Scott Brison visits Vancouver
Today I went to a reception held at the house of two long time Liberals for an event with leadership hopeful Scott Brison. On the way to the event, I was impressed how many de-elect Emerson signs I saw (it was in David Emerson's riding). Hopefully come next election we can get a real Liberal, not a Tory in Liberal clothing to win the riding. The reception being at one's house was not huge, but still around 20 people turned up. Scott Brison talked about the challenges we face today and the importance of leadership. I liked the fact he talked how the campaign would be about ideas and building a vision for the future rather than cheap electoral gimmicks to score in the polls. Already I was impressed with his initiatives on the environment and tax policy. He made clear we cannot beat Stephen Harper just by attacking him, we can beat him by presenting more innovative ideas and indeed Brison does have them.
I got a chance to briefly chat with him and discussed a few issues including one of regulatory policy, which is a big issue for me as someone from the business community. He agreed for the need for common sense regulations, but also argued the myriad of different provincial ones hurt our competitiveness and so do ones that act as an indirect tariff. On the merger issue and his decision to jump ship, he was very clear in explaining those. He stated he personally all along felt uncomfortable with merging the two parties, but also believed a healthy democracy was good for the country. In the end he voted for the merger since he believed it was the right thing for the country (which I agree with), but refused to join since the new party didn't fit with his values (which I also agree with). He did not join cabinet until after the 2004 election and when discussing about crossing the floor to the Liberals never once raised the idea or was inticed with the idea of a cabinet post unlike David Emerson who crossed for that whole reason.
I haven't yet decided on who to support, but I've been impressed with the three candidates who I got to hear their visions. Bob Rae I only briefly met and I have no intention on supporting him, although I still hope he runs as a Liberal candidate next federal election.
I got a chance to briefly chat with him and discussed a few issues including one of regulatory policy, which is a big issue for me as someone from the business community. He agreed for the need for common sense regulations, but also argued the myriad of different provincial ones hurt our competitiveness and so do ones that act as an indirect tariff. On the merger issue and his decision to jump ship, he was very clear in explaining those. He stated he personally all along felt uncomfortable with merging the two parties, but also believed a healthy democracy was good for the country. In the end he voted for the merger since he believed it was the right thing for the country (which I agree with), but refused to join since the new party didn't fit with his values (which I also agree with). He did not join cabinet until after the 2004 election and when discussing about crossing the floor to the Liberals never once raised the idea or was inticed with the idea of a cabinet post unlike David Emerson who crossed for that whole reason.
I haven't yet decided on who to support, but I've been impressed with the three candidates who I got to hear their visions. Bob Rae I only briefly met and I have no intention on supporting him, although I still hope he runs as a Liberal candidate next federal election.
posted by Monkey Loves to Fight at 6:11 PM
13 Comments:
Well, we were in the same room at least. I found Brison to be one of the most engaging people I've met on this whirlwind drop-in circus, where it seems every weekend has a couple of interesting people/candidates jostling for some face-to-face with the grassroots.
He's a very down-to-earth guy, plays to the crowd perfectly and has that affabled humour that Harpor lacks.
Although I'm backing Bob (you and I come from reverse sides of this party) I am encouraged by the calibre of candidates. There are about 5 who I would be extremely comfortable working for to ursurp that supine reptile in a blue suit (optional olive-green flak vest)... And wasn't that a terrific spread? If the Hillmans host another candidate, I'd be there in a second. That sausage was to die for!
The more people that see Scott Brison, the more people are impressed with his ideas and his ability to communicate them.
Although I'm backing Bob (you and I come from reverse sides of this party) I am encouraged by the calibre of candidates.
I agree with much of what you have to say on Brison. It is not so much that I think Bob Rae would be a terrible prime-minister, I think he has matured a lot since he was premier of Ontario, my worry is he still remains quite unpopular in Ontario. Simply speaking, we cannot afford to lose seats in Ontario, which is my main concern of choosing him.
Rob - I fully agree. All the leaders I've heard speak so far, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Michael Ignatieff, and Scott Brison are people who I think could defeat Stephen Harper if given a chance.
Pedro - I've been to one of Michael Ignatieff's events and I was very impressed. He is most definitely a possibility. However, I want to get a first hand chance to see each of the candidates before making a decision. My decision, which hopefully I will make by the end of June will be based on both whose values are closest to mine and who I think has the best chance of beating Harper. I should not I am still active in the SFU BCYL so if you come out to any of the events you might see me there and you can convince me then
Miles, let's talk SFU (I am a middle-aged Liberal but am responsible for membership in a neighbouring riding that is sponsoring some leadership receptions, including Sunday's Martha Hall Findlay). We need to put a presence up on the hill this weekend at the Open House. Email me at danmolson@shaw.ca
Miles, let's talk SFU (I am a middle-aged Liberal but am responsible for membership in a neighbouring riding that is sponsoring some leadership receptions, including Sunday's Martha Hall Findlay). We need to put a presence up on the hill this weekend at the Open House.
Actually I have graduated from SFU and I only joined the Federal Liberals since graduating so I have no connections to the federal club. My activity while at SFU was with the BC Young Liberals and unfortunately the majority are Conservatives for now. However, I have been working hard to try and convert them to Liberalism. I know many of them do not support the extreme right, but somehow refuse to accept that Stephen Harper would govern that way if he formed a majority government.
BC Young Liberals and unfortunately the majority are Conservatives for now.
Yep. Damn us pesky Conservatives! ;)
Scott Brison has no integrity to have supported a merger of the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance with the Progressive Conservative Party -- only to have immediately bolted to the Liberal Party of Canada. That proves to me that he was always a Liberal -- formerly in PC drag.
Oh well, at least he was bang-on with his commentary on the Chretien-Martin legacy at ScottBrison.org.
Yep. Damn us pesky Conservatives! ;)
It took me many years to see the light, so I can understand why it might take others a while. Besides I am only trying to promote the Liberal Party as the best party who represents the values of our club members. If they believe differently, I respect their choice.
supported a merger of the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance with the Progressive Conservative Party -- only to have immediately bolted to the Liberal Party of Canada. That proves to me that he was always a Liberal -- formerly in PC drag.
I in fact asked him this question this week and he replied that he was faced with a tough situation between choosing to support a new party that would be more competitive, which is good for a healthy democracy, even though he couldn't support it personally, or voting on his personal feelings. He voted what he thought was best for the country, not himself and I fully agree.
He is no PC in Liberal drag. The Progressive Conservatives don't exist anymore as they were swallowed up by the Reform/Alliance. That means all PCs have a tough choice to make and he choose to go to the Liberals much like myself, even though I initially stayed within the Conservatives. You don't seem to understand Ryan that the new party has little in common with the old PCs, in fact the Liberals have more in common with the old PCs than the new Conservatives.
Anyone who thinks that the Conservatives are "extreme" is either being dishonest or is not watching what is really happening.
What is so extreme? The lavish spending on social programs? The complete lack of religious legislation? The very minor tax cuts?
I have a hard time even calling this group "conservative" let alone extreme...
Anyone who thinks that the Conservatives are "extreme" is either being dishonest or is not watching what is really happening.
What is so extreme? The lavish spending on social programs? The complete lack of religious legislation? The very minor tax cuts?
I have a hard time even calling this group "conservative" let alone extreme...
I am not saying what they've done is extreme. I am saying what they would do if they won a majority is extreme. They have a minority government so off course they haven't done anything extreme.
I am not saying what they've done is extreme. I am saying what they would do if they won a majority is extreme. They have a minority government so off course they haven't done anything extreme.
Ahh, the old bogeyman, gotcha. Do you believe in the tooth fairy as well?
Luckily for the country your line of thinking is in the minority as well.
Ahh, the old bogeyman, gotcha. Do you believe in the tooth fairy as well?
Luckily for the country your line of thinking is in the minority as well.
No I don't believe in the tooth fairy. And no my thinking isn't necessarily in the minority either. Only 36% of Canadians voted for Harper and no poll has put him over 50% so many Canadians are still scared of him. My views are based on actual statements and views Harper has taken, not supposed "Liberal fearmongering", which it isn't, they are simply telling the truth.
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