If you aren't up to speed with the names Sandra Pupatello, Kathleen Wynne and those of a handful of other Liberal Minister and MPPs, you'd better start doing your homework. Yesterday's announcement by Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan that he will not be taking the reins of the provincial party and that he will not be seeking re-election in his home riding means that the race to be Ontario's new Grit figurehead is underway.
In light of Dalton McGuinty's surprising announcement last week that he will be resigning as Premier of Ontario, Duncan's announcement that he is essentially taking the same door out of the embattled provincial office comes as no real shocker at all.
"As the Liberal party moves forward with renewal, I've decided that it's time for me to move forward," Duncan was quoted as saying in a report by the CBC. "Therefore, I will not be seeking the leadership of the Liberal party. I will also not be running in the next general election."
Followers of the province's controversial gaming modernization plan have gotten used to reading and seeing McGuinty and Duncan defend an Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. push to send in upwards of 60,000 Ontarians to the unemployment line. It is now time to get to know the names of the individuals that are expected to sign up for the Ontario Liberal Party's top spot and the whole kit and caboodle that will be coming along with it.
A report by the Toronto Star has explained that Duncan has endorsed former minister Sandra Pupatello to take McGuinty's unenviable spot. The article explains that Pupatello is a Windsor native and a longtime friend of Duncan. It also quoted her as saying that she is "obviously interested" in being McGuinty's predecessor and that she is "getting that fire" in her belly for politics all over again.
The Toronto Star report also states that Municipal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne has already retained a campaign manager to make a bid for the spot of Ontario's Liberal honcho. Health Minister Deb Matthews has also gone on the record as saying that she is mulling the step up, stating that “these are exciting times" and she could "have a good go" if it seems to be the right situation for her and her family.
In addition to former ministers George Smitherman and Gerard Kennedy, other names of current ministers being thrown around are:
- Government Services Minister Harinder Takhar
- Energy Minister Chris Bentley
- Education Minister Laurel Broten
- Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid
- Children and Youth Services Minister Eric Hoskins
- Training Colleges and Universities Minister Glen Murray
- Citizenship and Immigration Minister Charles Sousa
(With files from the Toronto Star and the CBC)
Look at that, today Chris
Look at that, today Chris Bently announced he is resigning. Even faster than I predicted. I am taking bets on who is next.
Isnt this enough to call a halt to any government decisions immediately?
Georg Leber-ICR Racing
Georg-- you were bang on
Georg-- you were bang on about Bentley retiring. Another one down. He can't be that bright to be the fall guy for Dalton. Besides, being bright and having morals don't necessarily go hand-in-hand. Money and power speak loudest.
The NDP's union support could be daunting. Hudak and the Conservatives are going to have to come up with something special in their campaign.
Don t forget the session is
Don t forget the session is prorogue and noboby can stop GODFREY to destroy the slots program. he has a mandate from the liberals and he will go until been remove from a new party if they run a majority parlement
I'm pretty sure that Chris
I'm pretty sure that Chris Bently will resign next. He is the Energy Minister and he is the one that is being held in contempt of parliament. If he doesnt resign he will be expelled from parliament and he faces possible jail time but at the very least he would be disbarred (he is a lawyer). He can't afford that. Being a lawyer is a good job to fall back on after government. Under over says he resigns before the leadership race. I think it will be next week.
In addition there will be several other resignations so they don't face the music. Whoever takes on the leadership will be like Kim Campbell. She became Prime Minister after Mulroney screwed us all and bailed. She was soundly defeated including in her own riding in the following election.
Hopefully that history repeats itself and the Liberals not only get defeated but the Conservatives (sorry just don't see NDP getting in) get a majority. Of course then we have to see if the Conservatives keep true to our industry and are not just blowing smoke up our collective rear ends.
Ironically, Kim Campbell and Chris Bently whom I have described in this message are probably two of the brightest people we have had in Canadian politics.
Georg Leber-ICR Racing
Who cares? seriously who
Who cares? seriously who really cares who the next leader of the 3rd party will be following the election.
This is the best news for the
This is the best news for the racing industry in months.Now all we have to do is figure out a way to get rid of Paul Godfrey and his ill advised 'modernization' schemes.I am still hopeful that slowly but surely,one by one, each Ontario city,except Toronto will vote against casinos and then the new government might realize that the Slots at Racetracks program wasn't so bad afterall.
I hope they still get charged
I hope they still get charged when all the facts come out !!!