So I’ve had four people from four different campaigns ask me to send out the little questionnaire I’ve prepared to their candidate who is running in the Ontario Liberal Party race: that would be Sandra Pupatello’s campaign, Gerard Ken…
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Calgary Grit: Kennedy for Ontario
After some bleating about how no one wanted the “poisoned chalice”, an impressive field of six candidates has declared for the OLP leadership race: Glen Murray, Sandra Pupatello, Eric Hoskins, Kathleen Wynne, Charles Sousa, and Gerard Kennedy. All have Cabinet experience, and all are ready to step into the Premier’s chair. I have nothing negative to say about any of the six and will gladly campaign for whichever one of them scrambles across the finish line first in this race. … →
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Gerard Kennedy Cannot Claim OLP Leadership Until He Reclaims Leadership Of Own Hair
You can’t go from being a hair-guy to being a substance guy. It just doesn’t work like that. In fact, it works just the opposite. You go from being a hair-guy to being a hair-guy with hardly any hair that talks on and on until people pass out. There’s no
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Your Weekly OLP Leadership Update: Can Kennedy Restore a Liberal Camelot?
With the membership cut-off fast approaching, it seems likely we’ll have a good idea of the field of candidates to replace Dalton McGuinty within a few days. This week, Laurel Broten, Brad Duguid, and George Smitherman added their names to the list of those taking a pass, prompting a round
Continue readingCalgary Grit: OLP Leadership Update
While Federal Liberal leadership aspirants are free to subject their candidacy to a year-long striptease before declaring, Ontario Liberals do not have the luxury of time. With the membership cut-off in just four weeks, there’s little time to play coy. Yasir Naqvi mulled it over for a few days before
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on the increasing attempts of executive government at all levels to declare democracy irrelevant – and how strong grassroots party structures may be the key to reversing the tide. For further reading…– Again, Andrew Coyne’s column remains the definitive discussion of the issue at the federal and provincial levels.–
Continue readingCalgary Grit: After 16 Years of McGuinty, What’s Next for OLP?
Sixteen years ago, Dalton McGuinty won the Ontario Liberal leadership race at 4:30 am, after 5 rounds of voting. Always one to defy expectations, McGuinty worked his way up from 4th place over the course of 9 hours in what was truly one of the wildest leadership conventions in Canadian
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Toronto Pride with the Queer Liberals
“There is no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.” – Pierre Trudeau While at university I made appoint of watching the Toronto Pride Parade a a member of the crowd. This year, thanks to my friends in the Queer Liberals, I was able to participate in
Continue readingCalgary Grit: An update on all the people MAYBE running for Liberal leadership
The expectation is that rules for the Liberal leadership race will come down in June, setting the stage for a summer of getting to know the men and women wanting to lead Canada’s third party. But while we won’t know the rules of the race for another month or two,
Continue readingCalgary Grit: The Race for Third
Back in February I asked readers of this blog who they thought would run for Liberal leader, and who they’d consider voting for. Admittedly, this is as far from a scientific poll as you’ll ever get, and I won’t pretend that the 500+ voters in this straw poll are all
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Expect A Lot More Of This Kind Of Thing
I am not sure that Bob Rae, given his obvious political skills, couldn’t transcend it with a good campaign performance. On the other hand, maybe not. Certainly, if there is anyone on offer in ’13 without his baggage and even two-thirds of his charisma, then that person would be the better choice.
Continue readingCalgaryGrit: An update on all the people not running for Liberal leadership
It’s been six months since I last looked in on the field of possible Liberal leadership candidates, and that’s because, well, there’s not much to report. Apart from speculation surrounding the interim leader, there’s been little chatter in the media, on blogs, or in Liberal circles. However, the Liberal Biennial
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Brief Notes On Gerard Kennedy’s Beard
I had heard rumours to the effect that Gerard Kennedy had “gone the full commie” (ie grown a beard), but now that I’ve seen pics, I am somewhat assuaged; I can still imagine doing a business deal with the guy, for example. I mean, a few C…
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: guest post: decision time for the alberta liberals.
On Saturday September 10, the Alberta Liberals will select their next leader following current leader David Swann’s resignation from the post, announced this past January. An understanding of the dynamics that lead to the initiation of this leadership race is helpful in interpreting the parry and thrust that has played among the candidates running to […]
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Parkdale-Highpark Riding All Candidates Debate Response
I recently attended the all candidates debate for the Parkdale-Highpark riding hosted by the BWVRA and wanted to share my thoughts on the debate, the candidates and various issues that were brought up. While this post will undoubtedly be specific t…
Continue readingThis also seemed worth sharing
(alternatively titled: “Reason number 457 to loathe and despise Peggy Nash”)
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