On Tom Clark’s West Block show for Global Television on Sunday, Senator George Baker suggested that former Quebec Premier Jean Charest should run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. George was talking with Tom and Assistant Professor Ian Lee of Carleton University at the time and you could see where both were temporarily stunned by the idea. And neither is the type to ever be at a loss for words. In a remarkable and lengthy career in politics, it had to be the worst idea George had ever articulated.
For a parliamentarian who has represented Newfoundland and Labrador in Ottawa for more than 35 years, this was almost as silly as his suggestion a few years ago that Newfoundland and Labrador needed its own version of the Bloc Québécoise. To his credit though, George preceded his suggestion of Jean Charest with stating his desire to see Members of Parliament Justin Trudeau from Quebec and Dominic LeBlanc from New Brunswick in the leadership race.
But every race needs losers and George just might have something here. There could be a special reduced rate category for losers in the federal leadership. After his dismal showing in the recent Quebec election, Jean Charest’s first problem would be to establish some credentials as a federal Liberal. A former Conservative cabinet minister under Brian Mulroney, Charest came second to Kim Campbell in the Conservative leadership race to replace Mulroney. Why he wanted the job at the time was never clear as everyone knew that the Conservatives would be soundly defeated in the upcoming election.
Another potential loser candidate is Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. After losing his majority government in last year’s provincial election, Dalton is guaranteed his loser status after his despicable treatment of the teacher groups who previously supported him. He lost a lot of friends with that.
We could also have Liberal Christy Clark from British Columbia, if she just moves up the B.C. provincial election a bit. Everyone expects her to lose in B.C. She could move up to federal politics and also be a loser there. Just think of the cumulative knowledge of losing between these provincial politicians. They could provide an excellent crash course in the pitfalls of Canadian politics for the eventual winner and fellow losers.
But there is one fiendish thought that comes to mind. What would happen to the Liberal Party of Canada if one of these provincial losers accidently won?
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Copyright 2012 © Peter Lowry
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