The Liberal leadership race is approaching a crucial juncture, with the delegates for its Montreal convention being selected across the country over the weekend of Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.
globeandmail.com invited all of the candidates to come on-line before that delegate-selection process.
We were pleased to have Scott Brison kick of this important series of live on-line discussions.
The questions and Mr. Brison's answers appear at the bottom of this page.
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Mr. Brison is "a different kind of Liberal" who says it's time for "a new generation of ideas."
But as Roy MacGregor wrote last week in his profile of Mr. Brison, he's also a highly ambitious and controversial politician. He's young — only 39. He's openly and proudly gay. He's a former Progressive Conservative who switched to the Liberals after the PC-Alliance-Reform merger. And he's the author of a controversial e-mail to an investment banker/friend which critics say constituted a breach of cabinet secrecy. That became one of the hot issues in the January election campaign that brought Stephen Harper and the Tories to power.
Mr. Brison was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia in 1967. Today, the MP lives in Cheverie, Nova Scotia. As a teenager he financed his education by successfully building a small business. He rented small bar fridges to fellow students and the venture was so successful that he was able to expand his concept to other campuses in Canada. He graduated from Dalhousie University in Halifax in 1989 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in finance.
Mr. Brison has now won election to the House of Commons four times: in June 1997, November 2000, June 2004 and January 2006. He is passionate about environmental issues and was delighted to serve in the Shadow Cabinet as the Liberal Opposition Critic for the environment. In the recent Paul Martin Liberal government, he served with distinction as Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and in doing so was the youngest member of cabinet.
In addition, he has served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with special emphasis on Canada-U.S. Relations where he tried to strengthen the greatest trading relationship in the world while endeavouring to help our southern neighbours better understand the uniqueness of Canada.
Editor's Note: globeandmail.com editors will read and allow or reject each question/comment. Comments/questions may be edited for length or clarity. We will not publish questions/comments that include personal attacks on participants in these discussions, that make false or unsubstantiated allegations, that purport to quote people or reports where the purported quote or fact cannot be easily verified, or questions/comments that include vulgar language or libellous statements. Preference will be given to readers who submit questions/comments using their full name and home town, rather than a pseudonym.
Rasha Mourtada, globeandmail.com: Welcome, Mr. Brison, and thanks for joining us today to take questions from the readers of globeandmail.com. Let's get started. What is the single most-important reason why you should be elected leader of the Liberal party and have a chance to become the Prime Minister of Canada?
Scott Brison: I believe that, now more than ever, Canada needs a new generation of leadership and a new generation of ideas. I am the right person to lead the Liberal party and to lead our country because I bring a combination of youth, energy and experience that is unrivalled by any other candidate. I have a decade of government experience and a decade of business experience. I have clear, innovative and sound ideas for the economy, the environment, and re-engaging young Canadians, to name only a few. I have proven that I can win in rural Canada. And nobody in the race has more experience going toe-to-toe with Stephen Harper than I do. I know him, I know how he operates, and I know I can beat him.
Jim Sheppard, Executive Editor, globeandmail.com: Where do you place the 10 candidates right now in terms of being front-runners, middle-of-the-pack or well-behind-the-rest? What's your strategy since it appears no one will win on the first ballot at the convention?
Scott Brison: People appear to have widely differing opinions on who the front-runner is, who's in the top tier, and so on. The latest poll of the Canadian public, conducted by Decima last week, placed me in the top tier of candidates. My strategy is to have a strong showing on the first ballot, and build support from there. I believe that delegates will be drawn to the candidate who will have the best chance of beating Stephen Harper. I can connect with Canadians in an election campaign: my business background lets me connect with the business community, my rural roots let me connect with rural Canadians, and people know they can trust me to defend their Charter rights.
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