Brent Barr at the debate — sort of

Posted by Vik Kirsch

The phantom in the room at yesterday’s local byelection debate was Brent Barr.

At an all-candidates meeting in the Village By The Arboretum, audience members wanted to know what happened to the former federal Tory candidate, who was unceremoniously dumped without explanation by the party in favour of Gloria Kovach.

“I’d like to know the reason,” Kovach said, adding it remains as much a mystery to her as the public.
“I write fiction,” New Democratic Party contender Tom King said, implying he recognizes a made-up story when he hears it. King stressed he simply couldn’t believe Kovach didn’t know.

Liberal candidate Frank Valeriote defended Barr as a man beyond reproach. Valeriote said he saw the heavy and undemocratic hand of Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the Tory party’s decision to dump Barr.

Calling Barr a gentleman, Green challenger Mike Nagy said he “felt sad” when he was dropped by the Tories.

“I would like this prime minister to say why,” Nagy added.

Comments

[BBS]

As opposed to the light and democratic hand of Stephane Dion, right Frank? His appointment of hand-picked candidates Joan Beatty and Jocelyn Coulon in the last round of by-elections worked really well. Marc Garneau had to threaten to quit the Liberal Party in order to get Dion to appoint him for this by-election.

[Kevin Ames]

Crucial difference BBS, Dion didn't dump any elected candidates without providing a full and complete explanation.

[Sandy]

The Conservatives are not the only party to take this approach with a candidate. Both the Liberals and the NDP have made moves like this one in the past as well. And, it's not the Prime Minister who made the decision about Barr, so why should he have to apologize for something that he didn't not have a direct hand in? My goodness people, I don't think what was done to Barr was right, but if what he was removed for was completely out of line, I think Barr would have defended and fought a lot harder, sorry guys.

I find it amusing what Frank said because we all know that the Liberals have 'NEVER' been undemocratic or dealt the country or it's party members the 'heavy hand'! This election is getting away from what is really important here...Guelph's Voice in Ottawa!

[Bert]

"Crucial difference BBS, Dion didn't dump any elected candidates without providing a full and complete explanation."

Yeah Kevin. He dumped a number of members so that he could get more women to run. There is NOTHING wrong with women in politics; there ought to be more. HOWEVER, dumping a candidate that a constituancy (sp?) is familiar with for the express reason to increase the number of female candidates is wrong. The should get the best person to run for the available seat, man OR women. That's something that Dion has yet to grasp.

[Bert]

Forgot to add that once again, a byelection debate devolved into a "let's beat up the Conservatives" 'fest. I guess the other candidates will try & dredge up ANY "dirt" on a candidate or their party in the absense of any real issues.

[Scott Tribe]

BBS, can you name me any Liberal candidates who won their nomination as held by a democratic vote of their riding members who were then subsequently removed from their position by Dion?

IF you can, you have a point.. but if not.. then what Barr had done to him was certainly apples to oranges to Dion appointing candidates. He was the democratically selected candidate for Guelph as picked by his local riding.. and he was unceremoniously dumped by the national CPC, for no other reason then Gloria was the national CPC and Harper's pick.

[felix]

It seems everyone is pointing their finger here and there except at Brent Barr. Stand back and look at the fallout that is still around since his dismissal. Don't you think that CPC would have sensed that his removal would split local conservatives and give the other parties ammunition considering his showing in 2006?

The CPC must have had very good reason for their decision. I guess, in hind site, the CPC should have disqualified Brent before the nomination process but they didn't.

Will Brent or the CPC admit to the truth of the matter? Some day the whole story may come out. Till that time arrives all we have is shear speculation.

[Scott Tribe]

Let's also remember Mark Warner got pulled as the duly elected nominated CPC candidate in Bob Rae's riding.. because he was running on urban city issues the CPC didnt want him to.. and he got pulled out as well.

Control Freak Conservatives.

[Scott Tribe]

Felix: I think it's more the onus of the national CPC to tell their Guelph CPC riding members why they felt the need to remove Brent. I seem to recall during that episode when it first happened the national CPC offered up the lame explanation that Brent wasn't working hard enough to win the riding, hence his removal. That's as poor of an excuse as I've ever seen.

[felix]

Yes Scott, I remember this explanation. I agree it appears to be a flimsy explanation but maybe the national CPC was just being kind.

[Sandy]

felix, I agree. The whole 'not working' hard enough is a cover from Brent himself. I don't doubt he worked hard, but there's obviously something more that we're not hearing, and may never hear. The ball is in Barr's court, he could come forward with the reasons of why. Right now Kovach is who the conservatives have, if she loses then they'll have the chance to vote for someone else down the road.

[Jeff]

Just to clarify, it was a voter who asked the Barr question and the candidates were asked to respond. Those anti-Conservative voters, how dare they ask about democracy and local will.

[Bert]

Point taken, Jeff. I didn't see that.

[saskboy]

" so why should he have to apologize for something that he didn't not have a direct hand in? "

Sandy, I think you're mistaken, since the party leader is who endorses the riding's nomination.

[Guelphboy]

Great point Saskboy, Harper must have approved Barr, and then someone went around "poisoning wells". As a boy from Sask, I think you know how dirty that can be, not to mention cowardly.
Net results - grease the skids and bye-bye Barr. He won fair and square, but obviously he did not have friends in high places, but then neither did the free thinking and very talented Lawyer in Toronto who also got the shaft.

But there is an amusing side to this.
Barr is alleged to have worn out two shoes when Guelph was not even close to an election. Yet he was allegedly turfed because he was "not workung hard enough"! No evidence of this, but then Kangaroo courts do not need evidence.
Kovach as the replacement choice of the brain trust at CPC Ottawa stated she would debate the issues "anytime, anywhere"
So what is the score so far? Barr the "not working hard enough" former candidate has been to one AC meeting at least, While "any time, any where" Gloria has had excuses for her absence on both ocassions.
Excuse no. 2 - She could not make a NOON hour All Candidates meeting in Guelph because of an EVENING session at Kitchener with the boss. What was he doing- tightening the muzz;e? Weak, very weak.
Excuse no. 1 - She was at a seniors home so she missed the first AC evening meeting. Wow. At a lot of senior homes, most seniors are ready for beddy-bye right after dinner. (That's Eastern for Supper Saskboy). Maybe it is easier to address a somnolent audience!

Her loyal supporters claim that this is all the fault of the Liberals. What did they do - offer Barr a senate seat to show up and embarass Kovach? I hope he shows up at all the remaining AC meetings - after all he is a voter.

[BBS]

"BBS, can you name me any Liberal candidates who won their nomination as held by a democratic vote of their riding members who were then subsequently removed from their position by Dion? "

When you cancel a nomination race and appoint a candidate, there is no democratic process. Simply because the Liberals don't have a case that matches Guelph doesn't make them the champions of democracy.

[JK]

David Orchard anyone......

[JK]

Barr is not running he is gone get over it. The CPC have a star in Gloria K.

[chg]

JK, good analogy. People didn't get over David Orchard and now he IS the candidate. It remains to be seen whether enough people get over Barr by Sept 8. The people who invested time and energy in Barr because they really felt he was the best candidate for Guelph, can't be expected to just "get over it".

[D1andOnlyMichaelStevenDWizardWisniewskiD1st]

Thank you chg, I've been saying that for almost a year now

[Sandy]

Personally I think Barr could settle the dust on this one, but he choses not to. That's very sad for 2 reasons. 1. It doesn't allow people to have a reason to "get over it', and 2. It also makes it look like there was a good reason why he was let go. I know Barr persoanlly, and I've spoken to him on many occasions. He was and still is a great guy. I think he could let the conservatives in Guelph have a better understanding of "why". No one should be expected to 'get over it', but when the answer is sitting right here in Guelph at the home of Brent Barr, it makes me think there's more to the story than just a phone call saying "Hey, Barr...you're fired!" It just doesn't add up.....

[Paul]

Sandy:
You keep saying thar Barr knows the reason, and he sholud confess all. However Barr consistently says he does not know. Are you questioning his veracity?
Besides the official spokesman of the Guelph CPC is the President. If anyone knows, it has to be the President and it is up to him to clear the air.
Furthermore, Barr is not keeping this alive, it is people who are asking for an explanation, and they deserve it, and the Kovach supporters who are trying to cloud the issue and hope it will go away. I do not recall one post that Barr has posted on this topic, so it is a pretty lame excuse to point the finger at him and disparage his character.

[Scott Tribe]

Wow BBS.. you're really trying to apin this away, aren't you?

Between that and trying to explain how members of Team Kovach posing as average citizens when they write into the paper, and bloggers who are rather coy in posing themselves off as volunteers, when in actuality they're the President of the Guelph riding, you're twisting this way and that.

[Sandy]

Paul,

I'm sorry, but are you suggesting that Barr knows nothing? I find that hard to believe. I really do. I just think it's sad that no 'true' reason has come out. I do agree with you that people deserve to know what and why. I don't even know who the president of the local riding is. Were they they president when all this went south?

[D1andOnlyMichaelStevenDWizardWisniewskiD1st]

For the record, Kenneth William Morgan was the riding association's president during 2007 (that includes Brent's successful nomination and his removal there from)

Andrew Prescott currently serves in that capacity for Guelph's Conservatives