Liberals line up for four way race

The Liberal Party in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell is looking for a leader. So far the job has four applicants. And none of their names is Boudria.

Meet the candidates: Vice President Policy of the Federal Liberal Party in Ontario Maryanne Kampouris, L’Orignal assistant crown attorney Julie Bourgeois, Hawkesbury councillor Gilles Roch Greffe and Russell Mayor Ken Hill. An impressive line up by any standard.

“All four candidates are very strong, but we have to decide who’s the best. I believe that comes under the package that’s Ken Hill,” the man in question states. “I have the experience and the understanding of the files and feel I can offer a lot more to people as their Liberal choice.”

Julie Bourgeois expresses a different view. “People tell me: ‘You don’t have any political experience,’ but I think that’s an advantage,” she explains. “I grew up here, went to school here, I’ve raised my family here and worked here; I bring a new vision to this political life.”

Maryanne Kampouris, who came within eight uncomfortable percentage points of defeating the Boudria machine in the last nomination race, is confident she has what the riding needs. “It’s time for someone like me to do this,” she tells. “I won’t do things the old way – I offer new ideas and a new approach – but I’m still loyal to the Liberal ideal.”

Gilles Roch Greffe, for his part, is a man of opportunity. He worked his way up from the floor to become head of a department at Ivaco Rolling Mills. Since 2000, he has been a Hawkesbury councillor. “I don’t just follow. I like to lead and unite people,” he affirms. His priority now is workers, for whose benefit he says he wants to see the Liberal Employment Insurance proposals put into place now.

Riding association president Gerard Bertrand is confident that having so many candidates of such high calibre is a good sign for a party that wants to regain the dominant position it held less than four years ago in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. “It goes to prove that there’s still a lot of Liberalism in this riding,” he said.

And while an accepted meaning of liberalism may prove elusive today, Kampouris knows what Liberalism means to her. “I have a vision of Canada where all have access to opportunities,” she says, “where we have respect for individuals, where we respect their rights and protect them. I have a belief in a better Canada.”

After a brief pause, she adds: “I want my Canada back.”

The Conservative Government and Conservative MP Pierre Lemieux receive failing grades from all four candidates.

“In my career, I’ve never hidden that I have political aspirations, but really it was a matter of things coming together,” reveals Hill. “If I thought [Lemieux] was doing his job right and that he had delivered, I wouldn’t be running.”

“The ultimate goal is to bring the Liberal Party back to power and to defeat Lemieux and the Conservatives: it’s time,” states Bourgeois. “When things aren’t going forward they’re going backward.”

Bertrand tempers this with a distinction, albeit metaphysical: “The goal isn’t to defeat Pierre Lemieux; it’s to return this riding to what it was: a Liberal riding.”

Only one candidate will have the opportunity to attempt the endeavour, but first the nominee must be selected. That requires a nomination meeting.

As yet, they know neither the day nor the hour – or even the location – of the meeting, when the riding’s party members will elect their next candidate. However, Kampouris, who knows her policy, says it should fall between August 23 and September 10.

Until then, all political eyes in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell will stay focused on what promises to be an engaging nomination race.

Published in the August 20, 2009 issue of the Musketeers' Journal.

© 2010 - William G. Stephenson