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Although no longer a leader, Eddie still supported 4-H in Lot 16 and Island wide. In 2002, he received the honour of being made a member of the 500 Club of the 4-H Council of Canada.
In 1970, at the age of thirty-eight, Eddie became a Liberal candidate for third Prince and won fifty-eight percent of the pop- ular vote. In eight elections over a period of twenty-three years, Eddie was never defeated. Eddie’s theory was “to be a success- ful politician I think you have to have a liking for people.”21
In his twenty-six years in the House of Assembly, Eddie
served under seven premiers, five Liberals — Alex Campbell,
Bennett Campbell, Joe Ghiz, Catherine Callbeck, Keith Milligan, and two PCs — Angus MacLean, and Jim Lee. Eddie served as Minister of Agriculture and Forestry in 1980. He was the Speaker of the House from 1986 to 1994. During his career as Speaker of the Prince Edward Island Legislature, he attended two parliamentary seminars at the House of Cormnons in London, England. Eddie also attended green Elizabeth’s 40th Anniversary Coronation Celebration at Buckingham Palace where he and his wife were presented to the Qieen. In 1990, Eddie attended the third session of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Small Countries Conference in Barbados.
While in the House, Eddie chaired:
- Government Caucus
~ Special Committee on Access to Information
- Electoral Boundaries Committee
- Internal Economic Committee
- Agriculture Committee of the Legislative Assembly
- Land Development Committee.
He was also a member of many other boards and councils and was one of three Canadians elected to the executive of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (1990—1993). In 1992, Eddie was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada for his contribution to community and country.
Eddie is highly involved in the Lot 16 United Church. He has served as elder and steward, chairs [many of the church meetings and is co-chair of the Lot 16 United Church
LOT 16 UNITED CHURCH AND ITS PEOPLE