April 18, 2000
How Long will the Canadian Alliance go? - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- With Frank Klees dropping out of the CA leadership race, Ontarian right-wingers, needed, nay demanded a local candidate from the “centre of the universe”. Now if you look at things at face value, the folks in Ontario are Tories. Mike Harris’ Big Blue Machine swept into in power after the Bob Rae’s New Democrats, self-destructed.
Now, without a hell of a chance having Joe Clark or anyone affiliated with the Federal Tories winning anything, the Ontario Tories decided that UA was the way to go.
With Preston Manning and the Reformers not hot east of Manitoba, the Canadian Alliance was the perfect vehicle for the Big Blue Machine to support. It’s a win-win situation if you think about. The Canadian Alliance can only succeed with the support of the Ontario, and with the powerful Tories on their side they can only succeed more.
Huh? Why should Ontario be such a factor in deciding the make up of government?
Simple. Ontario is the owner of 103 seats in the Commons’ 301. British Columbia has 34.
Great math, eh?
I think so.
With the Tories of Harris firmly implanted there provincially, shouldn’t the math translate federally?
Well, it did in 1997, but you see Ontarians as smart as they are were victims of a voting split between the Tories and Reform. With the two of them jumping into bed and sort of merging, that split may be healed and the bloody Liberals may be turfed from office.
Why such a need for an Ontarian candidate?
The sheer egotistical persona exuded by the “centre of the universe” demands a candidate. When Frank Klees dropped out, Tom Long became the chap touted to run. Not only do Ontarians want a home based candidate, Manning and Day (Albertans, please note,) need one so their whole CA charade is acceptable east of Ontario.
Will an Ontarian candidate win the CA leadership?
Nah. Klees or Long, would only be there for show and at the convention they’d be kingmakers for either Manning or Day.
What’s a kingmaker?
A kingmaker is the loser candidate in a leadership convention who has to drop out and throw his or her’s support to one who could possibly win.
After all the fuss, will the Canadian Alliance form government?
Not a chance.
Even with Preston Manning or Stockwell Day?
Yup.
Will Tom Long be the Ontarian candidate?
I hope so. Long is a backroom boy, he’s never been elected to any office, simply practising politics in the backroom making deals for politicians. That should remind you of Brian Mulroney. Long will get a lot of support from the Big Blue Machine in Ontario, and possibly some Federal Reformers. He was instrumental in getting Harris elected, so their loyalty is there. He also added to the United Alternative’s credibility, by supporting it from the beginning.
One things for sure. This will be an interesting race.
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