Gerard Kennedy: King maker

The Liberal Party leadership convention made for great TV today, even if you're not a political hack like me. It caps off another great week in Canadian politics. Elizabeth May's surprisingly strong showing in the London North Centre by-election having kicked it off on Monday.

I had my money on Bob Rae, despite his record in Ontario, I thought that Bob would become the candidate behind whom Liberals would coalesce. But obviously, Gerard Kennedy and Stephane Dion foresaw that eventuality and took steps to prevent it.

In what I can only say was one of the boldest moves I've seen in Canadian politics in quite some time, Gerard Kennedy's decision to throw his support behind Stephane Dion after only the second ballot, delivering 90% of his support to Dion, turned the convention on its ear by forcing Rae out before the final ballot. Something I doubt many believed would happen.

The move propelled Dion over the top as Rae's supporters divided.

As a Green I normally don't like politicking. But in this case I have to tip my hat to Kennedy for not being afraid to make a gutsy but decisive move. It was successful because it used the bad blood that had developed between the Rae and Ignatieff camps against them.

At the end of the day, neither Rae nor Ignatieff was prepared to support the other, and that was their undoing. Amazing stuff and a well earned victory for Stephane Dion by his #1 supporter, Gerard Kennedy.

What this means for the Green Party in the next federal election remains to be seen. Dion, as the most environmentally friendly Liberal leadership contestant, who decked his team out in neon green paraphernalia on Saturday, will certainly not shy away from environmental issues.

While some may think this is bad for the Green Party, I don't see it that way. On the one hand Dion will help ensure Green issues remain at the top of the agenda. On the other, he is not the dynamic force Bob Rae or Michael Ignatieff would have been on the national scene. Dion is not as well known in English Canada and will therefore have a tougher time ramping up support in the face of a short turn around before the next federal election.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. One thing's for sure, Canada's getting a little greener every day.