Kennedy Heads West
Gerard Kennedy was out west this weekend and, having never met him before, I decided to see what the hype was all about.
The Calgary reception he did was very well organized, with glossy little contact cards, and I certainly got the sense that he was running. His speaking style was very natural and he played up the food bank angle, telling some stories about his time there. In my Bob Rae profile, I called Rae "Jack Layton's worst nightmare", but I think Kennedy deserves that title; idealistic NDP voters, looking for "results for people" would eat this stuff up.
The speech itself touched on repairing the United Nations, immigration, and reducing wait list times, among other topics. The speech was good but, by far, Kennedy's strength was during the Q & A session. He was quick on his feet, drawing genuine laughs with his responses to most questions. When asked about how provincial politicians had never become Prime Minister, Kennedy said something along the lines of "well, I’d hate to surf against the tide of history".
Kennedy is a bit late to the game and may not have the name recognition outside of Ontario that some of the other candidates have. But I suspect he will do very well in a multi-ballot convention since he strikes me as the kind of candidate who will really impress a lot of the delegates once they get a chance to meet him.
The Calgary reception he did was very well organized, with glossy little contact cards, and I certainly got the sense that he was running. His speaking style was very natural and he played up the food bank angle, telling some stories about his time there. In my Bob Rae profile, I called Rae "Jack Layton's worst nightmare", but I think Kennedy deserves that title; idealistic NDP voters, looking for "results for people" would eat this stuff up.
The speech itself touched on repairing the United Nations, immigration, and reducing wait list times, among other topics. The speech was good but, by far, Kennedy's strength was during the Q & A session. He was quick on his feet, drawing genuine laughs with his responses to most questions. When asked about how provincial politicians had never become Prime Minister, Kennedy said something along the lines of "well, I’d hate to surf against the tide of history".
Kennedy is a bit late to the game and may not have the name recognition outside of Ontario that some of the other candidates have. But I suspect he will do very well in a multi-ballot convention since he strikes me as the kind of candidate who will really impress a lot of the delegates once they get a chance to meet him.
posted by calgarygrit at
12:01 p.m.
49 Comments:
I dunno, he's the best I've seen yet in the field of candidates... maybe he'll surprise us all.
By
Joe Calgary, at 12:24 p.m.
You're right, CG. I was a card-carrying New Democrat until I met Kennedy in Vancouver this past Saturday. After meeting him, I ripped up my NDP membership. He was the power to inspire people beyond partisan lines.
By
Anonymous, at 12:38 p.m.
I met him once at a teachers conference. He is just a nice man that can get the job done. I hope he makes a run for it, because he will have at least me in Hamilton
By
Anonymous, at 12:38 p.m.
Calgary Grit,
A lot of people are asking if Gerard has any experience managing a budget? Does Gerard have any experience making the tough decisions when money is restricted?
When Gerard left the Daily Bread Food Bank (after 10 years as its Executive Director), it was feeding over 150,000 families/month. Since the Daily Bread Food Bank did not receive any government money, Gerard had to treat the food bank as a business. Not only did Gerard oversee a very tight budget, Gerard had to oversee the collection, organization, and distribution of millions of kilograms of food every month.
When Gerard became Minister of Education he had to use many of those learned business/management skills when placed in charge of the ministry’s budget. And what a budget it is – estimated to exceed $11.5B this year. THIS AMOUNT IS ALMOST THE SAME AS THE ENTIRE BUDGETS OF NEW BRUNSWICK AND NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR COMBINED!
$11.500B 2005-2006 Interim Ministry of Education Expenditure
$ 6.105B New Brunswick 2005-2005 Budget Expenditure
$ 5.331B Newfoundland and Labrador Budget Expenditures
$ 1.149B Prince Edward Island Budget Expendiures
$ 6.563B Saskatchewan 2005-2006 Estimated Expenses
$ 8.064B Manitoba 2005-2006 Budget Expenditures
$ 6.418B Nova Scotia 2005-2006 Budget Estimate Expense
Yes, Gerard is BILINGUAL!
Yes, Gerard is a life-long LIBERAL (father was a federal Liberal candidate; Gerard has been a sitting Liberal MPP for 10 years)!
Yes, Gerard has lots of EXPERIENCE!
Yes, I hope you back him on the final ballot!
By
Anonymous, at 12:41 p.m.
You annoying on-line Kennedy boosters make him out to be the next Trudeau or something.
Newflash: Nobody outside of the blogosphere has ever heard of the guy. He's not going to win the leadership.
Just give up now and support Brison, or Stronach or Dryden or Iggy.
People that have a chance to win.
Notice how Kennedy is the only leadership guy that does not have a single Martin Board guy behind him? That's cause he has no chance.
By
Anonymous, at 1:05 p.m.
Anonymous at 11:05am,
If no one has heard of Kennedy, then I wonder why he haa a national organization with former Martinites, Chretienites and new Liberals?
Let's see, feature articles on him in the past few days have appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press, Vancouver Province, National Post and Toronto Star, just to name a few.
Where have you been? Obviously, in denial.
By
Anonymous, at 1:34 p.m.
Really glad to read all this. I'm a big fan of Kennedy's, and I'm very glad to hear how well the session went.
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Shawn, at 1:39 p.m.
As an ardent conservative, so far Kennedy is the only possible candidate I don't like. Come on guys, how about Belinda, Brison or Orchard. They will steal conservative votes. Really. Please...
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Anonymous, at 1:40 p.m.
not having a Martin "board" member is not a strike against him. Their political strategy nearly destroyed the party.
By
Shawn, at 1:45 p.m.
There is really not many known names running anyways and at the end of the day, becoming well-known depends on how you play the media.
If Harper can win an election with his personality, then anything is possible.
By
Anonymous, at 1:56 p.m.
Shocking...a Liberal who actually thinks Liberals should give a damn about the West...don't know that I can support him now ;)
Liberals need to reach out to the West Kennedy
The Toronto Star
Tue 28 Mar 2006
Page: A6
Section: News
Byline: Robert Benzie
Source: Toronto Star
The federal Liberal party is adrift after years of unchallenged power and needs to reach out to the West if it is to become relevant again, says Ontario Education Minister Gerard Kennedy.
While Kennedy, 45, is still not an official candidate for the party leadership, he issued yesterday a call to arms for Liberals.
"Either the Liberal party is going to be able to present a very clear, progressive view of where the country is headed, or it's going to be in some significant difficulty," he said after an editorial board meeting with the Toronto Star.
The Manitoba-born Kennedy, who lived in Western Canada for 26 years, spent last weekend meeting with Liberal organizers in Alberta and British Columbia.
"There isn't any reason why we can't have a Liberal proposition that comes out of Alberta and comes out of B.C.," he said, warning against abandoning the West to Prime Minister Stephan Harper's Conservatives.
"They feel alienated and in some ways they should because they haven't been part of the base. They're not regions to be added on to, they are Canada - just like Ontario is."
Kennedy, who speaks French, was also pointed in his criticism of a federal party that squandered power on Jan. 23 after more than 12 years in office.
"From my standpoint, yes, some of it could have been inevitable in the sense of a government that was successful managing, but I think there is a hidden liability that is now fairly clear. You've got to be able to give people a sense ... where is the country going," he said.
Kennedy, who is expected to launch his campaign next month, insisted that Harper's Tories do not have a monopoly on fresh ideas for Canada.
"My feeling is, as savvy as Mr. Harper is seeming to be following the marketing route and so on, there's a cynical part about that that leaves a very big opening for the Liberal party if it can get its act together," he said.
"While Kennedy will have to step down from cabinet if he enters the federal race, he hinted for the first time that he would also resign as Liberal MPP for Parkdale-High Park.
The Liberal leader will be chosen in Montreal on the Dec. 2-3 weekend. So far, candidates include lawyer Martha Hall Findlay and former federal cabinet minister John Godfrey.
Others rumoured to enter the race are MP Michael Ignatieff (Etobicoke-Lakeshore) former Ontario NDP premier Bob Rae, former ministers Joe Volpe, Carolyn Bennett, Belinda Stronach and Scott Brison, among others. Two-time Tory leadership hopeful David Orchard is thinking about joining the race.
By
Anonymous, at 2:16 p.m.
Cause for concern:
Bay St and Big Biz generally is decidedly cool on Kennedy.
By
Anonymous, at 2:22 p.m.
Reading kinsella this morning, its pretty obvious that he's back in the game. The hatchet job he did on Ignatieff, plus the responses he chose to post which obliquely praise kennedy ("noblest of pursuits" haha please remove your lips from the guys ass) make it clear which horse he's backing.
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Anonymous, at 2:32 p.m.
New financing laws mean they have no influence in leadership race fundraising, and only minimal influence on elections.
By
IslandLiberal, at 2:35 p.m.
I liked the glossy cards too!
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Anonymous, at 2:43 p.m.
Kinsella has a right to opinions without necessarily working on anyone's campaign. His opinion is worth listening to (and I agree with it ALMOST all the time). If Anonymous reads further, they would find that his first priority is to assist the provincial Liberals win reelection in 2007.
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Anonymous, at 2:44 p.m.
Plus Kinsella said his wife would kill him if he jumped back in...I imagine she carries a lot more weight than whatever reading between the lines of Kinsella's Ignatieff post will tell you.
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Anonymous, at 2:46 p.m.
"There isn't any reason why we can't have a Liberal proposition that comes out of Alberta and comes out of B.C.,"
"Proposition"? What exactly does he mean by that?
When was the last time the Liberals had more than a token showing in Alberta (ie, won close to half the seat?)? I'm not saying we can't win some seats in Edmonton with some effort, but the idea that we've got a shot in any other part of Alberta is a fantasy.
By
IslandLiberal, at 3:43 p.m.
Kinsella was working for McGuinty through Navigator. Yesterday he announced that he's leaving Navigator and comes out with what could only be called the first negative ad of the leadership campaign. The only question is who is he serving. He gave us a hint: it's one of Kennedy, Hall Findlay, Volpe, Bevilacqua, Dryden or Dion. Hmmm. Now which one has he been most praiseworthy of?
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Anonymous, at 3:54 p.m.
Mississauga Peter's love affair with Gerard Kennedy and the saving of the Ontario education system is a bunch of baloney. The unions are the only ones happy with the job Kennedy has done, and why not? He did everything they wanted. Ask any parent or student or school board how great Kennedy has been at improving education in local classrooms. Lot's of money thrown at a system to buy more bureaucrats. If that's what he'd do for the federal liberals you guys can have him. PLEASE.
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Anonymous, at 4:00 p.m.
Kinsella is a blowhard. End of story. [I refuse to read him.] That said, Kennedy (and McGuinty) are the best of a bad, bad bunch. Brisson would be third, though distant.
I can't wait for Joe Clark to jump in the race.
By
Anonymous, at 4:04 p.m.
"Kinsella is a blowhard. End of story. [I refuse to read him."
-Hey is this a clever reference to last weeks West Wing Episode (Storm being a five letter word for blowhard)?
/anyone?
//anyone at all?
///Well it was worth a try...
By
Anonymous, at 4:13 p.m.
My own leadership preferences are reasonably well known, but I like what I've heard of GK.
I also think people shouldn't jump the gun on WK's post and assume some pro-GK anti-Ignatieff agenda - the last thing we need is animosity between two camps with candidates who get along fine with each other.
I think WK might just have posted thinking somehow that the article was soft on coercive interrogation, which it isn't. He's been civil in emails and posted a sort of semi-rebuttal section so hopefully that won't happen again.
By
Jason Townsend, at 4:19 p.m.
Anonymous,
Are you encouraging me? Where do I start.
Since Gerard became Minister of Education 2 1/2 years ago, I believe not 1 single school day has been lost (compared to millions of lost school days during the previous government).
Gerard worked with 70+ Ontario school boards and their respective teacher unions to have 4 year contracts signed. Never before in Ontario's history had there been 4 year contracts. Anyways, did Gerard bribe the teachers to sign. No! He treated them with respect and they did likewise. 2%, 2%, 2.5%, 3% yearly raises are very reasonable from both the government and the unions.
Many teachers and parents across Ontario and the rest of Canada will be joining the Liberal Party of Canada in the next few months to support Gerard.
Those who have not read Jonathan's experience with Gerard this weekend in Vancouver, please do.
http://www.tdhstrategies.com/home.html
Anonymous, come back later and I will post more (unfortunately I have to go to a meeting right now).
By
Anonymous, at 5:19 p.m.
"Cause for concern:
Bay St and Big Biz generally is decidedly cool on Kennedy."
Big Biz Liberals want to kick Harpers ass as much as us little guys. They will back the horse that can win the next election.
It doesn't make alot of business sense to back a big biz candidate if he has no shot at forming the government.
By
Anonymous, at 6:24 p.m.
Ummm Pedro
The man runs a Ministry with a larger budget than many provinces. He operated the largest food bank in the country and ran it without government assistance.
I think he has plenty of financial experience.
What financial experience did Harper have? Pimping for tax cuts for the NCC?
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Anonymous, at 6:30 p.m.
Pedro; Unless you're backing Dion or Goodale, Kennedy has more experience than anyone else in the race. He's been an MPP for a decade and a Cabinet Minister of a major portfolio for three.
Also, the Toronto food bank is a 30 million dollar a year business.
By
calgarygrit, at 6:43 p.m.
How important is name recognition really? People know the names Rae, Brison and Stronach, but does anyone genuinelly like them?
He just needs the delegates' votes.
Harper became CA leader with little name recognition outside Alberta. Kennedy is also old enough. He is around the same age as Harper as well.
So far, I'm supporting Kennedy and Ignatieff only and maybe Dryden if I have to.
By
Ian F. Alexander, at 6:52 p.m.
As his constituent, I think he's a paper tiger. He lost to Dalton McGuinty (blowing a large lead) in the Liberal leadership race. As for education (which is supposedly the raison d'etre of the McGuinty government - an aside, I've heard McGuinty corners women at parties and discusses education policy with them) what exactly has happened? Sure he hasn't screwed up, but he hasn't accomplished anything either (though maybe blame for the duration of the college strike could be pinned on him).
My impression of him is somewhat formed based on my personal interactions with him I found him very unimpressive. When I was 14 I managed to stump him multiple times when he visited our school. I also pissed him off when my friend in the young liberals dragged me to the constituency association meeting (I'll admit being a Tory).
By
Anonymous, at 7:03 p.m.
I think its fair to say that the only way i'd ever vote Liberal is if Ed Broadbent or some other dipper giant suggested I vote grit.
(And no, Bob Rae doesn't count. :p)
By
bza, at 7:15 p.m.
To Anonymous at 5:03:
As one of Kennedy's constituents, maybe you should investigate what it actually means to be education minister in Ontario. The education minister deals with the grade schools, not universities or colleges! He had no control over how long the college strike was as it was another minister's responsibility.
By
Anonymous, at 7:24 p.m.
_I first thought of Gerald Kennedy as being too young for the role. But he's very nearly the same age as Harper is today. He had also run for the provincial Ont. leadership against McGuinty years ago, finishing a close second.
_How could anyone seriously consider many of the so-called federal party frontrunners like Brison or Ignatieff next to this well-qualified person?
By
CQ, at 7:38 p.m.
None of the Martin people with Kennedy?? What about:
- Bruce Young: Former British Columbia Desk, Office of the Prime Minister, Former Head of H&K Vancouver and current head of Earnscliffe BC (also know as an extention of the Martin PMO)
- David Brodie: Former Western and Northern Desk / Office of the Prime Minster/Finance Minister and Director of Operations on Martin's leadership campaign (and the guy who was attached to Martin every time he came to Western Canada)
- Neil Sweeney: Former BC Desk, Office of the Minister of Finance, Former Deputy Chief of Staff to Campbell (Now a lobbyist for some brewery,and a long time Martin backer/staffer)
All of these guys were making calls and setting up events for Gerard in BC this weekend. Word is guys like Craig Munroe and Dean Crawford who worked with Rock have also been working closely with them. Looks like Gerard will have no problem locking up support in Western Canada from every camp. If people like Terry Mercer, Bruce Young, David Brodie and Dean Crawford can work together than this guy is going to have a formidable campaign. I also hear he is gaining significant momentum with YLs in the West.
By
Anonymous, at 8:16 p.m.
David Brodie is with Brison...
By
Anonymous, at 8:54 p.m.
Anonymous at 6:54 pm,
You might want to check your facts on Brodie.
By
Anonymous, at 9:10 p.m.
He had former rocker by his side the entire time.
By
Anonymous, at 9:59 p.m.
Brodie is with Kennedy
By
Anonymous, at 10:00 p.m.
Kennedy may be able to get a lot of NDPers vote Libera, but he may also be able to get a lot of Liberals to vote NDP as Jack Layton is to the right of Gerard Kennedy.
By
Anonymous, at 11:46 p.m.
"Kennedy may be able to get a lot of NDPers vote Libera, but he may also be able to get a lot of Liberals to vote NDP as Jack Layton is to the right of Gerard Kennedy."
---Prove it!
By
Anonymous, at 12:15 a.m.
There's a lot of opinions here but I feel CalgaryGrit's initial post is right on the money. Remember, the leadership race has barely begun. There are two (oops, sorry ashely!) declared candidates who should receive some dues and attention. With that said, what I knew of Kennedy a month ago was little. What i've learned in that short span has impressed me a great deal. Meeting him and talking with him this past weekend made an even bigger impression and erased a few questions I had. There is much to learn about the other candidates, but Kennedy, if he runs, will bring something unique and something important to the campaign. Those who are serious about helping rebuild the liberal brand will agree that we don't need 'a saviour' or a 'coronation', but some intense policy discussion and a leader who can convey that policy through action. I do not doubt that kennedy can do it.
By
Anonymous, at 12:38 a.m.
Kennedy has the endorsement of Mary Jo Leddy, a self-described "unrepentant leftist". Also, June Callwood.
Let's see... a provincial Liberal verdict has already been rendered that he was too left to govern Ontario... so he will help the party pick up seats... where?
If he had any post-secondary education to speak of he might be a better prospect. Dropping out of Trent U at age 18 and then dropping out again from U of Alberta undergrad does not add up to claim of university educated.
By
Anonymous, at 11:03 a.m.
Gosh leaving university before you get a degree to start the first food bank in Canada and get named runner-up CEO of the year - a few years later - by the Finicial Post, what a slacker.
By
Anonymous, at 11:36 a.m.
Anonymous,
You write
"Let's see... a provincial Liberal verdict has already been rendered that he was too left to govern Ontario... so he will help the party pick up seats... where?"
Can you please tell me which provincial verdict are you referring to? If you are referring to the Ontario Liberal leadership conference of 1996 (10 years ago!), which Gerard led on all ballots except the last ballot at 2:00 a.m., then you are mistaken why he lost. The reason was simple: the old guard of the provincial Liberals were not ready for a 36 year old (only 9 months as Liberal MPP) to take over leadership of the provincial Liberals. It was not because he was too left wing.
Many of the same supposed left wingers and supposed right wingers who supported Gerard then will also support him now.
The fact is, Gerard is a Liberal. If he was not, McGuinty would not have entrusted him with one of Ontario's two largest Ministries (Ministry of Education has an annual budget that exceeds that of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador combined - see previous post).
I know that after Gerard founded Canada's first food bank (which was something he opened at the age of 23 in Edmonton), he was approached by not only the provincial Alberta Liberals and Alberta NDP to run for them, but also the right wing, Alberta Progressive Conservatives.
While Executive Director of the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto for 10 years, he was again approached by the left wing Ontario NDP and the right wing Ontario Progressive Conservatives. He chose the party he is most comfortable with, the party his father ran as a federal candidate for, the Liberal Party!
Please don't try to smear a good man.
By
Anonymous, at 11:40 a.m.
Wow - for a candidate whose chances run from "no chance" to "second tier", the knives sure are coming out for Gerard early around here.
Unless you think your candidate is going to get 50% on the first ballot, I'd calm down, play nice or else it's going to be a long 9 months.
By
Anonymous, at 11:58 a.m.
Anonymous at 9:03am,
You should really take cd's advice because smearing Kennedy is not going to help your candidate on the 2nd ballot.
Furthermore, spreading false information about a candidate is unacceptable. Kennedy did not "drop out" of any university. He attended two universities, not uncommon at all. Trent U and U of A are proud to have him as an alumnus. I am an academic with 5 degrees and non-degree education. All of my education is my education. Having 5 degrees does not make me qualified to be a politician whatsoever.
It is incredibly impressive that the Board of the Edmonton Food Bank chose Kennedy, at the age of 22, to be the executive director of the first food bank in Canada.
Simply outstanding.
Thanks to Kennedy's judgement to take this job, hundreds of thousands of people in Edmonton and Toronto were fed and assisted in making a better life for themselves. He then helped other food banks become established in Canada and around the World.
His extensive political record and societal accomplisments are undeniable and widely-respected. He has right, centre and left support in the Liberal party and most importantly, support from progressives in the party who want true renewal.
Go fot it Kennedy!
By
Anonymous, at 12:55 p.m.
Volpe is going to crush pinko leftist Kennedy.
By
Anonymous, at 4:12 p.m.
Gerard Kennedy, Ontario's Education Minister, has NO university degree!!
Having a BA is a pre-requisite to being the Prime Minister of Canada.
Sorry Gerard, case closed!
By
Anonymous, at 12:16 p.m.
Prediction:
Bruce Young will drop Gerard Kennedy as soon as he finds out that Kennedy dropped out of Universities twice without getting a degree. Why, you may ask? Because Bruce has spent the last 6 weeks tearing into Belinda about having dropped out of university.
By
Anonymous, at 12:20 p.m.
Gerard Kennedy did not drop out of any university. Read Keep it Liberal's remarks at 10:55am.
It would appear that certain supporters of other candidates are worried about Kennedy since they feel the need to come on to this blog and smear him.
You are only hurting your candidate's chances on the 2nd ballot guys.
By
Anonymous, at 2:49 p.m.
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