“Some day the sun will shine and have not will be no more.” These are the immortal words of Brian Peckford, who served as the third premier of Newfoundland, and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party from 1979 until his retirement in 1989. As one of Newfoundland’s most committed and combative leaders, Mr. Peckford’s clashes with the federal government—to wrest control of the province’s natural resources—resulted in the groundbreaking Atlantic Accord of 1985, his greatest political triumph during the province’s struggle for self-reliance in a post-Confederation era. This memoir begins with Mr. Peckford’s formative years growing up in outport Newfoundland. It gives all due praise to personal heroes of his, from the seasoned fishermen of La Poile and Pilley’s Island to experienced politicos such as Minister William Marshall and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. The past, present, and his vision for the future of Newfoundland and Labrador are revealed here, as well as his insights on Constitution-making and the varicoloured political careers of juggernauts like Joey Smallwood, John Crosbie, and René Lévesque.

Brian Peckford was born in Whitbourne, Newfoundland, on August 27, 1942, and grew up in Whitbourne, Marystown, and Lewisporte. Peckford is a former premier of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and holds a Bachelor of Education degree, having also completed postgraduate work in English Literature, Education, Psychology, and French Literature. Prior to entering politics, he was a high school teacher in rural Newfoundland.He was first elected to the House of Assembly in 1972 at the age of twenty-nine. He was appointed parliamentary assistant to the premier, Honourable Frank Moores, in 1973. The following year he was appointed minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and in 1976 held the portfolios of minister of: Mines and Energy; and Rural and Northern Development. At the age of thirty-six, he was elected leader of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party and premier of the province, becoming the youngest first minister in over 100 years. It was Peckford’s administration that fought for and achieved a new, groundbreaking arrangement with the federal government called the Atlantic Accord, which has become the template for all exploration and development of offshore oil and gas resources in Canada. It is under this arrangement that the oil fields of Hibernia, Terra Nova, and White Rose have been developed and are producing today. It is as a result of the revenues from these developments that the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has achieved “have” status, the first time since becoming a part of Canada in 1949. Peckford retired from public life in 1989 and established his own consulting business serving government and business clients in North America and Europe.In 1982, Peckford received the Vanier Award as an outstanding young Canadian. That same year he was sworn to the Privy Council of Canada by her majesty the Queen, and he published a book in 1983 entitled The Past in the Present expressing his views on Newfoundland and Labrador’s economic history and prospects. In 1986, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Memorial University and served on the board of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and as chair of its Human Resources Committee from 1993 to 1998. He was appointed, in 1998, as a one-person inquiry by the Government of British Columbia to investigate the state of Fraser River salmon stocks and management issues related to the fishery. Two reports were issued in ninety days, on budget. In 2001, he received an Outstanding Contribution Award from the Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association for his work on offshore oil and gas issues. In 2007, he was appointed Chancellor of Sprott Shaw Degree College.In 2008, Mr. Peckford was chair of a federal government–appointed expert panel to review federal chronic disease policy, especially diabetes, and to present a report to the federal Health minister. The report was completed on time and on budget. Peckford is currently a director of Strongbow Exploration Inc., a public junior mining company with exploration interests in British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the United States. He and his wife, Carol, reside in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island.Although Peckford is well-known for his persistent efforts to improve the financial and economic condition of his native province, there are other firsts for which he and his administrations are responsible, including the first aquaculture legislation, first Department of Environment, first pay equity policy, first Arts Council, first Status of Women Council, first community college system, and the first and only Fine Arts degree program and building at the Grenfell Campus of Memorial University in Corner Brook.

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