[RCO]

( Brian Topp for PM ? really , Muclair is also expected to run )


Race to replace Layton to begin shortly

By Mark Dunn, Senior National Reporter



Jack Layton set in motion the race to replace himself as NDP leader hours before he died.

While MPs and party officials were reluctant to discuss leadership Tuesday while a state funeral was being finalized for Layton on Saturday in Toronto, Layton was unequivocal in his wish for a speedy convention to pick his permanent successor.

And QMI Agency has learned that party president Brian Topp and Quebec MP Thomas Mulcair both plan to seek the job when the race gets officially underway. Both would be front-runners.

Sources say the new leader will be chosen in January, just before the House of Commons returns from its winter break Jan. 30. Neither Topp nor Mulcair would confirm their intentions Tuesday. Both said now is not the time to talk leadership.

While the party’s federal council still has to set the ground rules, entrance fee and timing of the race, sources say the contest will begin in earnest in the next couple of weeks. Others expected to take a run include NDP MPs Peter Julian and possibly Megan Leslie.

The federal council is expected to convene days after Layton’s burial.


In a poignant letter to Canadians released shortly after his death, Layton asked that Quebec MP and former union boss Nycole Turmel remain as interim leader until the convention.

“I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the new year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and program, and move forward towards the next election,” Layton wrote.

Layton won a first-ballot victory in 2003 over five other challengers to replace Alexa McDonough.

Leadership hopefuls will have big shoes to fill considering Layton’s personal appeal and popularity and his long-term strategy to steer the party closer to the centre were instrumental in the party’s breakthrough in May when a record 103 NDP MPs were elected, including 59 in Quebec.

Topp, 51, is a bilingual native of Montreal and is considered one of the key architects of the party’s successful campaign. Topp was with Layton on Saturday when he wrote the letter.

Mulcair, 57, was a former Liberal cabinet minister in Quebec Premier Jean Charest’s government until he resigned from the party shortly after being demoted. He ran in a byelection for the NDP in 2007.

He hadn’t seen Layton since his televised news conference in July when he announced he was stepping down to fight his illness.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Po.....91336.html

[cosmostein]

While I agree its still very early to be discussing this; I guess there is no avoiding it.

Topp is the worst outcome for the party, someone with no actual elected political experience but a ton of backroom experience.

Topp is the NDP's version of the CA's Tom Long, an unknown commodity that will be hard for anyone other then an NDP loyalist to get excited about and the NDP's goal need to be not only to maintain Quebec support but to actually grow support outside of Quebec and Toronto proper where the NDP only gained three seats.

Mulcair is the ideal centerist; he is a Jean Charest Liberal who could very much try and lead the NDP along the same path Tony Blair took the Labour Party in the UK, however he is the "waldo" of his caucus as they range from left to lefter, I would argue that Mulcair is the most centerist MP within the party and unless he is about to go sharp left its hard to sell that sort of agenda to a caucus of left wingers and closet separatists.

Mulcair is also the ideal man to merge the Liberals and the NDP;
Trouble is the Liberal caucus is now populated with MP's like Sean Casey, Ted Hsu, Francis Scarpaleggia, Massimo Pacetti and John McCallum

Not exactly the folks from the "Pablo Rodriguez" soft left side of the party.

I just don't see the existing Liberal caucus being able to stomach finding middle ground with Pat Martin or Libby Davis and the last thing a merged party would need is half its respective caucuses leaving the party.

Mulcair also further perpetuates the view that the NDP will bend over for Quebec, rightly or wrongly so.

Ideally the NDP needs a rockstar more then ever, even if its a stopgap to get them through 2015.

Gary Doer immediately springs to mind;
To a lesser extent so does Bill Blaikie.

However if the NDP is planning to "hire from within" anyone short of Jack Harris falls short, however I don't even think he will get consideration despite the fact that he has more elected NDP experience then the entire Quebec caucus combined.

Its going to be very interesting, even though the circumstance for the leadership election is tragic.

Part of me also wonders if Mike Layton will seek the NDP nomination for his fathers ridings.

[gimbol]

Regardless of who the NDP pick for a new leader, they will demonstrate that unlike the liberals, they actually trust their membership to select one.
By the looks of it the liberals will still be stuck with an interm leader long after the NDP has resolved their leadership question.

Related topic:
The liberals waited about 12 hours after Laytons passing to issue their talking point on "now is the time for a merger". Odd that unlike the critics condemning Blatchford, nobody in the media pays the slightest heed to hacks like Kinsella acting like a vulture.
Digress.
Point was that unlike the the liberals, the NDP has more seats, and probably in a better financial situatution compared to the liberals, it is more likely that right now the liberals need the NDP more than the NDP needs them. Place sure bets on the media running with the merger meme, specifically pressing only NDP leadership candidates on the question but going mute with the liberal leadership aspirants.

[Progressive Tory]

The NDP will need a leader who will be able to keep them together. Similar to the Conservatives they are a party made up of several different factions and they will need to have a leader who can keep each faction happy.

The NDP have a one member one vote system for selecting a leader, so while I thought Thomas Mulcair was a sure thing, because Quebec would rally behind him, it seems the west will have the say in this leadership election unless there is a big upswing it new memberships from Quebec and elsewhere.

[beaver]

[Progressive Tory]

[cosmostein]

[cosmostein]

[cosmostein]

[RCO]

13 possible NDP leadership candidates

Postmedia News Aug 24, 2011 – 6:00 AM ET | Last Updated: Aug 23, 2011 10:27 PM ET

Possible contenders for the NDP leadership:

Gary Doer

•Canadian Ambassador to the United States
•Age 63
•Experience A longtime provincial heavyweight who led the Manitoba NDP through 10 years of government. During his decade as premier, he cut tuition fees, boosted health-care spending and legalized gay marriage, all while keeping budgets balanced. He recently was appointed Canada’s ambassador to the United States, Canada’s most prestigious diplomatic posting.
•Likelihood A longtime minister with lots of political experience, he may not be so attractive to NDP voters after having been enlisted in the service of the Conservative government. Doer is certainly a star contender, albeit one — like Liberal Frank McKenna — who may never throw his hat in the ring.
–

Thomas Mulcair

•Deputy leader of the NDP, House Leader for the New Democratic Party, MP for Outrement, Que.
•Age 57
•Experience As a bilingual lawyer from Montreal, and current House leader and deputy leader of the party, Thomas Mulcair is perhaps the leading leadership contender at this stage. He comes from an eminent political family, is the descendent of a Quebec premier, and has made no secret of his ambitions. Many were surprised that he was not named interim party leader when Mr. Layton stepped aside in July.
•Likelihood Expect Mr. Mulcair to begin consolidating support for a leadership bid once the period of mourning passes.
–

Nycole Turmel

•Interim leader of the federal NDP, MP for Hull-Aylmer, Que.
•Age 68
•Experience A former union leader with ties to Quebec sovereigntist parties, Ms. Turmel was hand-picked by Jack Layton as interim leader when he stepped aside due to his deteriorating health. She assumed the job with the unanimous support of the NDP caucus. She is considered a weak English speaker, but has reached out to English Canada with visits to Newfoundland and elsewhere.
•Likelihood Her chances for leadership appear slim — her previous membership in the Bloc became a minor scandal — but as a “pure laine” Quebecer, she could find considerable support in Quebec. For now, at least, Ms. Turmel enjoys the spotlight and will remain the focal point for the party for the months ahead.
–

Libby Davies

•Deputy leader of the NDP, House leader of the NDP MP for Vancouver East, B.C.
•Age 58
•Experience First elected in to the House of Commons in 1997, Ms. Davies exemplifies the social conscience of the NDP. Her roots lie in welfare organizations from Vancouver’s crime-plagued Downtown Eastside, and she has been a strong supporter of harm-reduction strategies like needle exchanges and drug policy reform. In addition to her duties as deputy leader, she also acts as the NDP’s health critic.
•Likelihood She has not yet expressed interest in leading the party, but if she runs, she likely will be hampered by her lack of fluency in French.
–

Robert Chisholm

•MP for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, N.S.
•Age 54
•Experience Mr. Chisholm is a new arrival on Parliament Hill who could be a force in years to come. A member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for 12 years, he succeeded Alexa McDonough as leader of the provincial NDP and served as opposition leader.
•Likelihood His roots as a trade unionist will be attractive to party loyalists, but his inability to speak French could hold him back. As a new face on the Hill, Mr. Chisholm’s chances to take the helm of the federal NDP are slim for now, but watch out for this one in the future.
–

Joe Comartin

•MP for Windsor-Tecumseh, Ontario, Deputy House leader of the Official Opposition
•Age 64
•Experience Well-liked and respected for his calm and thoughtful approach, Mr. Comartin has played an important role within the federal NDP for a decade. A lawyer with a reputation for being level-headed and reasonable, he has been a valuable NDP asset during battles in committee and in the Commons.
•Likelihood Mr. Comartin stood as a candidate for the leadership of the NDP in 2003 and finished fourth. He may well take another shot at the leadership this time around.
–

Bill Blaikie

•Manitoba’s minister of conservation, MLA for Elmwood, Manitoba
•Age 60
•Experience Folksy and down to earth, Bill Blaikie has spent 32 years in electoral politics at the federal and provincial levels. First elected to the House of Commons in 1979, he served in many key positions including House leader. At the request of then-premier Gary Doer, Mr. Blaikie entered Manitoba politics in 2008, and became a minister in 2009.
•Likelihood A professor of theology, Mr. Blaikie likely has the stoicism and experience to lead the party, but has already announced he will quit politics for good in October. Perhaps the lure of leadership could convince him otherwise.
–

Megan Leslie

•NDP health critic, MP for Halifax, N.S.
•Age 38
•Experience This young lawyer succeeded former NDP leader Alexa McDonough as MP for Halifax, and has made quite an impression since taking her seat in the House in 2008. Bringing a youthful energy and style to her work, she was chosen as “Best Rookie” MP by Maclean’s in their third annual Parliamentarians of the Year awards in 2009.
•Likelihood While gritty and well spoken, she may need some more experience before contesting for the top job.
–

Paul Dewar

•NDP foreign affairs critic, MP for Ottawa Centre, Ontario
•Age 48
•Experience Son of the late NDP maven Marion Dewar, Paul Dewar entered politics with a solid grounding in municipal politics and grassroots campaigning. Since his election in 2006, the former schoolteacher has risen through the ranks and now sits in the front benches of Parliament.
•Likelihood Has shown he has a firm grasp on foreign affairs, international trade, and global human rights issues important to NDP voters. Speaks French.
–

Lorne Nystrom

•Former MP for Regina-Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan
•Age 65
•Experience A Saskatchewanian who spent 36 years as an MP, Lorne Nystrom is an old-time party stalwart who cannot be counted out of future leadership contests. He campaigned for party leadership in 1975, and was defeated by Ed Broadbent.
•Likelihood He would bring a solid understanding of House operations and tactical insight to the party, but has been repeatedly defeated by Speaker Andrew Scheer in his riding of Regina-Qu’Appelle.
–

Greg Selinger

•Premier of Manitoba, MLA for St. Boniface, Man.
•Age 60
•Experience Has led an NDP government in Manitoba since 2009, when Gary Doer was named ambassador to Washington. Having spent 10 years as Manitoba finance minister in the Doer government, his experience would prove valuable at the federal level.
•Likelihood He will still be Manitoba Premier when the race for the NDP leadership happens, and may be content to remain where his is.
–

Olivia Chow

•MP for Trinity-Spadina, Ont.
•Age 54
•Experience As Jack Layton’s wife, Olivia Chow has played an important role within the party in recent years. She has proven herself a spirited personality within Parliament and has developed a specialty in immigration and refugee issues. A city councillor for nearly 15 years, and MP since 2006, Ms. Chow has respectable political chops.
•Likelihood Having been at Mr. Layton’s side during his recent tour-de-force campaign, she could very well make a bid for the party leadership herself. But with the passing of her husband, what path Ms. Chow will choose for herself going forward is anyone’s guess.
–

Brian Topp

•NDP President
•Age early 50s
•Experience Acclaimed president of the NDP in June, replacing Peggy Nash, who was elected to Parliament in May. He was the executive director of the Toronto branch of the national performers’ union Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) and a longtime NDP strategist. A Montreal native, he first went to work on the Hill for the NDP in 1990, then went on to Saskatchewan as deputy chief of staff to then-NDP premier Roy Romanow.
•Likelihood Anonymous insiders say he is seriously considering entering a contest to replace Jack Layton. If he does, he will be touted as a front-runner.
Postmedia News

.http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/08/24/13-possible-ndp-leadership-candidates/

[cosmostein]

For a young party they really don't have a ton of youth seeking leadership.

[Progressive Tory]

[cosmostein]

[Edmund Onward James]

NDP and Liberals merging? My goodness Bob Rae is elated if that happens. They can forget about the agreement he made with the Liberals about not being the leader since his job was to be interim leader. All bets are off, because there would be a new party, the New More Democratic Liberal Party... something like that.

Don, put together a logo.

[Progressive Tory]

I don't really think it's a great thing, and I'm unsure if voters will or will not, that a lot of these potential candidates don't have great resumes. Some are teachers while a good few were trades people or blue collar workers who got involved in their unions. My Mom works with the federal government and always says the one's who really get involved with the unions are the clerks and the one's with lowest profile jobs who are looking for a bit of power.

David Miller has been mentioned as a potential candidate, he didn't seem to bad as Mayor of Toronto.