Inkless Wells

Paul Wells on all the latest out of Ottawa—along with the occasional post about jazz. Follow Paul on Twitter: @InklessPW

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Chantal Hébert endorses Trudeau!

by Paul Wells on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 9:32am - 76 Comments

Not quite. But then, around here we like the spicy headlines. Here’s what friend Chantal actually says in her column today about the Cauchon-Coderre hijinx:

Both of them might be better advised to pay more attention to Justin Trudeau, a rare rising Liberal star who actually beat a Bloc incumbent to get to the House of Commons. His stock has quietly been going up since then.

In a future succession battle, Trudeau is at least as likely to be a threat to both Cauchon and Coderre as they are to find each other’s names on the final ballot of a leadership vote.

And now you all get to argue in the comments.

Tags: Chantal Hébert, denis coderre, Justin Trudeau, Martin Cauchon

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Dot

I guess we now know who will be next on Denis Coderre's step aside list.

http://intensedebate.com/people/VinceClortho VinceClortho

How long is the list??

Dot

It's organic, cultured and mutates – a living document, if you will.

http://intensedebate.com/people/VinceClortho VinceClortho

Like yogurt?

Dot

Yeah, or sour milk.

http://bigcitylib.blogspot.com bigcitylib

He is too gorgeous to rule. Same problem with Gerard Kennedy.

http://intensedebate.com/people/VinceClortho VinceClortho

A budding bromance BCL?

But you may be right…politics is Hollywood for ugly people, I forget who originally said that.
Lord Kitchener's Own

I get Trudeau, but with Kennedy, I just don't see it.

Is Kennedy really considered "hawt"?
marty

gorgeous = good looking + vacuous

Anon

Didn't Trudeau try to run in Outremont, where he certainly would have beaten Mulcair, but they forced him to run in Papineau?

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

There was a good reason for that. They wanted to hear him say 'Papineau' as often as possible.

Dot

It was Brian McKenna's fault.

http://intensedebate.com/people/NorthernPoV NorthernPoV

If we are blessed with a Liberal government soon and if Justin performs reasonably well in one or more cabinet posts then he has a very good chance of becoming Liberal leader and Prime Minister.

If that scenario does not come to pass, any quest for leadership would be severely hobbled by a thin resume.

commentator

Exactly as PET was hobbled.

CAPS

PET had an extremely expansive résumé before bcoming PM or even getting elected for the first time as one of the Three Wise Men. He was older than Justin when he ran for the first time too.

Terren

We will be blessed with a Liberal governement soon. Harper won't last very long. But I doubt Justin would be given a high profile cabinet post right off the bat. Probably will have to settle for minister of state

http://intensedebate.com/people/hollinm hollinm

You must be living in la la land. A Liberal government? Say in about 10 years. They are already trying to find a replacement for the Czarist Count. If they keep looking for a savious they will be disappointed. The best thing that could happen to the Libs is to be defeated with a majority Conservative government. That way they can take the time to rebuild the party, its membership, and a leader who lived in Canada most of his/her adult life.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

The question to ask is this:

Has Mr. Coderre found the solution to Liberal renewal, or is he really just part of the problem?

Trudeau is much more likely to be part of the solution.

http://intensedebate.com/people/zamprelli4731 Zamprelli

And so is Martin Cauchon. I wouldn't be surprised if he and JT see eye to eye on a lot of substance.

Coderre is not just part of the problem for the Liberals in Quebec, he is the entire problem.
Canuckistanian

i'd like to see shane doan help out with the party's renewal in quebec…by opening a can of wup-ass on coderre

http://intensedebate.com/people/psiclone psiclone

You have to give young Justin major league Kudos! He could have opted for the ol boy lib network and been parachuted into a nice cosy little safe seat (like his father, if I am not mistaken) … however .. he chose to put his money where his mouth is and he ran in a riding, where if i remember the beginning, he was wriiten off as an upstart. I think this young man has real potential and at some time in the future after I have seen him as a critic or at least higher profile maybe he sould take a bite out of the leader pie.

Jack

utter rubbish you ROCs are creating new Turdeau mythts

wilson

I don't remember msm looking for Dion's replacement this early in the game…?

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

Are you kidding?

wilson

Yes.

dan in van

That's to distract from the ugly prospects of scrounging at a possible Harper replacement… Speaking of Hollywood for uglies…

http://chuckercanuck.blogspot.com chuckercanuck

Trudeau was shrewd to court the extra-terrestrial vote on his blog…
connie

Ah, I can see a bloody fight inside this shocking party.
Justine can't to be a PM , because of his last name.Really.no doubt.
After 2014, the Country power base will move to the west, there is no way for a PM from QC. Therefore, the LIberals are dreaming.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Nich Nich

In west, english Be Spoken?

Me so hope true it Be.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Nich Nich

Ok, my other comment was a little mean spirited…

- Yes, the infighting in the Liberals is shocking. The open disagreement and concurring discussion in a democratic institution such as a federal party is very shocking. If only they had an iron fist to prevent such occurrences of public discussion within their ranks. They should be run as a military, not a democratic party.
- His name is Justin. The rest of your sentence finished as it started; making no sense.
- After 2014? You mean when Quebec will still have a large economy and population than Alberta? When Ontario will have a larger economy and population than BC, AB, SK and MB combined?

If the power base moves west, against the countries most populous and economically productive provinces, it sounds more like tyranny than a Liberals dream…
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Nich Nich

Ok, my other comment was a little mean spirited…

- Yes, the infighting in the Liberals is shocking. The open disagreement and concurring discussion in a democratic institution such as a federal party is very shocking. If only they had an iron fist to prevent such occurrences of public discussion within their ranks. They should be run as a military, not a democratic party.
- His name is Justin. The rest of your sentence finished as it started; making no sense.
- After 2014? You mean when Quebec will still have a larger economy and population than Alberta? When Ontario will have a larger economy and population than BC, AB, SK and MB combined?

If the power base moves west, against the countries most populous and economically productive provinces, it sounds more like tyranny than a Liberals dream…

Mike B

I think 'mean spirited' was entirely appropriate, given the gibberish that was uttered.

Matthew Fletcher

“After 2014, the Country power base will move to the west, there is no way for a PM from QC.”

Why? Because Westerner’s are so bigoted that they wouldn’t vote for a person from Quebec? How little credit do you give fellow Canadians?

http://intensedebate.com/people/BCVoiceOfReason BCVoiceOfReason

As though Quebec hasn't used up it's quota for PMs/Liberal party leaders for the next 200 years?

If there is not a quota system why would anyone be considering the weak soup Francophone candidates for Liberal leadership.

Make a list of important/effective Liberal MPs and Codderre would not make the top 20, nor would Justin.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Nich Nich

The stats of birth places of Canadian PMs (response to QC using up there quota, which is with basis);

AB – 1 (Clark)
BC – 1 (Campbell)
NB – 1 (Bennett)
NS – 3 (Thompson, Tupper, Borden)
ON – 6 (Meighen, Mackenzie King, Diefenbaker, Pearson, Martin, Harper)
QC – 6 (Abbott, Laurier, St. Laurent, Trudeau, Mulroney, Chretien)

Those Just Visiting-

UK – 2 (Bowell, Turner)
Scotland – 2 (Macdonald, Mackenzie)

A Liberal PM has never been born outside ON or QC. Toronto is the only city with two PMs born there.

Lord Kitchener's Own

Wow, so 54% of our PM's have come from provinces with 61% of the population, that is shocking. And Toronto, a city with 14% of our population and which has well over a million more people than the next largest city is the only city to have two PMs come from it! That's 9% of our PM's from a city with 14% of the population! That too is utterly shocking.

I for one can't wait for the day when, at long last, the 31% of the population that live West of Ontario are given an equal amount of power to the 59% of people living elsewhere in Canada (and, apparently, this lauded day will happen in 2014). I'm with Kent Brockman. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Democracy just doesn't work.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Nich Nich

Equal power? Many think they should be the base of power…
Jim R

Another way of looking at it may be to consider the percentage of time over the last 1/2 century or so that the person who was PM was from Quebec. I would argue that’s more meaningful than counting non-Quebec PMs given the short-livedness of some of the latter. I would also argue it’s more meaningful, as just straight counting implies that Joe Clark’s 9 month government is as meaningful as Jean Chretien’s 12 (was it 12?) years in power.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ottawasteph ottawasteph

Speaking of unacceptable last names, Cauchon is "pig" in French. Just sayin'.
Lord Kitchener's Own

What exactly is going to happen in 2014? I mean, "the West" currently makes up about 31% of the population. Are you suggesting that this will get close to 50% by 2014??? Or, perhaps you're saying that there'll be some sort of Western-based coup in 2014 and we'll finally get rid of all this pesky "democracy" and "one person one vote" b.s.?

Why 2014?

By my rough calculations, "the West" would have to increase it's population by about 62% for those provinces to represent about 50% of the population. I just don't see how a population of around 10 million can increase to become a population of around around 16 million in 5 years.

Does it involve robots?

http://intensedebate.com/people/AJR79 AJR79

2014 is when the new seats will be allocated to B.C, Alta., and Ont.

No robots required for a Tory majority then.

http://intensedebate.com/people/PeteTong PeteTong

The Liberals are way too focused on the seats they already have and not enough on the ones they don't have.

I admire Gerard Kennedy and Justin Trudeau for risking their own chances of becoming MPs to help the party win more seats.

The resources that the Liberals put in to getting Bob Rae elected in Toronto Central is rediculous (he'd win without doing a thing); meanwhile, the party does throws away a chance to take back Trinity Spadina from Olivia Chow. In fact, I think Bob Rae should have tried to beat Jack Layton in Toronto Danforth. That would have been crushing and way more important in the long-term than Rae potentially losing and not being in the house.

I wonder, who will be running in Lisa Frulla's old riding…

Anon Lib

"I wonder, who will be running in Lisa Frulla's old riding… "

Montreal businessman Mark Bruneau has been angling for it for a while now.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Dennis_F Dennis_F

Canada: Land of getting by on Daddy's name?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Sure, Dennis. If he was vying for the Liberal leadership TODAY. But he's not, so relax. As has been said above, only with experience in cabinet, plus a longer tenure as MP, will see Justin in the leadership.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Dennis_F Dennis_F

I suggest you "relax", since I'm not the one who CURRENTLY suggested Trudea's frontrunner status in a major national column.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ottawasteph ottawasteph

Our fine tradition of following U.S. examples.

dan in van

I guess it beats having to kvetch over Harper's unsuccessful attempt again to get on Kathy and Regis — stuck on Fox News again!? It's pretty pathetic that our so-called PM is reading talking points from old John Howard scripts, now he's on the brunch circuit taking congrats for past governments' decisions. Is a gig on the Shopping Channel, selling the Amazing Yotz! up next?

dan in van

And on cue, look who's essentially being the greeter for some new Tim Horton's donut sequestration store in Ontario as we speak…
Canuckistanian

CNBC with maria (only rich people deserve healthcare) baritoromo (?) is seriously slumming

http://intensedebate.com/people/BCVoiceOfReason BCVoiceOfReason

As Trudeau wasn't a direct recipient of the adscam cash to kick start his political career he is miles ahead of all other Quebec Liberal MPs.

The Liberals will be left with thin resumes or be in the shadow of adscam.

Doesn't Leblanc qualify as francophone? He will likely be appointed the next Liberal leader.

Newbee

Yes BCVoR, Dominic LeBlanc is indeed a Francophone. He has roots in both Ottawa (Ontario) and Southeastern New Brunswick where his Beauséjour riding is situated. The majority of his electors are Francophones with a few pockets of Anglophone towns and villages. He is obviously perfectly bilingual.

He is also a childhood friend of Justin Trudeau as LeBlanc's father was a minister in PET's government. I also think he has leadership ambitions. Just an educated guess by a journalist that covers his riding.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Well, the leadership ambitions would also be indicated by his hat in the ring with Ignatieff and Rae this last time. I think it will be interesting when Justin and Dominic are the Ignatieff and Rae's of the next generation. Hopefully, they are watching carefully and learning now.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Dennis_F Dennis_F

Is it me, or is the list of prospective leaders-to-be in the Liberal party somewhat wanting.

Let's see: Denis Coderre, Martin Cauchon, Justin Trudea, Bob Rae…..

Wow!

Nothing against them as individuals, or even Parliamentarians, but….

Having said that, I still think it's far too early to speculate about an Iggy replacement. Although I do find it curious that some like Hebert are already doing it. That has to say something.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Oh, this takes the cake! Who are the Conservative hopefuls again? I do agree with you that it is too early to speculate, however.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ottawasteph ottawasteph

MacKay, Prentice, Baird, Cannon, pretty much anyone who speaks both official languages with authority.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Dennis_F Dennis_F

I don't know, you're the one who seems to think it's relevant to the current topic, not me.

Craig O

Everything's relative – if the potential future Liberal leaders are so unsatisfactory, please explain why (as you haven't yet) or offer why the potential leaders of alternative parties are so much more desirable.

You're an established Conservative supporter – if you're just going to bash people without explanation or at least comparison, then your comment is just partisan trash.

http://intensedebate.com/people/OntarioTown OntarioTown

Sad, jealous people like to slag the privileged – hey, Justin isn't responsible for who his parents are – he didn't have a choice.

Considering Cannon, MacKay and others come from political families, why pick on Trudeau? Green eyed monster is lurking.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Dennis_F Dennis_F

Well, you can try to attribute personal motives for people's views on the issue, or you can address the views themselves. The latter might give you a bit more credibility.

For example, you might want to answer the following question: Just why in the world would Trudeau's name be mentioned as leadership material if it weren't for the name itself?

Craig O

There are numerous reasons, but a main one would be that he took a Bloc riding from an incumbent who beat former long-term cabinet minister Pierre Pettigrew previously, during an election that saw the Liberals lose 26 seats and hit a new low in terms of vote percentage.

A name'll get you in the running, and you can certainly argue that it has, but it's his electoral success that speaks more to why he's being considered, at a point well down the road mind you. The Bloc lost only two seats they formerly held and the other one was by 70 votes. Trudeau won by 1200.

TDG

Too much Sinclair in the boy I'm afraid -

Mulletaur

Yup.
jarrid

That's the unfortunate bottom line.
http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

And, from what little aroma has wafted over mine nostrils, a strong hint of Jacques Starve-for-Katimavik Hébert. Hmm, any relation to Chantal, I wonder?

Calgary Junkie

"…as they are to find each other’s names on the final ballot of a leadership vote"

Didn't the LPC abandon the delegated convention format and change to a one-member-one-vote format ? Where members rank the leadership contenders 1,2,3….,n, on one ballot.

Then the bottom candidate drops off, their second place votes are allocated to the other candidates, and so on. Until one candidate has 50%+1 of the votes. Something like that.

So there's no final ballot, no backroom deals, no directing delegates to another candidate, releasing delegates to vote as they wish, and the like.

http://intensedebate.com/people/NorthernPoV NorthernPoV

Yes, it is now omov/preferential ballot voting on leadership in the Liberal Party.
That will be an interesting vote to cast.

Now, why can't we elect MPs that way?

http://intensedebate.com/people/e_ron e_ron

But. Then. We'd have nothing but Justin photos every day. I'd. Go. Insane….
Michael

He seems like a sensitive enough guy that maybe would come to the table with the usual lightweight issues but to be Prime Minister?Don't think so.
paul roy

Anglaphones have a complete dislike for coderre. He'd be very hard pressed to win a seat in the west.
VIP

It's obvious that Iggy is a very short lived wonder in Canadian politics. The next leader cannot possibly be Bob Rae, because he is un-electable in Ontario. Whoever is taking over after Iggy is going to have another major problem: Eventually Harper will go and will likely be succeeded by now-Quebec premier Charest. He was a Tory cabinet minister before and would have no problem returning to the Tories. And there is little question, he would win a national contest easily.
Concerned Canadian

"In a future succession battle, Trudeau is at least as likely to be a threat to both Cauchon and Coderre as they are to find each other’s names on the final ballot of a leadership vote."

Those are three reasons to give Iggy a landslide majority right there — especially if it will halt the ambitions of Justin Trudeau for a while, whose only real apparent accomplishment is, as was once famously said about Caroline Kennedy, surviving childbirth. People say he's charismatic. Even if charisma is a trait we should value highly (I'm not sure), I'm pretty sure that people just say that because he's young and clean cut, which isn't the same as being charismatic. From everything I've seen, I think that Justin Trudeau has about as much charisma as a gym sock, and not much more intellectual sophistication.
Observant

Pierre's looks … Maggie's brains … si evident
http://intensedebate.com/people/OntarioTown OntarioTown

So, Chantel Hebert writes something other than gotcha and the trolls are out in full force – only offering silly critiques and sarcasm.
http://intensedebate.com/people/frenchie101 frenchie101

Chatel lives in one universe. thanks goodness I live in another
http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

Without doubt, Hebert would concur.