Former BC Liberal finance minister Carole Taylor has not yet responded to speculation that she could be a “potent” candidate for the federal Grit leadership.
Maclean’s national editor Andrew Coyne made the case for the Vancouver-Langara MLA on CBC’s the National last night.
“She would be a potent candidate,” he told Peter Mansbridge in a panel on Liberal leader Stephane Dion’s impending resignation. “A woman on the right of the party from the West would be an interesting candidate.”
Taylor was elected to the BC legislature in 2005 and became the finance minister for Gordon Campbell’s government shortly after. She was a major player in the introduction of the province’s carbon tax.
She announced last year that she won’t be seeking re-election in the 2009 provincial election.
The Tyee contacted Taylor’s office this morning for a response to Coyne’s speculation. A spokesperson said the likelihood of Taylor seeking the federal Liberal leadership was highly unlikely.
“I would say there’s not even a remote chance,” said the spokesperson, who asked not to be identified. But she added: “I can’t be 100 per cent certain.”
The spokesperson said she intended to send an email to Taylor to get a response on the topic. She told The Tyee that Taylor’s intentions could be made public as soon as today or as late as Thursday.
(Stay tuned to the The Hook for more details.)
Geoff Dembicki is a staff reporter for the Hook.
10
Login or register to post comments
G West
3 years ago
This is laughable
And it shows how utterly out of the loop the cognoscenti of central Canada are when it comes to possessing even a passing acquaintance with the situation in BC.
No wonder the Liberals have stuck with Marissen/Clark for so long after their expiry date.
Luke Skywalker
3 years ago
BC's Most Popular Politican...
Likely rated BC's most popular politician over the past few years, Taylor's time in the political sun is over.
She's enjoying retirement with Art.
No story here.
Skywalker
3 years ago
Oh Please.
Surely the liberals can't be that desperate!
Budd Campbell
3 years ago
Andrew Coyne strikes again
Please remember this factoid. Among the first people to promote and tout the candidacy of Stephane Dion in the last Liberal leadership contest were three nationally know Conservative punditti-bloggers: Colby Cosh, Andrew Coyne, and Paul Wells.
Carole Taylor, ... come on up!
dave49
3 years ago
A woman on the right of the party?
With thee elections in our area (Federal, Provincial by-election and Civic), I've been having a lot of discussions with my ten year old about politics.
I've explained that after Gordon Wilson revived the Liberal party, it was taken over by Campbell and some leftover Socreds. The name 'Liberal' does not represent the true nature of Campbell & Co.
To wit:
> Liberal MLA Lorne Mayencourt runs federally as a PC
> Campbell's use of Conservative campaign organizer Greg Lyle.
In past letters to Gary Collins and more recent 'Liberal' MLAs and ministers, I have expressed the view that they should re-name themselves the New Social Credit party. I never got a reply.
Carole Taylor may be on the right of the 'BC Liberal' party as Coyne sees it, but in this case he is completely out-of-touch.
not your wife
3 years ago
I've never understood...
...the cognigenti's and mainstream media pundits (except for Norman Spector: he doesn't get it either) luv affair with La Taylor.
Intelligent, sure. Knows how to work the media by not saying much, a master.
But she has never had to fight for any government position, and certainly cannot account for any tangible benefits that have resulted during her appointed tenures at the CBC or Ports. As a politician, she has made it clear that she cannot stand the sturm and drang of politics and prefers not to stoop to everyone else's level.
As for accomplishments as Finance Minister, well, hell, you give me $2,500 to hand out as an 'inducement" or "bonus" or whatever it is they are calling bribery these days to every union member in this province, and, yeah, I bet I'd be looked on with some favour, too. Wow, she made labour relations look so easy!
Carol Taylor has been shrewd in that every position she has been parachuted into, including that of Finance Minister, she has calculated exactly the time to exit, before it gets too hot in the kitchen. Please, don't tell me she was ever going to stick around for another round of government: a recession was on the way and how could she top the lolly she had given out pre-Olympics? Her Deputy Minister Tamara Vrooman also beat a hasty retreat to Van City after taking advantage of the largesse of the BC taxpayer in order to get herself to where she is today.
Timing is everything. Enjoy your retirement, Carol, and don't let the door hit you on the arse on your way out.
Hyeena
3 years ago
get a life, dude.
EDITED FOR PERSONAL INSULTS -- TYEE EDITOR
G West
3 years ago
Thank you
I find it ironic that that kind of thing could stand for 10 hours and a simple suggestion that I made about another poster's neglected reading should have been redacted so quickly.
Budd Campbell
3 years ago
Take it Easy, G West!
I got a personal admonition at home from The Tyee Management Team. It seems I had exceeded the guidelines for polite commentary. I had called someone a Liberal.
Is that good or bad?
G West
3 years ago
Bwahah ha haaa
Don't know if you saw the message in question - it was 'personal' not political.
Was that 'Liberal' or BC Liberal Budd?
send me an email, I'll fill you in:
garthwest@hotmail.com