Campaigning In Cariboo-Prince George

Monday, June 26, 2006 04:55 AM

The first of several candidates hoping to lead the federal Liberal party into the next election has brought his campaign to Prince George -- and the second is right on his heels.

Bob Rae spoke to a very small group of party faithful in the city Sunday, saying he is the candidate with the most experience in provincial and federal politics and felt an obligation to bring that experience to the race.

Rae was immediately called upon to defend his record as Premier of Ontario during recessionary and deficit times.

"I think if you look at my record, you’ll find a guy who had to govern in an absolutely tough, miserable time in terms of the recession...I think governed very well under the circumstances, but it was very, very difficult." Rae responded, "...there was a recession and there was a deficit, and then there was a government that had to make some difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions."

And Rae concedes there is a parallel to be drawn in trying to lead a party back to governing.

"I guess one of the things that came away from my experience in Ontario, is I’m actually pretty good at fixing things; dealing with problems as they arise. Whether it was restructuring the Red Cross which had to go through this whole restructuring after the tainted blood situation, or other real concerns that arose...I think those skills are going to be very helpful in dealing with the Liberal Party."

"It needs to renew itself fast, it needs to come to terms quickly with what’s gone wrong. It needs to reconnect with the people of Canada....it needs to rebuild trust with the people of Canada and it needs to do all of that very, very quickly. It doesn’t have a long time to do it, it’s gotta get it done now so, can I do that? Yes, I think I can."

Prince George is also a campaign destination for another Liberal leadership hopeful this week. Vaughn, Ontario MP Maurizio Bevilacqua will be in the city Tuesday, for an event at the Coast Inn of the North from 10:30 until Noon.

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Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 04:55 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on June 26 2006 7:24 AM

Bob Rae restructured the Red Cross, eh? I guess the people at the Red Cross must have been on holidays. Hee Hee!

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on June 26 2006 7:24 AM

Bob Rae restructured the Red Cross, eh? I guess the people at the Red Cross must have been on holidays. Hee Hee!

Posted by: diplomat on June 26 2006 9:02 AM

Bob Rae says that the NDP is a party of protest and they don't have a clue about the economy...they can distribute wealth very well, but they don't know how to generate new wealth.

This is coming from the NDP ex-premier of Ontario, so I would say that it is quite believable since he had all the inside information.

Now, the question is: Did Bob have this knowledge before he plunged Ontario into the deepest debt of any non-country entity in the world, or after the damage had been done?

The Liberal Party doesn't need his newly found wisdoms to embark on a new path.

What he is saying now has been common knowledge for decades.

Posted by: Norm on June 26 2006 11:18 AM

i find it interesting how politicans can change from one party to another. is it because of power,money or lack of wisdom? in any case, why should i vote for this type of person? they do not seem to have any direction in their conviction.

Posted by: thereasonableman on June 26 2006 1:44 PM

My question is more non-partisan:

Why are they even wasting their money campaigning in the West in the first place ?
Our vote doesn't count for or change anything, it is mere pacification.
The last Federal election, they were already declaring the "unofficial winner" back east, shortly after I started my workday here. So, I didn't waste my time or money...I worked right through the whole deal. (IMSEO)

Posted by: Palopu on June 26 2006 4:23 PM

Bob Rae?? Yesterdays man., He got a new haircut, cleaned his fingernails, polished his shoes, and now he thinks he's a Liberal and that he can become Prime Minister of Canada.

The other guy???