The next NDP leader

[capricorn]

The fact that she is 72 years old and would be going into the next election at 76 is what negates her nothing else.

Small point. She'll turn 69 on September 1st.

[punked]

Small point. She'll turn 69 on September 1st.

My bad her age is the still the problem.

[cybercoma]

It will be a free for all. I hope it doesn't turn into a donnybrook.

There is bound to be a Quebec factor.

Of course there's a Quebec factor. Quebec is part of our country. Why wouldn't there be a Quebec factor in all things political? What a strange statement.

The party membership votes on the leader of the NDP, so the regional composition of the MPs makes little difference.

[punked]

Of course there's a Quebec factor. Quebec is part of our country. Why wouldn't there be a Quebec factor in all things political? What a strange statement.

The party membership votes on the leader of the NDP, so the regional composition of the MPs makes little difference.

There was a Quebec factor in Layton winning. We are one member one vote and even when Layton was running Quebec had more votes then most other provinces. That is life of living in Canada.

[capricorn]

I have my thoughts, but that matters not a hoot.

The only reason I care about the NDP's choice of leader is that we need an effective official opposition in the H of C. As things stand, Harper and the Conservatives hold most of the cards.

Seldom, if ever, has a Canadian prime minister found himself with so little in the way of organized opposition to deal with. Rarely has one party found itself all but alone in its readiness to handle the nation’s business. There are five parties with representatives in the House of Commons, and three of them are without permanent leaders. Only the Conservatives and the Greens know who is in charge, and the Greens have all of one MP. Elizabeth May has absolute authority to issue orders to herself.

Other than that it’s Stephen Harper and his 166 Tories. He had a majority even before the tragic passing of NDP leader Jack Layton, and the certainty that Layton, with a caucus heavy with untested rookie MPs, would have his hands full just keeping order in his ranks. Now the one leader who represented a tangible threat during Question Period has been removed from the scene.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/08/23/kelly-mcparland-jack-laytons-passing-puts-harper-to-the-test/

[capricorn]

Chow can't speak French.

True, that's a major drawback for Olivia but when asked did not say no to a possible leadership bid. According to a Radio Canada journalist and former NDP candidate, Chow has the required "royal jelly" as well as other attributes sure to appeal to Quebecers.

Anne Legacé Dowson, a Radio-Canada journalist who ran for the NDP in Montreal in 2008, agrees French is essential.

“She has the royal jelly and Quebecers love elegant, sophisticated politicians. I think she could win a high level of acceptance. But she has to be bilingual — and I mean, perfectly bilingual.”

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1046169--analysis-will-olivia-run-for-the-top-ndp-job?bn=1

Should Olivia embark on French language instruction, it will surely be the talk of the town.

[BubberMiley]

Thomas Mulcair's comments on the Osama/USA/Obama issue might do him in as irrational.

Or by the irrational. He questioned whether there was a photo of Osama with a gun in his hand ready to shoot. Not whether there was a photo of his dead body.

Listen to the whole story next time and don't just rely on SunNews.

[jbg]

If I'm not mistaken - pls correct me if I'm wrong - one of Layton's expressed wishes is for Mulcair and Davis not to run for leadership. To give others a chance at it?

Cite?

Davies would be a disaster. Mulcair or Paul Dewar seem like the strongest choices to me.

The deceased have remarkably little influence in their choice of a successor. That kind of sentiment fades within days. Mulcair would ordinarily be a good choice. But in this case, pick Mulcair, lose the non-Quebec dippers.

[Smallc]

Mulcair would ordinarily be a good choice. But in this case, pick Mulcair, lose the non-Quebec dippers.

Based on what, exactly?

[cybercoma]

pick Mulcair, lose the non-Quebec dippers.

no

[bush_cheney2004]

Ruth "Vegas" Brosseau in a landslide!

[jbg]

Based on what, exactly?

Because of the growing identity of the NDP as a Bloc successor.

[Smallc]

Because of the growing identity of the NDP as a Bloc successor.

I'm sorry, when did that happen?

[jbg]

I'm sorry, when did that happen?

May 2, 2011. In the evening.

[WWWTT]

This one's a real tuff one for me to predict.

I have a feeling it could be a woman,lets say I give it a 65% chance.

As far as being from Quebec?I would say a 70-75% chance that the next leader of the NDP is not from Quebec if Mulcair seriously runs as opposed to a symbolic publicity run at the position.I base this on the fact that the Quebec MP's lack experience.

If Chow does run and win she will be the first opposition leader not born in Canada since Sir John A McDonald and the second in Canadas history.If she would win a majority of seats in the next election she would then be the second prime minister only in Canadian history to not be born in Canada.

Now I point out this fact because it is in my opinion that the other two major federalist parties of Canada would be too terrified of this senario if they themselves were in the NDPs shoes right now.

I believe the NDP is not afraid of taking chances,so I would give Olivia Chow a 40-50% chance of becoming the next party elect leader of the opposition.

As a side note I wouldn't be suprised to see Jacks son make the jump to federal politics when the bi-election comes up in Jacks former riding as the NDP candidate.

WWWTT

[BubberMiley]

It just goes to show how much people know about Canadian politics in New Jersey.

[Newfoundlander]

If Chow does run and win she will be the first opposition leader not born in Canada since Sir John A McDonald and the second in Canadas history.If she would win a majority of seats in the next election she would then be the second prime minister only in Canadian history to not be born in Canada.

That is incorrect, We've had several non-Canadian born Prime Ministers and several non-Canadian born Official Opposition leader. I believe John Turner was the most recent Prime minister and Opposition leader not to be born in Canada.

As well do you really think that Olivia Chow is organizing a campaign to replace her husband?

[bush_cheney2004]

It just goes to show how much people know about Canadian politics in New Jersey.

..but some Canadians think they know all about politics in New Jersey / USA.

[jbg]

..but some Canadians think they know all about politics in New Jersey / USA.

Yes. Except for Christie it's corrupt and disgusting.

[bush_cheney2004]

Yes. Except for Christie it's corrupt and disgusting.

Could be....I'm sure all the Canadian "experts" here can tell us about it.

[cybercoma]

Could be....I'm sure all the Canadian "experts" here can tell us about it.

Says the American with tens of thousands of posts in a few years on a Canadian politics forum.

[bush_cheney2004]

Says the American with tens of thousands of posts in a few years on a Canadian politics forum.

I'm sorry....is this forum only for self anointed Canadian experts on US politics?

[WWWTT]

That is incorrect, We've had several non-Canadian born Prime Ministers and several non-Canadian born Official Opposition leader. I believe John Turner was the most recent Prime minister and Opposition leader not to be born in Canada

Thank you for the correction,maybe I should be regularly checking with you before I make any posts so I do not stick my foot in my mouth in the future(actually I have done some research and Sir John Abbott was the first PM to be born in Canada,and at one time he was against Canadian confederation and wanted BNA to join the USA,freakin perverted 19 century Canadian politics-ignorance is bliss).

Ok then if Chow were to win the opposition leadership she would then become the first opposition leader not born in the British isles or Canada.Aswell the first female opposition leader.And if she then went on to win a majority or minority number of seats in the next election she would become Canadas first woman "elect" prime minister,first PM to not be born in Canada or a commonwealth member country(or no wait that is wrong too,Hong Kong was part of the commonwealth prior to 1997)First visible minority and you can now see where I am going with this.

There would be very many "ifs" and "buts" or risk in her becoming the next NDP leader.But only "if" you are thinking like a conservative or traditional liberal.Part of the appeal or "mystique" of the NDP is that they are the only one of the three major federal Canadian parties that is capable of breaking away from the old norm (or at least has shown any signicant capacity).

Actually come to think about it I believe part of Jacks success was because he was married to Olivia!Maybe Olivia was whom everyone really wanted in the first place!

Maybe I should revise my odds on Chow becoming the next leader of the NDP.

I now give her a 50-65% chance of becoming the next leader of the NDP party!

WWWTT

[William Ashley]

That is incorrect, We've had several non-Canadian born Prime Ministers and several non-Canadian born Official Opposition leader.

Canadian Citizenship didn't exist until after WWII.

Canada is a construct.

1867 Dominion of Canada was formed and self-government was granted to Ontario (formerly Upper Canada), Quebec (formerly Lower Canada), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia (A DOMINION IS A OCCUPATION OR DOMINATION BY FORCE AS TO EXTEND EMPIRE UPON A TERRITORY - IT WAS A BRITISH OCCUPIED TERRITORY.

1982 Canadian constitution was adopted (part deux) (The First Canadian Constitution (as opposed to British Constitution for its Canadian Dominion)

For instance -- the concept of union (in the act of union 1840)... was as a legislative union. NOT a national union since, Canadian Nationality was a Post WWII phenomenon, until after this point in the 1947 - there was no "Canadian Nation" - as a de jure reality.

Act of Union (1840)

So only leaders born after 1947 can be considered "fully Canadian"

Paul Martin for instance was born in the 1930's, he is actually fully a British Subject - although laws may have "morphed" that into Canadian Citizenship.

Stephen Harper.. perhaps the first NON LAWYER, and first "Truely Canadian Prime Minister" is actually the only "Canadian" born Prime Minister - although he is also a British Subject (Commonwealth Citizen).. so still not only Canadian... however anyone born after 1982 is not a commonwealth citizen and ONLY Canadian.

The first Wholely Canadian Prime Minister will come when someone born after 1982 is elected PM, until then people (PM) by default owe allegiance to the Queen/monarch (not country - Nations are people Not land) - it will potentially legally cease to be "her majesties government, except by the nature of the laws that exist in constituent membership in that body or post.

It would be better to say Born in "Cananda" not Canadian Born.

Country = Land of Occupation

Nation = group of people with collective endevour

Nationality = to which nation you belong

citizenship = this tends to be tied into "legal" belonging - you can be a citizen but have foreign national origin (hence naturalization)

Born in Canada (born in the Territory of Canada)

Canadian Born (born by Canadian Nationals)

Canadian (having Canadian citizenship)

Just understand legally the Nation of Canada didn't exist until 1982 - although people like to give it some meat so they say after WWI (some political powers but not full powers) statute of Westminster (some legal powers but not fully) - arguably there are still a few strands left in the umbilical

There has been a big push to "create" Canadian Nationality over the past 100 years, it is almost real these days

It is almost a forced reality because the British don't want "people over here" anymore. I guess Canada is just too exotic and different these days. I bet they think Canada people talk funny too.

next thing you know they will be spelling night like niet.

Edited August 29, 2011 by William Ashley

[cybercoma]

Stephen Harper.. perhaps the first NON LAWYER, and first "Truely Canadian Prime Minister" is actually the only "Canadian" born Prime Minister - although he is also a British Subject (Commonwealth Citizen)..

Canadians no longer have the status of British Subject.

From wikipedia:

In Canada, the term "British subject" was replaced by "Commonwealth citizen" when the Canadian Citizenship Act 1947 was replaced by the Citizenship Act 1977, which came into force on 15 February 1977. ... British subjects, other than by those who obtained their status by virtue of a connection to the Republic of Ireland prior to 1949, automatically lose their British subject status on acquiring any other nationality, including British citizenship, under section 35 of the British Nationality Act 1981.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_subject

By virtue of being a Canadian citizen, Stephen Harper, and anyone else that was formerly, is not now a British subject and will never be a British subject again.