Islanders and political leaders reflect on Lawrence MacAulay's 36 years of public service 

Islanders and political leaders are commemorating Lawrence MacAulay's 36 years of public service following his retirement announcement Saturday. 

MacAulay's colleagues and constituents of his Cardigan, P.E.I., riding gathered at the Jim MacAulay Complex in St. Peters Bay for the formal announcement. 

"I remember when I got elected, there was not a whole lot of activity on this part of the Island.… I had a part in it, but everybody had a part in it," MacAulay said in an interview with CBC News. "Things have changed and changed for the better."

MacAulay is the longest-serving MP in the Island's history, having represented the eastern P.E.I. riding of Cardigan since 1988. 

"Lawrence never forgot where he came from," said Barry Hicken, who worked for MacAulay for nearly 25 years. 

"Lawrence always put the issues first. He always made sure what he'd done was a benefit for Prince Edward Island and Cardigan in particular," Hicken said. 

Impact on the Island

In addition to working with MacAulay, Hicken said he considers the agriculture minister a friend. 

"I really never felt I had a job," Hicken said. "When you went to work with Lawrence, you didn't feel like you were going to work."

MacAulay is a household name in every house in Cardigan, and in a lot of houses in Prince Edward Island, he said. 

"He did a lot of good things," Hicken said. "He brought a lot of good stuff to Prince Edward Island."

The UPEI-affiliated Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation in St. Peters Bay, along with MacAulay's work looking after the ferry service will be part of his legacy, Hicken said. 

The next MP for Cardigan will have big shoes to fill, said Floyd MacLean, president of the Cardigan Liberal Association. 

"It'll be hard to find somebody as popular, for sure," said MacLean. "But things always change and there is lots of interest." 

MacLean said that while it's sad to see MacAulay go, "he certainly deserves a good retirement." 

MacAulay's more than three-and-a-half decades of public service have been a "tremendous contribution from a public service standpoint," said Ian MacPherson, executive director P.E.I. Fishermen's Association. 

"I don't know if anyone will ever achieve that type of service record in the House," MacPherson said. 

MacAulay has an ability to relate to people and "to kind of light up a room with positive energy," MacPherson said. 

"It doesn't mean that the minister hasn't been serious around serious issues, but generally [he had] a positive attitude, a can-do attitude and [was] a very great representative of Prince Edward Island," he said. 

MacAulay has advocated on behalf of Islanders in Ottawa on a number of items — not just in caucus, but at the cabinet table also, said MacPherson. 

"Sometimes we didn't get the answers that we liked, but we appreciated that Minister MacAulay — along with our other Island MPs — do punch above their weight in terms of getting things heard in Ottawa." 

Farewell from federal leaders

MacAulay's colleagues in Ottawa also wished him well following his retirement announcement. 

MacAulay "has served his community, his province and Canadians ably over decades," Catherine McKenna, former minister of climate and infrastructure, said in a post on X. 

"Thanks Lawrence and your amazing wife Frances for your incredible service to [Canada]!" the post reads. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former prime minister Jean Chrétien both appeared virtually with farewell messages. 

"I know this wasn't an easy decision for you," Trudeau said. "For so long now, you've been making sure that folks back home have someone fighting for them every day in Ottawa." 

"For over 36 years, and 11 election victories, you've never lost sight of what is most important: the people. And the ferry." 

In his video address, Chrétien told MacAulay to "enjoy life with your lovely wife and your three daughters and the rest of the family."

"You're very lucky to live in a very beautiful place, on the beach, on P.E.I.," Chrétien said.