Michael Prue and Separate School Funding in Ontario

NDP leadership candidate Michael Prue made his campaign relevant for five seconds before promptly withdrawing his comments on separate school funding... sigh.

But he quickly ran into a bit of hot water by suggesting the NDP's policy supporting public funding of Catholic schools should be reviewed.

Prue says he thinks "it is time" that the party takes a look at the issue.

As handlers tried to stop the news conference, Prue insisted he wasn't trying to re-open the debate about religion and schools that caused so much trouble for Conservative Leader John Tory in last year's election.

And he insisted it would be up to someone else to bring forward the idea of changing the policy on school funding at the NDP's leadership convention next March.

Any candidate who is willing to champion this issue will carve out a pretty decent chunk of support. Do any of them have the political will?

Michael Prue to Run for NDP Leadership

First Bisson, now Prue. This NDP leadership camapign is shaping up to be the most boring contest in Ontario political history. We can expect announcements from Peter Tabuns and Andrea Horwath shortly, but that won't help much in my view. Among the four, Tabuns should be considered the front-runner.

Why Gilles Bisson's Campaign for the NDP Leadership Will Falter

Gilles Bisson, NDP MPP for Timmins-James Bay is the first candidate to announce his intention to replace Howard Hampton as Ontario NDP leader. He has little chance of winning. He should be considered a token candidate from the North. Why can't he win?

1. He's too much like Howard Hampton (male, tied to the Rae government, and from Northern Ontario).
2. Despite being at Queen's Park since 1990, he has little name recognition. This won't help in a OMOV election.
3. He voted against the Endangered Species Act.
4. I can't imagine he will muster much, if any, support from the party's tiny caucus.

Petition Calls on Ontario NDP to Lower Leadership Race Entry Fee

Ontario New Democrats may be interested in signing this petition. A $15,000 entry fee seems a bit high given that the federall party only required $7,500 to enter the leadership race that elected Jack Layton.

Nova Scotia NDP Majority on the Horizon?

The Nova Scotia NDP has been close to majority territory for over a year now, hovering between 35 and 39% in provincial polls. The most recent poll has the NDP at 38% while the Liberals have 30% and the governing Tories have the support of just 27% of the electorate. Nova Scotia has seen its share of minority government in recent years, but could the NDP's first majority government in Atlantic Canada finally be on the horizon?

Vote for Morgentaler

Abortion rights activist Dr. Henry Morgentaler will receive the Order of Canada. The Globe & Mail is asking its readers what they think. I can't think of anyone more deserving. Vote online here.