When voters who aren't sure are taken out of the mix, former Ontario premier Bob Rae inches ahead of the others: 26 per cent of respondents said they would vote Liberal or consider voting Liberal if Rae were at the party's helm, compared with 23 per cent for former cabinet minister Stephane Dion and 21 per cent for Ignatieff.
In Ontario, Rae has an even wider lead over the perceived front-runner, with 11 per cent more voters saying they would vote Liberal or consider voting Liberal if he were leader than if Ignatieff won.
Obviously, good news for Bob Rae. His rep among potential voters is not nearly as bad as some, myself included, have thought. Bad news for Iggy, just as obviously. Despite being the candidate of the Liberal Establishment, he ranks a mere third among contenders. His supporters must be asking themselves if they are doing any more than propping up an empty suit.
Also bad news for Gerard Kennedy, whose numbers are not given in the Canada.com article, but who presumably gets 20 per cent or less.
And I suppose Dion is about where he would be expected to be.
I guess being Education Minister for Ontario isnt's as high-profile a job as I thought.
1 comment:
Steve Harper wants to elect Senators every eight years; but everyone should take a deep breath - tinkering with Canada’s democracy is a serious matter.
A partisan appointed Senate with power rightly offends most of us. Nevertheless, regularly electing a Senate would intensify short-term partisan perspectives – just look at the US Senate. Likewise, abolishing the Senate – as Jack Layton demands - would completely reinforce politics de jour and eliminate longer-term perspectives from Ottawa.
We need original thought on Senate Reform that will not simply intensify narrow partisan politics, for example:
First, Senators should be over 45. A chamber of “second thought” needs people with life experience who, hopefully, can see through momentary, occasionally brash, perspectives.
Second, 1/3 of the Senate should be replaced every 4 years. This way, the Senate would neither change radically nor frequently and yet still be accountable and responsive, over time, to changes in Canada. The Senate would be a place of “sober second thought” that balances the day-to-day partisanship that dominates Canadian politics.
Lastly, 1/2 of the new senators should be elected directly from the provinces, which best represents regional interests. The rest should be elected by parliament, which represents our national interest. This way, we would strike balance between individual representation and our common national interests.
Unfortunately, Steve Harper is playing a dangerous game with our democracy; if he gets his way he will intensify partisan, ideological, and regional politics. Better ways to improve Canada exist and all of us should demand better.
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