Martin Cauchon takes on Liberal leadership front-runner Trudeau

By The Canadian Press - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 4:36 AM - 0 Comments

OTTAWA – Liberal leadership hopeful Martin Cauchon is questioning front-runner Justin Trudeau’s judgment in continuing to collect public speaking fees while serving as an MP.

The former cabinet minister raised the issue Tuesday, joining the gang-up on Trudeau by some of his competitors as the race nears its final month.

Montreal MP Marc Garneau has taken repeated direct shots at Trudeau over the past two weeks, accusing him of being an untested, inexperienced rookie who is offering little more than empty platitudes. Garneau has also challenged Trudeau to a one-on-one debate.

Former MP Martha Hall Findlay has also gone after the front-runner, questioning how he can pretend to understand the needs of middle-class Canadians given his privileged upbringing as the eldest son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

She was booed for that jab at the last all-candidates debate and quickly apologized.

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Trudeau wants to empower backbenchers

By The Canadian Press - Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 5:20 AM - 0 Comments

OTTAWA – Justin Trudeau wants to reverse his father’s famous assessment of backbenchers as “just nobodies.”

The Liberal leadership front-runner is proposing a series of democratic reforms aimed at turning MPs into somebodies — more independent, more powerful and more in tune with the constituents who elected them.

Should he become prime minister, Trudeau told The Canadian Press he’d relax party discipline in Parliament, giving government backbenchers the freedom to vote as they see fit on all but three categories of bills.

They would be required to support the government only on budget or money bills, legislation to implement the 2015 election platform on which they’d have been elected, and bills involving fundamental charter rights.

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Let the Liberal blood sport begin

By Scott Feschuk - Friday, December 7, 2012 at 5:00 AM - 0 Comments

photo illustration by taylor shute

The Liberal leadership race is really heating up. First, David Bertschi tweeted, “I had a nice day in North Bay.” Then Martha Hall Findlay tweeted, “Just had a terrific meeting in Edmonton.” Truly, this contest is turning into a blood sport.

For those who’ve lost track, there are now 3,200 people running to be leader of the Liberal party: Justin Trudeau, Deborah Coyne, the three people sitting with you right now in the dentist’s waiting room, the Professor, Mary Ann—the list keeps growing. The field is so crowded that the party has pretty much no choice but to hold its policy debates on one of those conveyor belts they have in some sushi restaurants. Ms. Findlay, you have 20 seconds to answer this question before you disappear into the kitchen for half an hour.

The significant interest in the job of leader sounds a positive note for the future of the party. In news that doesn’t do that, interim leader Bob Rae sent out an email this week basically begging Liberal supporters to donate $5. That’s right—five whole dollars. Not interested? Bob is willing to sweeten the deal. Hand over the five-spot and in return you’ll get . . . a copy of his holiday card! Just contact the Liberal party and ask to contribute to Canada’s Saddest Fundraising Campaign. Continue…

Tech guru George Takach joins crowded federal Liberal leadership

By Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press - Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 5:15 AM - 0 Comments

OTTAWA – Call him the e-candidate.

George Takach, a Toronto technology lawyer and self-professed computer geek, is joining the federal Liberal leadership race, determined to drag the party — and eventually the country — into the 21st century.

The 55-year-old joins a long list of long-shot contenders who have little chance of overtaking presumed front-runner Justin Trudeau.

But Takach brings something unique to the contest: a heavy emphasis on technology as the key to economic growth.

And he’s putting his years of experience in the tech field to use with some innovative platform proposals and campaign techniques.

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Ex-astronaut Marc Garneau launches federal Liberal leadership bid

By The Canadian Press - Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 12:31 PM - 0 Comments

MONTREAL – Former astronaut Marc Garneau announced his candidacy for the federal Liberal leadership Wednesday, touting himself as a proud patriot who has what it takes to become prime minister.

”Whether it was in the Canadian Navy, as an astronaut or as president of the Canadian Space Agency, I have spent my life serving my country,” Garneau said.

”And I am extremely proud of who I am and my contribution to my the country. I believe in commitment and in excellence in everything I do.”

Garneau joins a crowded field that includes fellow Montreal MP — and leadership favourite —Justin Trudeau.

The 63-year-old Garneau was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and re-elected in 2011.

The Quebec City native became the first Canadian to fly in space, when he served as a payload specialist aboard the Challenger shuttle in October 1984.

He flew on three shuttle missions, logging over 677 hours in space. Garneau then served as president of the space agency from 2001 to 2005 before jumping into politics.

Garneau’s announcement speech was peppered with attacks against Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government.

”Today, I see a Canada that has given me so many opportunities being whittled away,” he said.

”Today, under Harper, we have an angry, we have a divisive, we have an intolerant Canada. We have an intolerant government.

”Stephen Harper’s government practises the politics of exclusion, the politics of hypocrisy, of deceit. This is a government that rewards the few at the expense of the many.”

Garneau is expected to give front-runner Trudeau one of his biggest tests in the race for the top Liberal job.

Garneau, the Liberal house leader, took on the natural resources critic’s post last week after David McGuinty resigned.

Defeated in his first run for office in 2006, Garneau was elected in the longtime Liberal stronghold of Westmount-Ville-Marie in 2008.

Garneau adds his name to a packed field of contestants, which includes Trudeau, Vancouver MP Joyce Murray, former Toronto MP Martha Hall Findlay, Ottawa lawyer David Bertschi, Toronto lawyer Deborah Coyne, retired Canadian Forces Lt.-Col. Karen McCrimmon, Vancouver prosecutor Alex Burton and David Merner, former president of the party’s B.C. wing.

Toronto lawyer George Takach is expected to join the race on Thursday. Ontario government economist Jonathan Mousley is still hoping to enter if he can raise the stiff, $75,000 entry fee.

So far, only Trudeau and Coyne have officially registered as candidates, filed the required nomination papers and paid the first of three $25,000 instalments on the entry fee.

A number of other potential heavyweight contenders have passed on the contest, including retiring Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, former deputy prime minister John Manley, New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc, Halifax MP Geoff Regan and Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who will take over as head of the Bank of England next summer.

Countdown to the space puns: Ex-astronaut Marc Garneau ready for liftoff

By The Canadian Press - Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 6:05 AM - 0 Comments

MONTREAL – Former astronaut Marc Garneau is expected to launch his bid today to become leader of the federal Liberals.

The Montreal MP has scheduled a news conference this morning in his home riding.

Garneau would join a crowded field that includes fellow Montreal MP — and leadership favourite —Justin Trudeau.

The 63-year-old Garneau was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and was re-elected in 2011.

The Quebec City native became the first Canadian in space when he flew aboard the Challenger shuttle in 1984.

Garneau served as president of the Canadian Space Agency from 2001 to 2005 before jumping into politics.

Joyce Murray joins Liberal leadership, calls for co-operation with NDP, Greens

By Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press - Monday, November 26, 2012 at 5:03 PM - 0 Comments

OTTAWA – Vancouver MP Joyce Murray is joining the federal Liberal leadership contest with a daring call for co-operation with other progressive parties in the next election to ensure defeat of Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

Murray says she believes Liberals, New Democrats and Greens should have the option of conducting run-off nominations to choose a single candidate in tightly contested ridings where a united progressive front would guarantee defeat of the ruling Tories.

She is the first contender to broach the controversial idea, which is consistent with her broader pitch that she is a collaborative politician who brings unique perspectives and attributes to the race.

“One of the things that I bring is just the full spectrum of the Canadian experience,” the 58-year-old told The Canadian Press in an interview shortly before officially announcing her leadership campaign Monday.

“I’m an immigrant (from South Africa), a woman, a mother who went back to school while building a business … and then I pull that together in a way that is typical of women, which is working with people, collaborating, co-operating, finding a way forward and then delivering.”

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