The Post's list of possible leadership contenders:
Marc Garneau
Pros: Former astronaut. Has also served as president of the Canadian Space Agency, chancellor of Carleton University, and Liberal House leader since the last election. A solid performer in caucus.
Cons: Lacks the fiery invective and witty turns of phrase of other potential leaders. Hasn't shown the ability to inspire the troops or land a knockout punch on opponents. At 63, is the same age as Rae.
David McGuinty
Pros: A firebrand who can go toe-to-toe with the best of them. Comes from a family steeped in politics — meaning he has access to a well-tuned machine that has already kept one of his brothers Ontario premier for nearly a decade.
Cons: Is Dalton McGuinty's brother. To many in Ontario, that is not a good thing. Lacks name recognition across the rest of the country and has shown ambition but not necessarily a propensity for leadership.
Justin Trudeau
Pros: Bears the Trudeau name, which can still excite people. Seen as a breath of fresh air in the House of Commons. Beat the odds and bloodied one Conservative in a charity boxing match. Charismatic and has nice hair.
Cons: He's a Trudeau, which makes him divisive in some parts of the country. Hasn't explained what he stands for. Some think he has yet to escape daddy's shadow.
Gerard Kennedy
Pros: A former Ontario education minister credited with bolstering the public school system's credibility. Lost Ontario Liberal Party leadership to Dalton McGuinty on the last ballot. Came in fourth in the 2006 leadership race and the other three — Dion, Ignatieff and Rae — have already had their turn.
Cons: Better known for single-handedly handing Stephane Dion the party crown in 2006 than for anything he did in the House of Commons. Some have not forgiven him for that. Lost in the last federal election to the NDP's Peggy Nash by 8,000 votes.
Mark Holland
Pros: A Liberal version of John Baird — young, a fine orator and willing to tussle with anyone and everyone. First elected to Parliament in 2004 at age 29 after working as a city councillor outside Toronto. Was one of the most hated Liberal MPs among Conservatives.
Cons: Another defeated Liberal: Lost in the last federal election to Tory up-and-comer Chris Alexander.
Martha Hall Findlay
Pros: Was the darling of the 2006 Liberal leadership race, which raised her profile through much of the country. Has remained extremely active despite being defeated in the last federal election.
Cons: Doesn't have much of a track record, compounded by the fact she doesn't have a seat. Placed last in the 2006 leadership race.
Dominic Leblanc
Pros: Son of a respected governor general, the late Romeo Leblanc. Served for a time as chair of the Liberals' Atlantic caucus. Has held a variety of high-profile critic positions.
Cons: Candidacy in the 2008 leadership campaign to replace Stephane Dion was a non-starter. Has been largely a non-factor in Parliament since then.
David Bertschi
Pros: Has a head start on others by having put together an exploratory committee and delivered a speech at the Economic Club of Canada. Doesn't have a ton of baggage.
Cons: Zero name recognition. Lost to a Conservative lightweight — MP Royal Galipeau — in the last election.
Mark Carney
Pros: A dream candidate to many Liberals. Economic credentials unquestioned given four years experience as Bank of Canada governor and recent appointment as chairman of a G20 board charged with providing advice on the global financial system.
Cons: Has only been in his current job four out of what is traditionally a seven-year term. Oh, and he's never said whether he's a Liberal. Let's try back in a few years.
Naheed Nenshi
Pros: Surged into the public consciousness with his surprise election as Calgary mayor in October 2010. Young, funny, educated, a visible minority and a Grit in the West. Does he represent the Liberal Party's resurgent future?
Cons: Has said he's not interested this time around. Still building national name recognition.
Read more:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/po...#ixzz1xjXXNpUH
Our Mayor is of course not running. Ridiculous to include him in this list. Not only that, it's innacurate to call him a "Grit". He has no party affiliation at all.
