Political Access Without Political Office

“Rising to the highest levels of the Democratic Party, then rising to the highest levels of the Republican Party (how many people can say that?). Giving millions and millions of dollars away. Thinking of running for mayor, then actually doing it.”

“These days, I don’t think of myself as a Democrat or a Republican. I’m just a common-sense billionaire.”

“Desmarais has never become a public politician, though he has been encouraged to do so; yet he understands politics because it’s a part of the power game, and interacts well with politicians, keeping in touch with all who matter. Since the Duplessis days he has made a point of ensuring some personal contact with every Quebec premier, whatever his political stripe, and every Canadian prime minister.”

“He has also invited several retired politicians and senior civil ser¬ vants to occupy senior executive posts or seats on the board of Power Corporation or its subsidiaries. A snapshot of the Power board in 1986 would have captured William Davis, retired Premier of Ontario, in a director’s chair (his predecessor in office, the late John Robarts, also sat on the Power board) and Senator Michael Pitfield, former Clerk of the Privy Council under Pierre Trudeau, who occupied a Power vice-presidency. The financing arrangements of the Quebec Autobus deal comprised a typically creative Desmarais package of personal cash and loans granted him because of his track record as a person who always meets his obligations and keeps his word. Industrial Acceptance Corpora¬ tion, one of his old creditors in Sudbury Bus Lines, which knew and trusted Desmarais, lent him $700,000; British American Oil Company (later Gulf) lent him $800,000 on his promise to buy all his gas from the company, and the Royal Bank lent him $500,000 against proceeds from the sale of Gatineau Bus.”