Great new OYL recruitment lit

It's the start of the school year, and the Ontario Young Liberals have some great new lit for clubs around the province. I'm a big fan of this one in particular. For more info check out the OYL's education information site:

http://www.oyl.org/2010/09/23/comparing-our-record-on-post-secondary-education/

Simcoe-Grey nomination news

Of course, the big nomination news from Simcoe-Grey today is that Kellie Leitch, who had long been rumoured to be interested in the Tory nomination will officially enter the race, with a campaign kick off event featuring such luminaries as former Ontario Premier Bill Davis (interesting that the Tories would roll out a high profile Red Tory) and Jim Flaherty. Collingwood mayor Chris Carrier has previously declared for the nomination, and it will be interesting to see if he gets any pressure to drop out in favour of a bigger name candidate. Considering that normally the mayor of Collingwood would be a decently "name" candidate in the riding (Collingwood is the 3rd largest town in the riding), it will be interesting to see how those dynamics work out.

Aside from the Tories, however, the local Greens also will be needing a candidate, as Stuart Starbuck, who had been nominated to run in the next election, has stepped aside to take a run at municipal office. With Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner running provincially in Simcoe-Grey, the party might try and find a strong candidate to help build up the Green brand.

Nomination news from BC and Quebec

Haven't had a blog post on nominations in a bit, but here we go.

http://www.nsnews.com/news/Deceit+compounds+broken+promise/3512705/story.html

District of North Vancouver councillor Roger Bassam says he has been approached by the federal Liberals as a potential candidate in North Vancouver, and is considering taking a run.


"Bassam who worked as an assistant for former Liberal MP Don Bell is not discounting the possibility.

"As for your question, yes I have been approached by many local Liberals offering support if I run. I am exploring that option with the federal reps as we speak and should come to a decision soon. I will let you know how that conversation goes," Bassam said."

At last count, 2008 Green Party candidate Jim Stephenson, and former Liberal MP Don Bell were both considering going after the nomination.

Sticking with the Liberals but switching provinces, Jeanne-Le Ber will have a contested nomination meeting on October 3. The candidates are Mark Bruneau, a businessman who narrowly lost the 2008 nomination, Jean-Pierre Belanger, Kimberley Darlington, an events producer, and Pascal Zamprelli, media relations officer for McGill University. The riding has been a close Liberal-BQ fight for several elections, and if the Liberals want to pick up seats in Quebec, this should be a top target.

Also, in Roberval-Lac-Saint-Jean, Jacques Cadieux who has previously ran for the ADQ was also nominated back in August.

Sticking with Quebec, but switching parties, this article: http://www.thesuburbannews.ca/content/en/5323 discusses some potential candidates for the Conservatives around Montreal.

2008 candidate in Laval – Les Îles, Agop Everekian, a chief of staff to Jason Kenney seems to be taking a run in Pierrefonds-Dollard this time around, and Mary Deros, a Montreal city councillor who lost the federal Liberal nomination for Papineau to Justin Trudeau is rumoured to be considering a run for the Tories this time, and in a move to get a potential star candidate, Montreal Alouettes president Larry Smith is apparently being lobbied to take a run for the Conservatives in his home riding of Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

Ottawa City Council grades from Ecology Ottawa

Read the report here: http://www.ecologyottawa.ca/councilwatch/index.php

The map I made myself.