Pupatello picks up endorsements from 25 riding presidents

Sandra Pupatello

With just over a week to go, the candidates in the Ontario Liberal leadership race are scrambling to line up endorsements from MPs and other notables within the party. Today, Sandra Pupatello — who emerged as the front-runner after last-weekend’s delegate selection process — announced that 25 presidents of Ontario Liberal riding associations — from Thunder Bay-Atitokan on Ontario’s border with Manitoba to Ottawa-Orleans on its border with Quebec — have endorsed Pupatello. Continue reading Pupatello picks up endorsements from 25 riding presidents

Ontario Liberal Leadership poll: Who would you vote for?

There are 2,276 votes available to cast Jan. 26 when Ontario Liberals pick a new leader. The winner will need 50% plus 1 or 1,139 votes to become the next Ontario premier.

Here’s the breakdown of voter classes:

Ontario Liberal Leadership Race voters

Now, although the voters list is already closed, you can cast your vote right here. Who do you think will win? Continue reading Ontario Liberal Leadership poll: Who would you vote for?

Liberal Leadership: Who's got the track record at the ballot box?

Nine individuals are presenting themselves to be the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Should they succeed, they are going to have beat both the Conservatives and the NDP.

So, what kind of track record do these individuals have when they have put their names on ballots in their own constituencies against Conservatives, New Democrats and other opponents?

Justin Trudeau is the only one with an undefeated record (against some tough opponents)  Martin Cauchon and Joyce Murray have each won three times at the federal level, the most of any candidate (If you count Murray’s provincial elections, she’s won four times). Cauchon, though, is the only one to have  actual head-to-head competition with NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and Mulcair smoked him.  The others have mixed or no records.

Here’s what I’ve been able to pull together from various sources but mostly from Elections Canada (all corrections gratefully accepted and indeed some have chipped it with some corrections and updates — see comments below) Continue reading Liberal Leadership: Who's got the track record at the ballot box?

Video: Gerard Kennedy on how he'll get from third place to the Ontario Premier's Office

Back in 1996 Gerard Kennedy led on the first ballot for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party.
The man who was fourth on that ballot? One Dalton McGuinty. He, of course, went on to lead the Liberal Party until late last year.
Gerard Kennedy joined me on Battleground last night to talk about how he’ll go from third among delegate count to the big prize later this month.

Today on Parliament Hill: One Ring To Rule Them All …

nineriders

News item:

New Democrat leaders from across the country, including the premiers of Manitoba and Nova Scotia, will be in Ottawa today for talks hosted by federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair.
Nine provincial and territorial NDP leaders are confirmed to attend an afternoon of closed-door discussions on Parliament Hill…

Hmmm.

Nine for Mortal Men, doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne Continue reading Today on Parliament Hill: One Ring To Rule Them All …

BC Liberals won't endorse incumbent's nomination papers; paper suggests it's cuz he likes beer

Earlier today, John Slater, the MLA for Boundary-Simalkameen tweeted this:

The BC Liberal Party issued a press release shortly after in which party president Sharon White said: Continue reading BC Liberals won't endorse incumbent's nomination papers; paper suggests it's cuz he likes beer

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair adds his voice to those calling on Chief Spence to eat something

Transcript provided by CTV of Leader of the Official Opposition Thomas Mulcair on CTV’s Question Period this afternoon. Kevin Newman is the interviewer:

NEWMAN: On December 18th, you called on the government to hold a meeting with First Nations. That’s now happened. You also called for the prime minister to meet with Chief Spence. He offered, she declined. Is it time for her to end her protest?

MULCAIR: I’m always very concerned when someone appears to be willing to end their own life, even though they’re fighting for a cause that they find that important. I would sincerely call upon Chief Spence to realize that there has been a step in the right direction, to try to see now if we can keep putting pressure on the government to follow through. It has been a year where nothing was done after a very formal meeting. But finally the government seems to be moving so I think that the best thing to do would be to step back from that now. Continue reading NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair adds his voice to those calling on Chief Spence to eat something

We apologize for the report of an "influencial" Putin-Harper hockey match in Tunisia

Somewhere in Toronto today, one of my colleagues — a copy editor at the Toronto Sun — is most likely having a rather uncomfortable Saturday after choosing to use his or her own unique spelling of the word “influential.” Spelling mistakes happen all the time in all newspapers but it’s always a bit uncomfortable when they happen in a headline. And it’s even more uncomfortable when that headline also refers to The Boss. The good news for that sports editor: The name of The Boss appears to have been spelled correctly!

And  I say, if you can’t have a chuckle at your own expense then you’re in the wrong business. So, go ahead, have a good laugh at our expense. (And, while I have you, let me brag, that the Suns in Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton all have the best sports sections in their market bar none …) : Continue reading We apologize for the report of an "influencial" Putin-Harper hockey match in Tunisia

Itinerary for First Nations ceremony at Rideau Hall tonight

Just in from the Governor General’s press office:

 

Planned Scenario for the Ceremonial Meeting with First Nations Leaders
on Friday, January 11, 2013, at 6:30 p.m., in the Ballroom at Rideau Hall

 

  • Upon their arrival at Rideau Hall, First Nations Leaders will be greeted by the Governor General.
  • The ceremonial meeting will open with a procession in the Ballroom, followed by a smudging ceremony and a prayer performed by Elder Bob “Seven Crows” Bourdon and his spouse.
  • The Governor General will address the First Nations Leaders.
  • Members of the First Nations will also deliver remarks.
  • The ceremony will conclude once all formal exchange have taken place.
  • The expected duration for the ceremony is 90 minutes.