PC Leadership Debate
Canada's once ruling Progressive Conservative Party had its first leadership debate to replace venerable outgoing leader Joe Clark at a University of Ottawa auditorium this Sunday afternoon. Some might say the party itself is a footnote, standing fifth in the House of Commons at this time. So let's begin with a footnote: What's with CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel), anyway?
To wit: During the first of four Leadership Debates, seven candidates and three journalists exchanged words while CPAC provided television coverage plus live translation. CPAC's technical glitches were, in a word, a disgrace. Most glaring were long gaps without any English translation at all, total sound outages and multiple instances where the translator got so confused nothing coherent was heard.
Recently the New Democratic Party had their debates and, in January, selected Jack Layton as their leader. Although a long-term city councillor, Layton has never been elected when he's run for federal office. The PCs have a better chance of selecting someone to lead them who is actually in Parliament. And while the debate was genteel, unlike the NDP debates, it did show some signs of life.
This isn't a seven person race despite there being seven candidates.
Starting with the least likely to succeed, Craig Chandler, CEO of Calgary based Concerned Christian Coalition, proved that neanderthal man still exists. Seemingly fresh from the Alberta Tar Pits, this brontosaurus-in-a-china-shop managed to use big words like "folks" repeatedly in his talk. A born-again Progressive Conservative, he ran (and lost) for the Reform Party in 1993 and decided upon the birth of his son last year to run for the leadership of the PCs. If he is elected leader, he plans to learn French. He's got guts, though. These four debates are costing him $30,000 in a non-refundable deposit.
David Orchard, an organic farmer from Saskatchewan, impressed more than expected with usually well-articulated ideas. He did, after all, come in second in the 1998 PC Leadership race run-off vote. Then again, the other candidates (apart from Joe Clark that is) were hardly household names. Rev Brother Michael Baldasaro, for example; or Michael Fortier; or Brian Pallister; or Hugh Segal. Ooops! We've heard of Segal at least. (At least no one in this campaign looks, as the Rev. Brother did, like a refugee from a Cheech and Chong movie.) Orchard's views -- strongly anti-Free Trade, for example -- place him outside the sphere of "normal" PCs and the reality of today's world. He is, nonetheless, a thoughtful, serious candidate. He just won't win.
André Bachand, Quebec MP for Richmond-Arthabaska, and the only PC from Quebec, was charming, even playful. His optimism was infectious but his difficulty in English will not win him any friends in areas of the country already suspicious of politicians with an accent. In particular, if there is some hope to unite with the Canadian Alliance, or even disenchanted Reformers, Bachand's English is a distinct liability. Canadians outside of Quebec were willing to forgive Brian Mulroney for coming from La belle Provence; they will do the same for Paul Martin. But for Bachand? Not likely.
The feisty Heward Grafftey, who has been elected to Parliament seven times, defeated in four other elections, and was often the PC's only Quebec MP, was eligible to collect his Canada Pension Plan while Mulroney was still in office; he'll be 75 years young next October. In addition to being the shortest candidate, he was the liveliest participant in the debate, and more electable than several. He has pizzazz, and chutzpah; geez, you just gotta like this guy! But will he be the PM after Martin? Well, while he's had 19 years in Parliament -- about two years more than the other three elected candidates combined -- this leadership campaign is likely the last campaign Grafftey will wage. He brings guts, gusto and experience to the fight; but no way will he be selected leader.
Jim Prentice, a Calgary lawyer born in Northern Ontario, was less of a lightweight than expected. He was personable, articulate, likeable. His website features his ideas on improving Canada's military but no other policy ideas at all. He's a decent chap, really. Although nominated to run as a PC against Stephen Harper, leader of the Canadian Alliance in the 2002 by-election, he dropped out at an advance stage to "heal" the rift between the two parties. If elected leader, that may be a positive point in his favour. But he won't be elected leader, so we won't find out, will we?
Which brings the race down to Peter Mackay, MP for the Nova Scotia riding of Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough (I am not typing that again), and Scott Brison, MP for the Nova Scotia riding of Kings-Hants. Like Bachand, Mackay and Brison were first elected in 1997. As the House Leader for the PCs, Mackay has considerable clout among his peers; but in a baker's dozen caucus, Brison is hard to miss (he's the high level Finance Critic for the party). Mackay is the more polished, the more Mulroney-like, better at glad-handing, and the less sincere appearing of the two. But, gosh, Scott, what can one say? You're kinda stiff and look like you misplaced your beany!
Yet the leadership race will likely come down to these two men and each presents their ideas with some conviction. Mackay's is clearly the more conservative, and closer to Canadian Alliance notions (and the boogie men that invokes); Brison seems much more of a traditional Red Tory, despite having been a Toronto Bay Street finance guy. And Brison impresses with a broader range of thought-provoking ideas; Mackay's reactions have the faint odour of knee-jerk politics. In choosing the leader, it may come down to delegates wondering who is the better street-fighter and polished personality -- Mackay wins that one as it stands now. But there is a little bit of humanity in Brison which is endearing -- a kind of Stanfieldishness that should not be underestimated at this early stage.
So if it is not a race of seven, it is a race indeed. And a darn sight more interesting to watch than the coronation of Paul Martin for the Liberals or the abdication of intellectual values in favour of glibness which led to Jack Layton's ascension to the top of the NDP.
The next debate is in Montreal, March 30th.
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