaskParty served in opposition.
“He said I had time to make the decision and never pressed the issue,” she said.
Wall, in the press release that accompanied the announcement, said Eagles is a good friend and that the party would miss her leadership. He noted she was one of the party’s unsung heroes.
“I took some time to decide because I didn’t know what would be considered normal any more,” she said. “This has been so much of my life, it has been tough making the decision to say goodbye to it in the next few months.”
How about the characters she has encountered along the way?
“Fred Bradshaw, member for Carrot River Valley. I’ll miss him. I was always early for the legislature, but he always beat me. I recall one very cold, windy winter morning and the leg. was locked and I saw him standing there laughing at me, so I ran him once I got in. I was truly mad, but he is such an enjoyable personality, I could never hate him, only that once,” she added with a laugh.
“Bob Bjornerud, Melville-Saltcoats, he’s another one I will miss. He’s a great speech maker. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard and seen him making speeches, waving his notes which are really nothing but blank sheets of paper. I recall him berating Buckley Belanger one day in the legislature so effectively that Buckley walked out. He also delivered the best speech I’ve heard on why we, as a province, should never want to go back to the old NDP ways and their backward methods of running credit card governments. It was pretty captivating and off the cuff.”
Eagles said she’ll also miss a little known MLA Greg Burkett from Arm River-Watrous, who she describes as being a “very clever man who can deliver on a lot of topics and his messages, I know, are heartfelt and sincere. That’s a real talent and something to retain as an MLA,” she said. “So yes, I’ll take those memories from my office.”
She’s also taking a few items given to her by her executive members and a 100th anniversary plaque from the legislature containing a piece of original tyndlestone and copper roofing from the building that went up in 1912.
“We had a cabinet meeting on the same day that the provincial government held their first cabinet meeting in 1912 in the new provincial legislature. I hope they let me keep that. Then I’ll fill my box up with all kinds of flags and mementoes I’ve been presented with over the years.”
She’ll fill that box up and store the memories in a memory bank and walk away, knowing that the job, as she knew it, the job that has to be done in the public eye, is done.
