A few months ago I was in the Yonge/Sheppard Streets area of Toronto and noticed Liberal Party MP Martha Hall Findlay's former campaign bus in a nearby parking lot. I thought about the possibility she was readying herself for another run at the party's leadership should incumbent Stepane Dion falter. That scenario seems more likely now if the current polls asre to be believed.
PM Stephen Harper called general elections for October to preempt any negative effects to the Conservative Party should, as expected, Democrat Barack Obama wins the US presidency. When Harper was in opposition I had a more positive view of him. However since becoming prime minister he has become a George W Bush Lite, aping most of the American's nonsensical positions on the environment and tax cuts -uncertain economic times will tax all governments- and descending into the Karl-Rovian quagmire of dirty personality politics etc.
Harper started out of the blocks with polls suggesting he could win a majority but now a minority government seems more likely. Absent a Liberal government of any scale, that scenario is more palatable. Still, either scenario means a Liberal leadership contest is now almost certain.
As much as I like Stephane Dion, I do not regard him as an adequate custodian of the Liberal Party brand so skillfully and brilliantly burnished by Jean Chretien who guided Canada to the best economy of all the G-8 countries for a decade. My favourite is Bob Rae, the former Ontario premier and I could settle for Michael Ignatief. I am distracted by the US presidential elections but whatever happens in this Canadian election, it will be a very interesting time for Canadians.
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