While doing some research for names for my comments I came across this little gem:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadian_Ministers_of_National_Defence
Unbelieveable! That Wikipedia has everything! Something we need to include in our Army.ca-pedia...
Anyway, opinions:
26. Erik Nielsen under Mulroney February 26, 1985 – June 29, 1986 - Never heard anything bad...never heard anything good either...
27. Perrin Beatty under Mulroney June 30, 1986 – January 29, 1989 - Ditto
28. Bill McKnight under Mulroney January 30, 1989 – April 20, 1991 - Actually met this guy in 1990 in Qatar. Opinion = Bonehead.
29. Marcel Masse under Mulroney April 21, 1991 – January 3, 1993 - More concerned with getting the forces to buy Quebec products like maple syrup than with running the forces.
30. Kim Campbell under Mulroney January 4, 1993 – June 24, 1993 - Very popular due to edgy McLeans cover while she was Justice Minister.
31. Tom Siddon under Campbell June 25, 1993 – November 3, 1993 - Who?
32. David Collenette under Chrétien November 4, 1993 – October 4, 1996 - Not impressed, based on his choices for CDS and other well-known decisions and actions.
33. Doug Young under Chrétien October 5, 1996 – June 10, 1997 - Again, who?
34. Art Eggleton under Chrétien June 11, 1997 – June 25, 2002 - Met him in Hondoras in 1999. Actually pretty good, he was educated and knowledgable about the job.
35. John McCallum under Chrétien June 26, 2002 – December 11, 2003 - And again, who? Another 'yes-boy'.
36. David Pratt under Martin December 12, 2003 – July 19, 2004 - Picked for his loyalty to Martin rather than capability. The last name says it all...
37. Bill Graham under Martin July 20, 2004 – February 5, 2006 - I thought he was good but too orientated on the power struggle in Ottawa and making a name for himself.
38. Gordon O'Connor under Harper February 6, 2006 - present - Jury is still out and debating a verdict...