Justin Trudeau is not only turning into a very exciting leader of the Liberal Party but he is also keeping his word. He has his reputation on the line in the upcoming Toronto Centre by-election as well as a test of the type of general election campaign he wants in 2015. It starts with an open nomination process wherein the local Liberal Party members choose their candidate.
This open process was hardly novel 25 years ago but then the rules changed and the party leader had to approve all nominations. This was quickly corrupted by feckless leaders making outright appointments. These appointments reduced Canada’s parliament to a redundant rubber stamp for the Prime Minister’s Office.
Returning to the local selection process hardly leaves the party leader unable to make a preference known but can still produce surprise results. What it does do is build stronger, healthier, harder-working local electoral district associations. And, in the long run, it produces better candidates and subsequently better MPs for the party.
With both the Liberals and New Democrats having open nominations for Toronto Centre, the by-election could become a contest between two very exciting authors. The better known at this time is Linda McQuaig. A prolific writer on the political left, Linda is seeking the New Democrat nomination. She is not the only candidate but the sheer weight and quality of what she has written in her books and as a columnist for the Toronto Star over the years gives her the high ground.
On the Liberal Party side, we have lesser known Chrystia Freeland. A former editor with the Globe and Mail, Chrystia has spent much of her career in the United States. Her recent book, Plutocrats, was based on her last ten years in America. Like McQuaig, she has a great depth of understanding of the disparities between the rich and poor in society.
Again, Freeland is being challenged for the nomination and despite being one of those who encouraged her to go after it, Trudeau is keeping hands off. He is keeping his word to the party.
It is also an interesting challenge to Prime Minister Harper. He has until January next year to call the by-election. You would think that he has enough nebbishes already in his Conservative caucus, why appoint another as candidate in Toronto Centre? If he called for an open nomination by the Conservatives in the electoral district, would anyone run?
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Copyright 2013 © Peter Lowry
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