I hear Joyce Murray, who managed the leadership campaign for Stephane Dion in British Columbia, grew up in leafy Shaunessey. She's a wealthy lefty/green businesswoman with BC Liberal credentials. In her day job, she plants trees around the world, but she also believes in BC-style free enterprise. Sounds like just the fit for the riding. She is kinda like Owen in a skirt.

Trudeau all the way

I could never figure out why Owens entered politics. He had a distinguished career prior to his time as a MP. But good luck to him no matter what he does. Looks like the folks are getting ready for steve to lose a vote of confidence.

That makes sense, she had some trouble in New Westminster Coquitlam, and with her being the defeated Liberal MLA from New Westminster, she would have trouble again with the New West part of the riding (St. Mary's and all). It also explains why the Liberal's are said to be courting Steve McClurg, the NDP candidate who came so close to taking the riding in 2004. He would have support from a far broader spectrum of voters, he could maintain the Liberal base and pull significant NDP support, and he is from the riding.

So the safest Liberal riding is up for grabs. I wonder what Mark is going to give Christy for Valentine's Day?

Obviously, the Establishment has prevailed upon one of its own, Mr Stephen Owen-Koerner as it were, to step aside for the greater good. The greater good in this case being a clear field for the Establishment's other member, Mr David Emerson, to enjoy a clear and open field in Vancouver Quadra.

Look for the successor Liberal candidate in Quadra to be of distinctly secondary rank, ... such as, ... well, ... how about that Joyce Murray, eh? Did someone say "she also believes in BC-style free enterprise". Does that mean she's proud to be from a province whose entrepreneurs weaponized the numbered company concept and used it to take hundreds of millions from thousands of condo-buyers? Sorry, but when I hear silly phrases like that I have to ask what one is to make of them.

Now that he is free to accept new and invigorating challenges, will a major appointment be coming Mr Owen's way from the office of Premier Gordon Campbell? Will he be called upon perhaps by BC's business community for some illustrious role?

And how long will it be before we get the official Emerson announcement of his next switch, from Kingsway to Quadra?

Doesn't matter who the libs run in Quadra,Owen,Murray or whoever. The freight train known as Rick Peterson is going to steam roll all of them. Clear the Track! The Conservatives are back!

Owen in a skirt? Not a visual I need!

I had Stephen Owen for a class back when I was in law school (UVic), and he was a good prof. I can see why he's so respected, despite getting involved in politics. I hope he considers teaching full time at UVic so more students can benefit from his knowledge/experience.

Trudeau? That idiot?

Isn't Gary Collins looking for something to do?

"Clear the Track! The Conservatives are back!"?

Eugghhh. Think we've just lost Quadra because of that slogan.

Too bad...

Owen v. Peterson would have been like
the gnome v. the dwarf.

Clear the Track! The Conservatives are back!

The question is back in what? 1980 perhaps? Kinda feels that way...

As long as anyone with some stature and plausible local connections runs in the riding, the Liberals win this riding quite handily. Not sure Joyce is the right person though.

The conservatives have little chance of taking Quadra or any other Vancouver riding back in the next election, barring a Liberal collapse. Witness the trend in the past five elections going back to '93. The Liberals won six seats in '93, all in Vancouver, Victoria and Richmond. As the exodus of professionals to the suburbs continued through the 90s, the Liberals closed the gap in other ridings and eventually won them - North Van, West Van - and solidified their hold in the Vancouver ridings. I'm sorry my Tory friends, but you are not a factor in Vancouver, much as we Liberals are not a factor in most Island and Interior ridings.

I just realized something. I cannot remember who represented Quadra between John Turner and Stephen Owen.

Gary Collins or Christy Clark.

Oh god, please let it be Christy. She's hot, and, in my opinion, substantially more competent than Collins.

I doubt anybody in Vancouver Quadra even knows who Joyce Murray is...most people who live here don't even know where New Westminster is.

What's Owens pension going to be? Awfully nice of him to stick around to wait for it.

George Higgins & his cronie George Hofsink ran Stephen ROGERS' last Qudra campaign. Hofsink ran Joyce Murray's last New Westminster campaign. If Murray does get the nod, do you think Higgins will leave City Hall to reunite those Wonder Twins again?

"I just realized something. I cannot remember who represented Quadra between John Turner and Stephen Owen."

Ted McWinnie{sp?}

"What's Owens pension going to be?"

About $30,000 if there is a spring election. More if any of his past work was federal and he combined the pension time.

Yes, just ask, it was indeed Prof Edward McWhinnie. It bothers me that I couldn't remember that.

In answer to Quadra Kwadra, his analysis may appear tightly reasoned and based on the facts of recent electoral history, and to a degree it is. But it lacks the most important fact of all. Which team is in power in Ottawa, Red or Blue? By altering the answer to that question one in effect alters the settings on a lot of voter's decision switches, and to an even larger degree one is toggling on/off the Grit/Tory preference settings of many powerful electoral constituencies and voter collectives.

Consider, for example, the role played by leaders of immigrant communities. When the Govt of the day is Grit/Tory, they will want to secure access and influence in immigration policies and immigration cases by aligning their community and its votes with the Grit/Tory governing party of the hour. And when that party sinks, they will switch that alignment.

In Point Grey, ... or Quadra as we call it federally, ... business executives and professionals were not at all impressed by the Reform smell. A reunified Tory Party represented by a business and professional exemplar such as David Emerson is an entirely different matter. And his access to Cabinet is just as important to these movers and shakers as it is for leaders of immigrants struggling to start their own small companies in the trade, service and construction sectors.

I predict that the law/engineering/med student vote living in $1,500 a month basements will stay with the Liberals. I also predict that won't be enough to defeat David Emerson, Conservative Cabinet Minister and totemic graduate of the Vancouver Board of Trade crowd. In fact, look for the NDP to challenge the Liberals for second place in this riding as environmental issues keep the focus on Liberal policy ineptitude and insincerity, and various trials keep the focus on the party's scandals and poor judgement.

> A reunified Tory Party represented by a business
> and professional exemplar such as David Emerson
> is an entirely different matter.

Quadra is a lot more Liberal than people tend to assume. There aren't that many Jaguars in the riding.

Please, please give us David Emerson as the Tory Candidate in Quadra! We are waiting!!

The Board of Trade crowd probably consists of 1500 people, of which 1000 live in Quadra. Of those, probably 500 already vote Tory. If Emerson can get all of the rest, then he gets 500 extra votes. Not enough to win by any stretch of the imagination.

I would concur with Budd Campbell, apparently Martha Piper's name is also floating in the liberal camp (which wont happen since there is no way Martha is going to be in the opposition.) Vancouver Quadra has always been pro-establishment and shall they put throught David Emerson into Ottawa again, they shall be rewarded handsomely. Nominating Joyce Murray should be the kiss of death for the liberals. We shall see if the left-wing UBC scholars will be voting for or against this closet tory candidate.

"Please, please give us David Emerson as the Tory Candidate in Quadra! We are waiting!!"

Don't you guys have a life?? Give it a rest.

Why don't you go after Garth Turner if you figure you are bored. After all, those who elected him
did not elect him to be a Liberal.

" ... There aren't that many Jaguars in the riding. ... Please, please give us David Emerson as the Tory Candidate in Quadra! We are waiting!! ... The Board of Trade crowd probably consists of 1500 people, of which 1000 live in Quadra. Of those, probably 500 already vote Tory. If Emerson can get all of the rest, then he gets 500 extra votes. Not enough to win by any stretch of the imagination."

There's nothing quite like the sound of whistles past the graveyard. Wait for the editorials from the Sun and Province, and BIV too, and wait for some surprise moves by NGOs hoping to secure access along with the business leaders.

I think Martha Piper would be a great representative for the riding and the perfect candidate to take on the mess that is Emerson... She's possibly the most credentialed woman in British Columbia and a perfect fit for Dion's quest for more quality woman candidates for the Liberal Party of Canada. It would be a shame if Joyce Murray were to stand in her way.

"It would be a shame if Joyce Murray were to stand in her way."

Even if the membership decided that Joyce should
win the nomination?

What happened to democratic choice in our Party?
The membership deciding who is the candidate?

This backroom wheeling and dealing is getting to be a bit much.

From what I understand, Joyce grew up in the Vancouver Quadra riding. She was Stéphane Dion's campaign co-chair in BC and is incredibly passionate about the issue of climate change.

She's a pretty well qualified woman and if she decides to run in Quadra I don't think the powers that be are going to stand in her way.

Lots of great female names for the Libs in this riding. Piper, Murray, Clark are all top notch.

I can't imagine what idiot would want her running for anything above hallway monitor.

The only thing with Joyce running in Quadra is that it would be harder to identify just who the more right wing candidate would be, her or the conservative? I think that Murray is the only one in her circle who actually believes that she won the 2001 provincial election in New West. Being the first declared LOSER for the fiberals in 2005 should have been a hint. But nooooo... she came out swinging in 2006, and got cleaned finishing a distant third place and only winning 4 of 188 polls. From a strategic perspective, if the Liberals want to hold Quadra, someone like Christy Clark or anyone else with a some kind of political saavy would take it over Joyce anytime.

While I don't think she'll go for it, Christy would be a great candidate! And I think she would find a ton of support in the riding.