What does 'insolvency law' involve? Helping people get back on their feet after bankruptcy?

No, actually, in my case, it's acting for secured creditors in realizing on their security in cases where the borrower is no longer making payments or is otherwise in default under the lending agreements.

How serious is the current recession in terms of personal bankruptcy?

I haven't noticed any difference. The work that I've been dong is largely in the agriculture sector, so that's been relatively constant for a good number of years going back over the last five to eight years.

When did you decide you wanted to become a lawyer?

Two years ago? (laughs) I was called to the bar in 1982. I was a philosophy student in graduate school. Bogged down in my thesis. Looking for another career path and had done well in my law school admission tests a few years earlier. I had written them when deciding whether to go to law school or graduate school.

Tell me your favourite lawyer joke.

What's the difference between a dead skunk in the middle of the road and a dead lawyer in the middle of the road? There are skids marks in front of the skunk.

Will Manitoba Public Insurance be steered in a certain direction with you as board chair, or do you anticipate more of what we've seen in the past?

I would anticipate — I don't know whether you're baiting me here — but I think you should anticipate continuity.

Why should Manitobans embrace public auto insurance over the private system that some other provinces use?

There's two parts to that. One, it's a public system. The second is that it's a no-fault system. Manitoba's one of only two jurisdictions in the country that is completely no-fault. That's Quebec and Manitoba. Saskatchewan and B.C. both have a partial no-fault system and Saskatchewan and B.C. also have public insurance. I think that public insurance, given that any person who operates a motor vehicle must be insured (and) it's mandatory that you be insured, it makes sense that the insurance be offered by a public provider rather than a private provider.

Based on your experience with the Mental Health Review Board of Manitoba, how is the mental health system functioning?

That's a tough question. I don't know that my role puts me in a position to answer that question in a general way. Because the function of that review board is quite specific. That board receives applications from persons who are involuntary patients in mental health facilities. That doesn't give us a broader perspective on how the system is functioning, outside of that quite specific environment.

You seem like the perfect candidate for public office — lawyer, a history of public service, well known. You ran federally for the NDP 25 years ago, but are you ready again?

I think I can give you a definite 'no.' That's not a definite 'maybe.' It's a definite 'no.'

What is it about running for office that doesn't attract you?

I enjoyed it, but I learned that being a public figure in that way wasn't really suited to my taste, wasn't suited to my personality. It certainly wasn't suited to my family's taste and personality.

How did your political leanings develop?

I thought this was a one-page thing, not a book (laughs). I can't say I've ever actually polled that question to myself. I grew up in a household that was very politically conscious. Political discussions both locally, provincially, nationally, internationally were always subject of dinner, lunch and supper discussions. So it would have started there.

Which Canadian politician, past or present, do you most admire?

I will pick Ed Broadbent.

Does anybody call you Jacob?

People who don't know me well. They see my name on the letterhead, but anybody who knows me will call me Jake.

What's one TV program you try not to miss each week?

I'm not much of a television watcher, but I'll say The National.

What vacation spot do you heartily recommend?

I'll answer that question by saying I live in the country and the reason I love living in the country is because every day when I go home from work I, in a sense, have a vacation spot.

What qualities do you bring to the position as MPI chair that will be most beneficial to the board.

I think I have a lot of relevant experience. I think I am a person of good judgment, sound judgment and reasoned judgment. I hope I am.