Re: Rick Byers to run for PCs in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound

Appointed candidates aren't unusual, and endemic across party lines. They can have effects beyond the subversion of the constituency association involved, and the hurt feelings of the executive committee.

For example, Jean Chretien appointed Barrie Mayor Janice Laking as the federal Liberal candidate over the objections of the very diverse and active constituency association, which led to the election of the only Reform Party MP east of Manitoba when the apparent Liberal candidate ran as an Independent Liberal, splitting the Liberal vote almost in half.

And it was totally unnecessary, Mayor Laking was very popular, she most likely would have been a first ballot victor in the nomination meeting, and would have been sent to Ottawa as potential cabinet material.

In the end MP Ed Harper was an excellent representative to his constituents, totally blind to party lines at the local level, full of empathy and humour and maturity.

But the federal LIberals threw away a seat, and provided the Reform Party with a huge symbolic victory with their single Eastern Canada riding.

David Galway, Owen Sound