Babel-on-the-Bay reluctantly kicked former Montreal MP Martin Cauchon off the leadership island yesterday. It was a toss-up between him and Deborah Coyne. Ms. Coyne got to stay because of her intelligence and knowledge of Canadian politics. She adds to the quality of discussion.
While only 50, Cauchon, a lawyer, comes across as being part of a former generation. He has disappointed many Liberals since he came into the race late promising to bring a more left-wing approach to his platform. Todate, he has said nothing that would cast him on the progressive side of the party.
With Martin Cauchon, Karen McCrimmon, David Bertschi and George Takach off the island, we can ignore their roles in the Mississauga, Ontario gathering of the candidates.
And, by the way, the Mississauga event was much better planned than the first two leadership presentations in Vancouver and Winnipeg. The only criticism that might be voiced is that it would be nice to have a professional ask the questions. Asking candidates to question other candidates does not work when they hog the microphone and never get around to the question.
One of the best dialogues was the three-way debate between former MP Martha Hall Findlay, MP Marc Garneau and MP Joyce Murray. They were talking about long-term stable federal support for cities with sharing of revenues such as gasoline taxes.
It was too bad that former MP Martha Hall Findlay stuck her foot in it later when she tried to make a point about Canada not being a class-conscious society and turned it into an insult directed at Justin Trudeau. Young Trudeau had every right to be annoyed.
And yet, there were some good lighter moments during the two hours. There was some friendly banter about lawyers. There was a wonderful shot of Trudeau putting his arm around Marc Garneau as though to say collegially: What do you think we should do to those guys?
The one image that started to emerge in this debate was that of Marc Garneau as the senior statesman and young Trudeau as his amiable sidekick. They made a joke of the supposed confrontation between the two of them. Yet Justin never did say what in his resume justifies his grabbing for the brass ring of leadership.
But give him credit. Trudeau has grown in these debates. He has learned. Did you listen to how firmly he promised reform of candidate selection for the party? It was the promise that many in the party have been waiting for
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Copyright 2013 © Peter Lowry
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