janiecakes
TRIBE Member
From the Star:
Broadbent returning to politics
Former federal NDP leader may run in Ottawa Centre
OTTAWA (CP) - Former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent is expected to announce his return to politics at a news conference Thursday.
Broadbent, who led the party to its strongest national showing ever during the 1988 federal election before resigning a year later, intends to seek the NDP nomination in the downtown riding of Ottawa Centre, sources say.
Pressure has been growing on Broadbent, who lives in the riding with wife Lucille, to re-enter politics and give an extra boost to new party leader Jack Layton.
And Broadbent, 67, recently admitted the idea interests him.
"The political case for me is not a problem, not at all - quite the contrary," Broadbent said in an interview this week.
"So it's just sorting out the personal matters and reaching a conclusion."
Political observers have said Broadbent, who succeeded on a platform of pragmatic and compassionate politics, would add a layer of credibility to the party which has been struggling for years.
His candidacy would also set the stage for a major political showdown in the next election, expected in the spring.
Richard Mahoney, an Ottawa lawyer and longtime confident of Prime Minister Paul Martin, recently won the Liberal nomination in the urban riding that mixes university students, working-class families and well-off bureaucrats.
That suggests major Martin forces would be marshalled to combat Broadbent and the NDP, who will likely campaign on a platform that Martin is too right-wing.
There have been several recent signs that Broadbent, who was elected seven times in the blue-collar Ontario riding of Oshawa-Whitby, is planning to re-enter the political arena.
The New Democrats have been deluged with thousands of e-mails encouraging his return. An Internet website - www.edbroadbent.ca - is under construction by NDP officials. And the party is abuzz with anticipation about luring the high-profile candidate on board.
Just weeks ago, Broadbent all but dismissed the idea of returning. But a subsequent wave of support, including the backing of Layton, made his candidacy a real possibility.
"There are a lot of friends and people I don't know, both within the riding and from across Canada, in fact, who are urging me to run," Broadbent acknowledged.
Broadbent served as NDP chief from 1975 to 1989 and led the party to an electoral zenith in 1988, with 43 seats.
He has remained active in social and human rights issues since then.
More than a decade ago, he was appointed as the first president of the International Centre for Human Rights based in Montreal.
And almost two years ago, he helped form the Canadian Democracy and Corporate Accountability Commission which brought together business and labour to improve corporate responsibility.
His candidacy isn't a sure in thing in the Ottawa Centre riding, vacant since the recent appointment of Liberal MP Mac Harb to the Senate by retiring Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.
Broadbent faces one other rival for the NDP nomination from Paul Dewar, a teacher and union representative. Dewar is the son of former Ottawa mayor and longtime NDP activist Marion Dewar.
The prospect of Broadbent's return, however, does not impress some political observers.
"It's a gallant gesture, Ed, but don't be looking to be getting back in to the House of Commons," said Heather MacIvor, a political scientist at the University of Ottawa.
Broadbent does not have the sort of powerful base in Ottawa that he built on the strength of the Canadian Auto Workers in industrial Oshawa, she said.
Broadbent returning to politics
Former federal NDP leader may run in Ottawa Centre
OTTAWA (CP) - Former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent is expected to announce his return to politics at a news conference Thursday.
Broadbent, who led the party to its strongest national showing ever during the 1988 federal election before resigning a year later, intends to seek the NDP nomination in the downtown riding of Ottawa Centre, sources say.
Pressure has been growing on Broadbent, who lives in the riding with wife Lucille, to re-enter politics and give an extra boost to new party leader Jack Layton.
And Broadbent, 67, recently admitted the idea interests him.
"The political case for me is not a problem, not at all - quite the contrary," Broadbent said in an interview this week.
"So it's just sorting out the personal matters and reaching a conclusion."
Political observers have said Broadbent, who succeeded on a platform of pragmatic and compassionate politics, would add a layer of credibility to the party which has been struggling for years.
His candidacy would also set the stage for a major political showdown in the next election, expected in the spring.
Richard Mahoney, an Ottawa lawyer and longtime confident of Prime Minister Paul Martin, recently won the Liberal nomination in the urban riding that mixes university students, working-class families and well-off bureaucrats.
That suggests major Martin forces would be marshalled to combat Broadbent and the NDP, who will likely campaign on a platform that Martin is too right-wing.
There have been several recent signs that Broadbent, who was elected seven times in the blue-collar Ontario riding of Oshawa-Whitby, is planning to re-enter the political arena.
The New Democrats have been deluged with thousands of e-mails encouraging his return. An Internet website - www.edbroadbent.ca - is under construction by NDP officials. And the party is abuzz with anticipation about luring the high-profile candidate on board.
Just weeks ago, Broadbent all but dismissed the idea of returning. But a subsequent wave of support, including the backing of Layton, made his candidacy a real possibility.
"There are a lot of friends and people I don't know, both within the riding and from across Canada, in fact, who are urging me to run," Broadbent acknowledged.
Broadbent served as NDP chief from 1975 to 1989 and led the party to an electoral zenith in 1988, with 43 seats.
He has remained active in social and human rights issues since then.
More than a decade ago, he was appointed as the first president of the International Centre for Human Rights based in Montreal.
And almost two years ago, he helped form the Canadian Democracy and Corporate Accountability Commission which brought together business and labour to improve corporate responsibility.
His candidacy isn't a sure in thing in the Ottawa Centre riding, vacant since the recent appointment of Liberal MP Mac Harb to the Senate by retiring Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.
Broadbent faces one other rival for the NDP nomination from Paul Dewar, a teacher and union representative. Dewar is the son of former Ottawa mayor and longtime NDP activist Marion Dewar.
The prospect of Broadbent's return, however, does not impress some political observers.
"It's a gallant gesture, Ed, but don't be looking to be getting back in to the House of Commons," said Heather MacIvor, a political scientist at the University of Ottawa.
Broadbent does not have the sort of powerful base in Ottawa that he built on the strength of the Canadian Auto Workers in industrial Oshawa, she said.
