Given Ms. Raitt's current predicament, it is perhaps a good time to note just how much controversy her appointment as Tory candidate for Halton originally generated. Members of the Halton Conservative riding association complained vociferously about this "star candidate" being parachuted in when at least three other association members had announced their intention to run. In fact, during the election itself a website sprang up urging disgruntled Torys to cast their vote for someone other than Ms. Raitt. At the time this might have sounded like sour grapes, but given recent developments, the words of Charles Conn, Reform Party candidate for the riding of Mississauga West back in 1993, now seem prescient:
...[i]nvestigators might possibly find it useful to also probe Toronto city councillors and mayor Miller about Ms. Raitt's tenure at THC.
(Note: THC=Toronto Harbour Commission, precurser to the TPA=Toronto Port Authority)
And, just this morning, former MP Joe Hueglin weighed in, blaming the current debacle on the CPoC's penchant for "top down governance":
Though there were several candidates who had been cleared to stand for nomination, though there were requests the Nomination Meeting be held from the EDA it was not.
Rather than this Lisa Riatt was named as candidate through application of the Conservative Party of Canada Candidate Nomination Rules and Procedures Section 8 b., APPENDIX B...
[...]
Some would consider the decision made by the hierarchs as an error based not only on current misadventures but on questions as to whether she would have passed the test to be able to stand for nomination due to questions raised concerning her conduct in the position from which she has taken a leave of absence.
I notice that the TPA scandal continues to percolate, and threatens to draw in Transport Minister John Baird. Looks like some of these Tory rebs from days gone by might have had a point about ignoring the wisdom of the CPoC grass-roots.
BCL:
ReplyDelete"the words of Charles Conn, Reform Party candidate for the riding of Mississauga West back in 1993, now seem prescient:
...[i]nvestigators might possibly find it useful to also probe Toronto city councillors and mayor Miller about Ms. Raitt's tenure at THC."
Is 1993 the correct date? That was a long time ago & I think it's too long ago.
Its correct:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississauga_West
I didn't realize that Raitt had headed the THC since 1993 until she left for Halton Con run. Unless I'm misreading something here.
ReplyDeleteNo. Conn was candidate for Miss. in 1993. That's what I was trying to say.
ReplyDeleteOk. So I got it all wrong. Maybe I need more coffee. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've read the bitches and complaints about the TPA, and the response, which is, ironically, penned with the support of Warren Kinsella's firm.
ReplyDeleteSeems like it's much ado about nothing.. and if we want to talk about "top down" governance ignoring democratic process, we don't need to go back in history, we can view he annointment of Michael Ignatieff as "king" of the Liberals.
Though - I'll tell you this, if Raitt has done anything demonstrably stupid, it's hiring Ralston MacDonnell's daughter to be her aide.
I mean, if we want to dredge up the past, go do some googling on MacDonnell and the "Digby Wharf" fiasco. 1999, who was it, oh yes, Jean Chretien doling out taxpayer dollars to his friends for questionable results.. huh.. where did I hear about that sort of thing happening before??
Rob, the TPA stuff has been floating around for several years now, with no real result. O. Chow is really just going for the pile-on, although the TPA dissident board members have been themselves trying to keep things alive with their secret letters and so on.
ReplyDeleteIt's only an outrage for Roblaw if it is the Liberals on the receiving end. Seriously, Rob drinks the blue Kool Aid heartily and then believes that people view his opinion as fact. It's too bad that often his conclusions are so vaguely connected that they could be used to connect anything. Take a look on his blog of how he uses a comment thread in a blog to show how the left is trying to control education. Classic tinfoil material.
ReplyDelete"I've read the bitches and complaints about the TPA, and the response, which is, ironically, penned with the support of Warren Kinsella's firm."
ReplyDeletePlease outline the irony. Did Kinsella overbill the TPA then get investigated himself before this ? That would be ironic. So far you haven't proven irony.
As for dredging up the past, one need not go further back than Brian Mulroney. Though it doesn't help your argument hence why you omit it from your argument.
BTW Rob, how much do you bill your clients when you're on the blogs?
Gee, wasn't Iggy parachuted into his riding...from the USA?
ReplyDeleteThen, wasn't he acclaimed as leader instead of being elected in a democratic fashion?
Yeah, lets talk about nomination processes and the way leaders are chosen.
This should be good!
Yeah Jim, this should be good. What about who funded Harper's leadership drive for the Canadian Alliance leadership? Was it the GOP, Satan or Carrot Top? He still hasn't answered that question. Yes Jim, this should be good to hear how Dear Leader got his job
ReplyDeleteGo ahead and deflect my point, I would expect nothing less.
ReplyDeleteAt least the membership had a say in Harper's leadership. Your guy...not so much.
The point still stands, sorry if it stings a litte.
Oh and BTW, to some Canadians, Power Corp is Satan.
ReplyDeleteThey are still the folks that pull the strings in the Liberal Party, right?