Frontrunner takes heat for lack of "coherent vision."
by Samantha Bayard
OTTAWA , February 13, 2013 (Straight Goods News) — Liberal leadership candidate Marc Garneau (MP, Westmount-Ville-Marie) says frontrunner Justin Trudeau should tell Canadians where he stands and where he intends to lead now, not after the Liberal leadership race is over.
Garneau and Trudeau are among nine candidates vying for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. The winner of the race to replace interim leader Bob Rae will be announced April 14. "We need an anchor point. We need a foundation to know what that leader believes in fundamentally," said Garneau. "What I’m talking about is a coherent vision that comes from deep inside, as to what the Liberal party stands for and how it will address the future."
Trudeau has avoided detailing his platform and taking stances on his vision, often saying he will consult in future if elected Leader. He also has avoided Question Period, scrums and national media.
"Justin Trudeau has said, 'I care deeply about middle-income families, I care deeply about youth engagement' — but we haven’t heard anything. We’ve heard about 'bold visions'. We need the details. We need more than we're hearing right now," said Garneau.
Marc Garneau calls for a clear vision from fellow Liberal leadership candidates
Garneau said he has made his leadership vision clear and has outlined his plan on the knowledge economy, trade, telecommunications, Western Canada, electoral reform, and student debt and youth employment. He congradulated Trudeau for his contribution to the party: signing up new members and creating excitement but he said it is incumbent on him, his fellow candidates and Liberals to demand and get answers now in order to avoid the pitfalls of the past.
"We made the mistake last time of saying all we have to do is choose a leader and everything will work out. We did not define ourselves, the conservatives ended up defining us. They will do it again this time unless we know where each of these candidates stands," said Garneau.
With Trudeau as clear frontrunner, Garneau has taken the risk of speaking out — which is unusual for him, and could be interpreted as either brave or desperate.
"I am bringing up a difficult question today," he said. "I am doing this because I care deeply about my party. This is fundamentally important for the future of the Liberal Party. We have to get it right."
About Samantha Bayard
Samantha Bayard is a young journalist living and working out of Ottawa. She has been a contributor to the Straight Goods News family of websites since 2009. She is an avid cyclist and lover of animals.
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