Roundup: O’Toole a possibility

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I’ve generally shied away from talking about these stories about perceived support for leadership candidates, particularly in the Conservative pool, but this one about the potential for Erin O’Toole stuck in my mind after I read it. I will fully admit that my initial reaction was “Erin O’Toole? Really? Why?” But it wouldn’t let go, and I thought about it more, and about O’Toole’s particular political trajectory. To a certain extent, he’s always been one who has been seen as a kind of saviour figure for the party – elected in a by-election to replace Bev Oda after she resigned in disgrace, O’Toole entered as someone who was going to start setting a new tone for the seat and the party. His credentials as a veteran and a lawyer were seen as impeccable and the kind of MP that the party not only wanted but needed as it had taken on the label of being a nasty party, and here was someone who was affable and a nice guy, and was a breath of fresh air for so many. When he made it into cabinet after some time as a parliamentary secretary, it was again in the role of someone who was there to fix things, this time taking over the Veterans Affairs portfolio after Julian Fantino had managed to earn the enmity of pretty much the entire veteran community across the country. (Then again, being a duotronic android will probably do that when you’re in a job that requires a great deal of empathy). O’Toole came in and immediately started to turn things around – well, as much as is possible in a department with a sclerotic culture (and I’ve heard things from some of the Liberals currently on that file about the way that the department runs and it’s a bit shocking).

So with this in mind, it’s actually not surprising that O’Toole would be considered a fairly reasonable choice for the Conservative leadership. He has some cred and some experience (but not so much that he’s carrying the legacy of the whole of the Harper years on his back), and his French is reputedly decent (but not bilingual, though he has some time yet to get it up there). And he’s avoided some of the missteps that dog certain other leadership candidates like Kellie Leitch, and his story is probably more compelling as a narrative than some of the others, nor is he a more marginal figure (like Michael Chong, who put himself on his party’s fringe by being reasonable more often than not). So it’s possible. We’ll have to see if he does throw his hat in the ring, and whether someone like Peter MacKay does throw his hat into the ring (though it’s starting to feel less likely the longer he waits, not to mention that I have a hard time understanding why he would be the frontrunner considering his own history). But if this is going to be a race without any big stars, then O’Toole may have a surprising resilience.

Good reads:

  • In Beijing, Justin Trudeau suggested that China uses closer ties to Canada to bolster its international image, while Chrystia Freeland is not letting the canola issue go.
  • The Canadian Forces gave an update on their bid to combat sexual misconduct in the ranks, and noted that 30 people – including senior officers – have been punished to date. (Check out Rosemary Barton’s interview with Lt. Gen. Christine Whitecross).
  • The NEB has suspended all hearings on Energy East this week, not just because of protests but because of calls for two members to recuse themselves.
  • At the electoral reform committee, Peter Loewen was talking sense in proceeding cautiously and showing how PR will create its own share of problems.
  • Ontario is moving ahead with a guaranteed income pilot project while the federal government backs away over concerns over the cost of it.
  • The Department of Justice is looking for public input on how judges are disciplined.
  • No real surprise, but the three upcoming by-elections in Alberta (including Jason Kenney’s riding) will still be an uphill battle for the Liberals.
  • Retired Senator Roméo Dallaire says that any peacekeeping role Canada does take should have a focus on child soldiers.
  • Steve Paikin lists the questions he wished that he would have asked Stephen Harper.

Odds and ends:

Here’s a look at the community of Cambridge Bay being “invaded” by tourists from the largest cruise ship to traverse the Northwest Passage.

Canada Post and CUPW have come to a tentative agreement, averting a strike.