Chantal Hebert

It didn't really matter that he was running for someone called Trudeau in a former Bloc stronghold.

He could get himself elected because he was a household name in urban circles, at least in Quebec.

And people thought it was a great idea to send him to Parliament Hill.

Well, Abby Lewis tried that twice in B.C.

and failed.

I'm guessing if I were him, I would think, what's the worst thing to stay out of the house and say, I'm, you know, rebuilding the party from the outside at ground level where the grassroots are, or I'm going to take a shot again at the BCC that I made.

actually not win.

And at that point, I become not a lame duck leader because I was just elected, but at least one that is carrying some significant battle scars early, early on.

Fact is that there aren't many, if there are any, safe NDP seats in the country.

And there's not at this point an NDP momentum

to get him elected anywhere.

That could change.

Maybe next fall things will look different.

And he'll regret taking a pass on that BCC.

But because I believe we're about to get into the next episode of the pipeline debate between BC and Alberta, probably.

But so me, I would have maybe kept the option open.

But I do not believe that it's a strategic choice made out of freedom of choice, but rather out of necessity and political necessity.

Yes, and he did have a profile in Ontario because of his work at the Federation of Municipalities, which is a big deal at ground level.

If you're known to mayors, it's not the same as being known to 24 faithful in Lloydminster.

But one forgets that Alexa McDonough actually left Jack Layton a party that was back on the rise with seats in Atlantic Canada.