Donald James Johnston

Donald Johnston, a prominent Montreal Liberal MP and former cabinet minister under Pierre Trudeau and John Turner, broke with the Liberal Party in January 1988 over his vehement opposition to the Meech Lake Accord. Johnston was a passionate Canadian federalist who believed the Accord's recognition of Quebec as a "distinct society" would fundamentally undermine Canadian unity and open the door to constitutional asymmetry. He was the sole Liberal MP to vote against the Accord, placing principle above party loyalty in a dramatic stand that made national headlines. Johnston had previously served as Minister of State for Science and Technology and President of the Treasury Board.

Johnston sat as an Independent Liberal for the rest of the session and did not seek re-election in the November 1988 election. His stand against Meech Lake proved prescient — the Accord ultimately died in 1990 when Manitoba and Newfoundland declined to ratify it, triggering the Charlottetown crisis. Johnston went on to a distinguished international career, serving as Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 1996 to 2006, one of the most important international leadership positions ever held by a Canadian.