Local Liberals favour Bob Rae in race
Nanaimo-Cowichan Liberals are putting their faith in Bob Rae to lead the party to victory in the next federal election.
The former Ontario premier is currently chasing the coattails of Liberal leadership frontrunner Michael Ignatieff, who has the support of 30 per cent of delegates leading up to the Dec. 2 leadership convention in Montreal, compared to Rae’s 20 per cent.
Former Ontario education minister Gerrard Kennedy and lone Quebec contender Stephane Dion are in a virtual tie for third, with each collecting 17 per cent of delegate support.
Delegate selections can be a complicated affair, with each riding in Canada required to send a certain number of male, female, youth, adult and senior delegates.
Once chosen, delegates must vote for their designated leadership candidate on the first ballot, but are free to vote as they choose on subsequent ballots.
Rae took the largest share of delegates in the province, nearly 30 per cent, compared to 17 per cent for Ignatieff, who ran a distant fourth.
That’s a fair reflection of the results for the local riding, which will send 14 delegates to the December convention – including Ladysmith businessman Mike McDonald – plus two “ex-officio” delegates, Brian Scott, who ran unsuccessfully for the Grits in the last election, and Nanaimo-Cowichan Liberal Party Riding Association president Mike Coleman.
It’ll be the fifth Liberal leadership convention for Coleman, former mayor of Duncan, who helped elevate Pierre Trudeau to party leader back in 1968, along with John Turner in 1984, and Jean Chretien in 1990.
Of the 14, seven voted to support Rae, four declared for Dion, two for Kennedy, and just one for Ignatieff.
Coleman said he wasn’t surprised local Liberals like Rae.
“This is a pretty progressive riding and I think they thought he’s mature, he’s solid, he’s vigorous, and he’s progressive. Those are things that go over well with voters of this riding,” said Coleman.
By contrast, Coleman said Ignatieff, a former Harvard University professor, probably ran afoul of local Grits over his support of U.S. engagement in Iraq, while Dion picked up support over his defence of the Kyoto Accord and the Kelowna Accord, both of which have been shelved by Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.
Another factor in Rae’s favour, said Coleman, is his knowledge of the softwood lumber file, having once served as an advisor to the B.C. Forest Council.
“This riding is very much impacted by forestry issues, by First Nations issues, by environmental issues. People are very conscious of those three things and [the Conservative] positions have not resonated with the interests of this riding,” he said.
Coleman acknowledged it could be tough for the Liberals to unseat current MP Jean Crowder whenever the next election is called, but he predicted the party’s fortunes could turn on the outcome of strategic voting.
“If this riding has the potential of changing the government from Conservative to Liberal that would enhance a strong candidate,” he said, “but if they see it as a chance for [Conservative candidate] Reed Elley to get in, as frontrunner, they may choose Jean Crowder.”
The riding association plans to choose a candidate in early spring.
With Rae within striking distance of Ignatieff, the national media is following every twist and turn in what has turned out to be a two-horse race between the former university roommates.
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I think Bob would do well in BC.
