Thomas Mulcair was putting a brave face on things this week as he suggested that the NDP candidate Linda McQuaig can defeat Liberal Christia Freeland in the Toronto-Centre byelection. Some pundits are abuzz with the NDP leader’s mental gymnastics. He has implied that Justin Trudeau is a shallow opportunist (our words). The saucy question for New Democrats to ponder is whether Toronto Centre Conservatives would consider voting for the NDP in this byelection in order to poke a hole in Mr. Trudeau’s boat. In recent years, the Conservatives have run behind the Liberals and under Stephen Harper haven’t paid much attention to the riding. In fairness, Bob Rae and before him Bill Graham, once established, were unbeatable. You have to go back to the 1980s, when the riding had more Conservative voters in it at the north end, to find the Tories winning. In 1988, David MacDonald won a slim victory over Graham who was still a newcomer. The enormously popular David Crombie doubled the vote in an easy win against Graham in 1984. Crombie also won in a slim victory over Liberal Ann Cools in 1980. Neither the CCF nor NDP have ever won this riding in any of its forms. These days, with Toronto-Centre slated to disappear in favor of University-Rosedale, there isn’t much of an effort being made by the Tories. Geoff Pollock is no doubt an estimable man but his nomination came embarrassingly late in the run-up to the byelection. He has a team making calls but they seem to be falling two calls to one behind the Freeland door-knockers. And what kind of chance does McQuaig have anyway? In 2008, the NDP ran third behind the Liberals and Conservatives. In 2011, they came second. The popular vote was: Rae 41.01%, Susan Wallace (NDP) 30.21% and Kevin Moore (Conservative) 22.64%. This time around everything is unknown except the desire of the NDP to break through in this area, the visceral dislike of Justin Trudeau by the Tories and the urgent need for the Liberals to hang on. It should be fun. Voting day is Monday November 25. Pictures top to bottom: Chrystia Freeland and Justin Trudeau, Linda McQuaig and Thomas Mulcair, Geoff Pollock and family. Could Tories vote NDP to beat Liberal Freeland?
by •
Thomas Mulcair was putting a brave face on things this week as he suggested that the NDP candidate Linda McQuaig can defeat Liberal Christia Freeland in the Toronto-Centre byelection. Some pundits are abuzz with the NDP leader’s mental gymnastics. He has implied that Justin Trudeau is a shallow opportunist (our words). The saucy question for New Democrats to ponder is whether Toronto Centre Conservatives would consider voting for the NDP in this byelection in order to poke a hole in Mr. Trudeau’s boat. In recent years, the Conservatives have run behind the Liberals and under Stephen Harper haven’t paid much attention to the riding. In fairness, Bob Rae and before him Bill Graham, once established, were unbeatable. You have to go back to the 1980s, when the riding had more Conservative voters in it at the north end, to find the Tories winning. In 1988, David MacDonald won a slim victory over Graham who was still a newcomer. The enormously popular David Crombie doubled the vote in an easy win against Graham in 1984. Crombie also won in a slim victory over Liberal Ann Cools in 1980. Neither the CCF nor NDP have ever won this riding in any of its forms. These days, with Toronto-Centre slated to disappear in favor of University-Rosedale, there isn’t much of an effort being made by the Tories. Geoff Pollock is no doubt an estimable man but his nomination came embarrassingly late in the run-up to the byelection. He has a team making calls but they seem to be falling two calls to one behind the Freeland door-knockers. And what kind of chance does McQuaig have anyway? In 2008, the NDP ran third behind the Liberals and Conservatives. In 2011, they came second. The popular vote was: Rae 41.01%, Susan Wallace (NDP) 30.21% and Kevin Moore (Conservative) 22.64%. This time around everything is unknown except the desire of the NDP to break through in this area, the visceral dislike of Justin Trudeau by the Tories and the urgent need for the Liberals to hang on. It should be fun. Voting day is Monday November 25. Pictures top to bottom: Chrystia Freeland and Justin Trudeau, Linda McQuaig and Thomas Mulcair, Geoff Pollock and family. 