By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Friday November 16, 2012
15 Candidates and Growing
The battle lines are now clearer in the Ontario Liberal leadership race, and women are included in the top tier of candidates.
Sandra Pupatello and Kathleen Wynne could end up fighting this one out at Ryerson University’s new athletic centre in the old Maple Leaf Gardens in downtown Toronto during the leadership convention in late January.
They’ll be facing off against the likes of erstwhile cabinet ministers Charles Sousa, Eric Hoskins, Gerard Kennedy and Glen Murray — and perhaps Minister of Government Services Harinder Takhar — all who may well end up using the race to set themselves up for an improved cabinet spot in a Pupatello or Wynne administration.
The fact that two women are in the running for that corner office on the second floor at Queen’s Park currently occupied by departing Premier Dalton McGuinty should not be an issue in 2012 or 2013. Source
Meanwhile, lots of people have declared their intentions, many with stellar credentials. Few have the political experience that would make them an obvious choice to lead a federal political party.
The list of those who have stated their intention to run, as of Wednesday, included Ottawa lawyer David Bertschi, Vancouver lawyer Alex Burton, Toronto lawyer Deborah Coyne, Toronto lawyer Martha Hall Findlay, Victoria lawyer David Merner, Toronto economist Jonathan Mousley, and Quebec MP Justin Trudeau. (Source: Globe & Mail)