(Image: Shaun Merritt)
With Jack Layton’s moving funeral now behind us, the new week has NDP candidates quietly leaking their intentions to run to the press. As expected, Brian Topp and Thomas Mulcair are widely being touted as front-runners, but some other names have started to crop up. Peggy Nash, MP for Parkdale–High Park, is being mentioned, as is Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina), who would obviously represent a continuation of the Layton legacy. A bit more off the beaten path is the suggestion—raised by Councillor Josh Matlow on his radio show yesterday and by others elsewhere—that ex-mayor David Miller could run for the NDP’s big chair. Off the top of our heads, we can see a few problems with this idea.
• He just got out of politics and seems to be sincere in his desire to spend time with his family.
• His French is apparently uneven at best, a non-trivial knock for someone hoping to lead a party with a large new Quebec caucus.
• The NDP probably can’t get away with having two Toronto-based leaders in a row.
• His political baggage is still fresh enough that the attack ads basically write themselves.
There’s a reasonable case that Chow could run and win, despite being from Toronto. Aside from her, it’s hard to see a representative from this city gracing the leader’s chair anytime soon, even though it did work out well for them last time. Assuming Chow stays out, this race is likely to be a lot more interesting than we initially thought it would be. The 2006 Liberal race was supposed to be Michael Ignatieff’s to lose, and we saw how that turned out. Other recent elections have been unkind to the supposed–to–be–front-runners as well (paging George Smitherman), so for now, the field is wide open.
• Time for New Democrats to ‘roll up sleeves,’ move forward with Layton’s vision [Winnipeg Free Press]
• NDP leadership race effectively starts now [Globe and Mail]
• Analysis: Will Olivia run for the top NDP job? [Toronto Star]
Olivia’s French is probably no better than David Miller’s. Peggy Nash at least has a degree in French from U of T (according to her wikipedia bio…) If there was to be a Toronto leader again I’d guess she’s the best, from labour, personable and can speak French.
August 29, 2011 at 12:00 pm | by Michelle^ DAS RACIST!
August 29, 2011 at 3:49 pm | by hopDavid Miller was a disaster as mayor and he would be a disaster as NDP leader.
I would take Olivia Chow, Brian Topp and Peggy Nash any day.
August 30, 2011 at 9:57 am | by AnneIf you think David was a disaster as Mayor, you must be very happy now. Good luck.
August 30, 2011 at 8:41 pm | by TerryDavid Miller was born in the U.S. and raised in England. It’s unlikely Canadians are ready for a federal leader who holds dual U.S. and U.K. citizenship. (Then again, the Conservatives can trot out the “he didn’t come back for you” campaign ads.)
August 30, 2011 at 10:51 pm | by GeorgeAnyone who discounts millers chance at leadership forgets how good a speaker he is. He can strengthen his French. The only people who believe his political history to be ‘baggage’ would never vote ndp anyway. As far as the family time goes he has had some and would still have some. I have a feeling that the disaster that is ford has somewhat reinvigorated him. The can’t have two leaders in a row from Toronto is a complete non-factor surprised it was printed
September 5, 2011 at 6:28 am | by MarlonQuebecers have long been willing to overlook one’s lack of proficiency in French as long as the leader’s values are in line with their own. They’re no different than Anglos. Chretien’s English was atrocious, but we got past that for three majority wins. Bottom line: is Miller willing? Can he gather enough support? As for baggage, Rob Ford is making Miller look like the finest mayor who ever served.
September 5, 2011 at 9:09 am | by Andy Frank