When federal NDP leader Jack Layton died in August, a major question loomed in the background. Amid the praise and memorials, party members knew they would face a monumental task of finding someone to fill LaytonB次元官网网址檚 shoes.
With the NDP leadership convention set for March 24, nine candidates have stepped forward to try and prove they deserve a chance to take the helm.
In Greater Victoria, NDP politicians have a long list of attributes theyB次元官网网址檙e looking for in their next leader.
B次元官网网址淭hey want to elect somebody who obviously has prime ministerial qualities, because Jack Layton left the party in its best position in its entire history,B次元官网网址� said Victoria-Swan Lake MLA Rob Fleming, the only sitting NDP politician on the South Island who has not yet endorsed a candidate. B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, we needed (Layton) to be well and to lead us into the next election, but his tragic death forced a difficult decision.B次元官网网址�
Both Victoria MP Denise Savoie and Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca MP Randall Garrison have thrown their support behind Peggy Nash a Toronto-area NDP MP who was in town this week.
B次元官网网址淗er overall approach to keeping the economy moving and building consensus, thatB次元官网网址檚 what I think is most important,B次元官网网址� Garrison said. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 very strong on equality B次元官网网址� and bringing business, labour and community together. That will have a positive economic impact.B次元官网网址�
Savoie cited NashB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址減roven experience on economic issuesB次元官网网址� as reason for her endorsement.
Four of Greater VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 five NDP MLAs are endorsing Brian Topp, the current president of the New Democrats. Though he is not an elected politician, Topp is favoured by Lana Popham (Saanich South), Carole James (Victoria-Beacon Hill), Maurine Karagianis (Esquimalt-Royal Roads) and John Horgan (Malahat-Juan de Fuca).
Topp was in Saanich last week, touring a farm on Old West Saanich Road.
Karagianis says the NDP presidentB次元官网网址檚 pragmatic approach to tackling financial issues was key to her endorsement.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 particularly impressed with Brian taking on the initiative of talking about how we will pay for things that we want to do in government,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e need to resolve some issues, like poverty, but heB次元官网网址檚 also clear about how we would pay for those things.B次元官网网址�
HorganB次元官网网址檚 support for Topp stems from a 20-year friendship the pair began while working on Parliament Hill.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a decent, solid guy. HeB次元官网网址檚 extremely intelligent, he has a good grasp of policy and strategy politics, and heB次元官网网址檚 a personal friend. I overwhelmingly support him for leader,B次元官网网址� Horgan said.
Popham, the provincial agriculture critic, says Topp has a good understanding of the agricultural issues in the country.
While Fleming is still undecided, he says heB次元官网网址檚 been impressed by Nash and Topp. He also named Nathan Cullen, Paul Dewar and Thomas Mulcair as candidates heB次元官网网址檚 watching.
B次元官网网址淐ommunities like the South Island are really going to be served most if we solidify ourselves as a political force that can replace the Conservatives in the next election,B次元官网网址� Fleming said. B次元官网网址淚 want somebody who has an interest in seeing what we do here and where government co-ordination can help us with our ambitions and our goals as a region.B次元官网网址�
The other candidates running for party leadership are Niki Ashton, Robert Chisholm, Romeo Saganash and Martin Singh.
kslavin@saanichnews.com
