David McGuinty considering Liberal leadership bid

Reinventing themselves is proving to be quite a challenge for the Liberal party. Proponents of radical change are running into stiff opposition at the party's 'road to renewal' convention in Ottawa. Roger Smith has more on the contentious issue.

CTV News Channel: McGuinty considering options

Liberal MP David McGuinty discusses some of the biggest issues the Liberal party is facing and also how the party is being rebooted in terms of presidency, and membership secretary.

CTV News Channel: Liberal loss a historic event

CTV News Channel correspondent Mercedes Stephenson is live at the Liberal convention, and speaks to author Peter C. Newman.

CTV News Channel: The path to Liberal renewal

CTV News Channel correspondent Mercedes Stephenson is live at the Liberal convention and speaks to P.E.I. premier Robert Ghiz.

CTV News Channel: Canada's military future

Liberal Senator Romeo Dallaire explains the need for a new defence white paper to be created, and what policy issues will need to be addressed in the paper.

CTV News Channel: Challenges of the Liberal party

Josh Visser with CTVNews.ca discusses how the Liberal party is addressing an 'existential crisis' and says how some Liberals don't really know what they stand for anymore.

CTV National News: Liberal convention kicks off

Reduced to third party status last April, the once-dominant Liberals are anxious to put the humiliating defeat behind them, starting with a convention that kicked off in Montreal Friday. CTV's Roger Smith reports.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

A A | Email This Email | Print | Comments (44) Tweet

David McGuinty shakes hands with a reporter at the Liberal Party convention in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. (Patrick Doyle / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

View Larger Image

More on this topic

Liberals enter convention facing existential crisis

CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Sat. Jan. 14 2012 10:13 PM ET

Popular Ottawa Liberal MP David McGuinty hinted he may run for the party's leadership next year.

While he didn't exactly say yes, he certainly didn't say no when prodded by CTV News Channel's Mercedes Stephenson at the party's biennial convention on Saturday.

McGuinty, brother of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, said he owes it to himself, his family, constituents and the party to explore his options.

"I have to give it some consideration," he told Stephenson. "There's a lot at stake. I've got to find the best way to serve right now.

"It's a great privilege to serve in public life. It can be a tough life, a demanding life ... so I'm considering every option," he said.

McGuinty is no stranger to federal politics.

He's been elected four times in his Ottawa South riding and served at the forefront of the Liberal caucus as Opposition House leader, charged with facing off against Conservative pit bull John Baird.

McGuinty is well known for his heckling skills in the House and serves as energy and natural resources critic.

Interim leader Bob Rae, in an interview on CTV's Canada AM Friday, also didn't rule a run for the party's helm.

Comments are now closed for this story

Travis (Barrhaven)
said

Absolutely not.

It is impossible for me to trust anyone from that particular McGuinty family.

If David McGuinty becomes the new Liberal leader, this will certainly spell the end of the Liberals. On second thought, maybe we want him to become leader, so the Liberals can bang in the final nail to their coffin - from the inside.

I can't believe he thinks he even has a chance of making the Liberals look good. Delusions must be in their genetic makeup.

David
said

Albertan's should beware......our new premier Redford is quite liberal and she may sell us out if the fiberals were to ever gain power again.....vote wild rose if you want to ensure the East doesn't violate us again with another national energy program.....

Snapper
said

Oh geez, please not another McGuinty who wants to lead. One is way too many and has already cost Ontario taxpayers way too much.

Helene
said

And here we all thought it could not get any worse after. .....Ignatieff.....Folks he is a lame duck, he has not done anything since he sits in the House...this guy is as useless as a screen door in a submarine.Aside form the fact that his brother, the "Premier "of Ontario will cause him more harm than good.Stay away from him...far away.

David in Dartmouth
said

Hey Dalton...!!!! Stay home......I shudder to think what would happen to the outer regions of this country were you to be elected Leader.....12 more years of Tory Government...If you were so good in Ontario....just look at the wasteland you created for North and Northwestern Ontario from Sault Ste,Marie outward....ghost towns.!!!!...that what would be in store for the rest of Canada east and west of Ontario...

Dixie from Alberta
said

Can the Libs not find someone fresh new young who doesn't bring baggage to the party? Good for the PM.

SF Thomas
said

To all those who suggest David McGuinty becoming leader of the federal liberals would be a bad idea on the basis that his brother has been premier of Ontario, they might want to rethink that proclamation considering who just won the provincial election back in October. Assuming the Ontario Liberals stay in power for the full 4 year term (it isn't that unlikely considering it pretty much takes a fully unified opposition with every member present to vote them down), Dalton McGuinty may very well step aside as party leader and premier to let the next person take over. This would negate some issues with having both of the brothers leading the provincial and federal Liberal Parties at the same time.

spaz
said

GOOD GRIEF !!!.....The man has a perpetual frown....that look of "my pet rabbit just died".Being the author of the CARBON TAX, as touted by Stephan Dion......keep this guy out of power or you will be taxed like his infamous brother Dalton.

Roger in Ottawa
said

Great move for the conservatives. David McGuinty as leader of the liberals will ensure a strong hold of power by Mr. Harper. Thank you lie-berals. Canada thanks you.

Michael in Ontario
said

Great, that is all we need, another McGuinty running a Liberal Party. I just hope he is more honesty and trust worthy then his brother the leader of the Provincical Liberal Party in Ontario. I know I will never vote Liberal with a McGuinty at the helm!

TM
said

Canadians will be sick and tired of the Harper regime by 2015 - he'll be out of office after the next election.

Dave in Ottawa
said

Just like Jeb Bush, he has a brother who is the ultimate screw up that has gone before him. Why would anyone take a chance on voting in another McGuinty led government?

Steve O
said

Canadians are so disgusted with Harper's mismanagement it doesn't matter who the liberal leader is the majority will vote liberal. Hopefully in the mean time Harper doesn't bankrupt Canada, he has us going into debt at a rate of about 4 million per hour. Just wait for his new policies to kick in and we'll be going down hill twice as fast. We made it through the tough economic times because of good liberal policies, get ready for the worst Harper's policies are about to kick in.

Brett from Ottawa-Orleans
said

The only candidate who would be worse then David McGuinty is his brother.

TheOtherLowellInBC
said

i am pretty sure whoever steps up to the plate to run for the leadership is going to be slagged by the conservative party. so all comments regarding the qualifications of david mcguinty by conservative supporters need to be put into perspective. They have all pledged their allegiance not to mention first born to steven harper and do not represent the majority of canadians. I am sure there are many people looking for an alternative to harper.

Let's NOT be clear
said

I hope he does run and joins his brother in reshaping this once great country. Harper is just a dictator.

Dalton has done a terrific job in Ontario reviving the economy in this province which Mike Harris practically destroyed.

With 2 McGuinty's at the helm, this will be the best country ever politically.

Sens/Habs Fan - Ottawa
said

@#@Oh Len, yes John Baird is a "pit bull" and a good one. Doesn't have to stand up in the House of Commons with printed out material in front of him like the Liberals to speak..knows his stuff but, will say on Question Period out of the House they are "all" friends. Must say there are quite a few "loose cannons" on the Liberal side who have been there far too long and should think of retiring"now".

BCassidy ottawa
said

Jack of Ottawa sounds fearful and I would be petrified...if we had 2 McGuinty failures to ruin this whole country. Please no...no...no...
When I retired at age 50 I swore I would never work for another dollar again in my life. I have held to that promise (14 years later). I volunteer for our veterans and my senior neighbours. However, should I face 2 McGuinties... I would come out of retirement and offer endless support to who ever would help to save Ontario and Canada from the Liberal mess.

pyroguy99
said

Please just give us someone with some charisma, leadership skills, a national view for the future and a focus on making Canada something I can once again be proud of. That's all I ask.

Oh No - Ottawa
said

Just saying "Big Bob Ottawa" now that one of the McGuinty Brothers have made us a "HAVE NOT" Province where on earth do you think the money for "have not Provinces" comes from..yep The West...need NOT insult where the $$$ come from to keep this once beautiful Province afloat until McGuinty put his hands on it.

George V.
said

David McGuinty running for the top job of Prime Minister is much better than Bob Rae. Either one of these candidates will ensure the Conservatives will stay in power for many years to come. Bob Rae's sc.r-- ups in Ontario are a distant history not remembered or experienced by the younger generationof The McGuinty brothers are the same apples from the same tree) Dalton McGuinty the premier of Ontario is doing it ot our province here and now fresh in everyone's minds, we have a provincial debt in the billions of dollars never experienced in the history of our province. A premier who made deals for out of line wage increases with the provicial police force to take effect after the election. A premier who promised us no tax increases, when elected we were hit with a wopping big health tax. Spent billions of dollars on solar and windmills,electricity produced cost .80c per kwh. is being sold on the grid for .08c per kwh. We are paying Quebec and New York state to take hydro off our hands as we now have an over abundant supply of electricity. We had a Health scam cost us around a billion dollars and nothing to show for it. We are now a have not province, supported by the oil dollars of Alberta. Please let Dave run for the top job in the federal Liberal party Harper will have him for breakfast. As they say two brothers two birds of a feather.

Ottawa Jack
said

To CTV: Thanks for pointing out that David McGuinty is well known for his 'heckling skills' in the House. Apparently, for some Liberals, these skills would make him a great leader??? Wow , enough said .........

Patrick in Fonthill
said

How does Roadrobber figure Dalton McGuinty has destroyed Ontario. He had a massive mess to clean up from the Conservatives: crumbling infrastructure, worst health system in the country, an education system in tatters. He has reversed all this while also saving hundreds of thousands of automotive industry jobs. If his brother is even half as good, he would be just the person we need to undo the damage caused by Harper: damage to the environment, erosion of democracy, retreat of the economy to resources and commodities, etc.

One Egg Roll - Ottawa
said

McGuinty..on no..had an older woman calling CFRA and was crying as she was so worried about Dalton not getting back in last election and Toronto put him back in. No doubt the McGuinty's feel that they are entitled to this since their father was in the Government and the old story about coming from such a big family. It is time for someone other than this family and certainly NOT RAE - though would put him before RAE.

BikerMike
said

That's great news, a McGuinty as Liberal leader. The Liberals continue to show the world how proficient they are at putting nails in their coffins. Regardless, the federal Liberal party in Canada is dead, dead, dead.

MikerMike-Ottawa

David L
said

My dear Doug^^^ Dalton McGuinty is certainly not a leftist, he battles the NDP daily and is a pragmatist which means centrist. Ontario is hardly a left wing part of Canada, it experimented with it in the 90's with the NDP and has never looked that way again.

MexPat
said

Conny's out spreading the "guilt by association" propaganda...Give the man a chance, and stop getting your nickers in a not! The guy hasn't even said that he's doing it and people are already associating him to his brother the Premier. And what evidence have you to found your "vilifying statements"? nothing. that's right. nothing. Not even the "Illustrious Professor Pop Tart" can dig up trash on this guy which would make any cabinet minister in the Harper Dictatorship sparkle.

Len
said

@ Brian in Nfld: Can't find what CTV said about Baird but he is a "pit bull': he goes for the jugular, does so arrogantly, does not accept an opposing point of view, bullies his way through what 'he calls conversations', speaks with twisted tongue and rhetoric, speaks impulsively, speaks impetuously, and need I go on?

Doug ^^^ BC
said

I"m not from Ontario, but from the news we get out here, I get the feeling that "Ottawa Jack" has it just about right. Or is that left? Either way,another left winger leading the Liberals can only be good news for PM Harper. I know not all westerners like PM Harper.But most people here like growth and lower taxes,as opposed to more of the welfare/nannyy state mentality that seems to be prefered in central Canada. Two left wing brothers running almost all of Canada.I can barely imagine Canada surviving. Liberal policies have already carved up this counry like a Christmas turkey.If electing another socialist doesn't split this country wide open,it certainly won't help us reconcile our different regional values either. For the west,NOW is the time to demand our provincial rights.Quebec has rights that we do not.And Ontario has most of the MP's.In the face of that,I will vote for a Conservative 9 times out of 10.

Big Bob in Ottawa
said

Wouldn't matter if the liberals had god himself running cons will swear that no Canadians will vote for them. I disagree, as I have NEVER voted conservative I'd pretty much vote for anyone but Harper so since I know I am NOT the only Canadian that feels this way I can assure you if David Mcguinty is my only option other than Harper bring on PM Mcguinty. I am not alone. The conservative agenda is for rich folk and westerners that have always had a resource based economy. I am neither.

Prof. Pye Chartt
said

Good Lord. With the pathetic stable of better-known gumballs the Liberal party currently has to choose from, is anybody NOT considering a run for the leadership? The lowly member who blows up the red balloons at their biennial convention, after looking around, is probably thinking, "Heck; I should give it a shot."

Mike (Ottawa South)
said

David McGuinty set his sights on leader when he first entered politics. Canada however couldn't handle another McGuinty as leader.

Roadrobber
said

Great (insert eye roll here). His brother basically destroyed Ontario, now another McGuinty is lining up to destroy Canada. If he's elected Liberal leader, it won't be good for the Liberal party.

Barry Smith
said

The Liberal Party of Canada would be well served by Mr. McGuinty as leader and Canada would be fortunate to have him as P.M.

shawn
said

I think he'd get more votes than Bobby Rae.

allan
said

The liberal party has no good foundation of people, that is why good people like John Manley, or Frank Mckenna dont want the leadership. Mcguinty is just another prima donna with nothing to offer Canada

Andrew in Dundas
said

The LPC is looking more and more pathetic by the hour. Save yourself further embarrassment and declare bankruptcy, form a new party and start with a clean slate with NEW faces. You guys are flogging a dead horse... very sad, indeed.

dan
said

Two Mcguintys is going to be a real disaster. Ontario is a have not province since Bob Rae and Dalton Mcguinty took over. I feel sorry for the Liberal party for being stuck with those two clowns.

Brian in NL
said

Can you imagine a McGuinty running the country like one has run the province of Ontario? Scary thought. And to CTV "news" re John Baird being a "pit bull" are you reporting the news or expressing an opinion?

Ottawa Jack
said

PLEASE, give me a break. His big-spending & promise-breaking brother Dalton McGuinty has already made Ontario a 'have not' province. We do not want David McGuinty turning Canada into a ' have not' country

Will
said

Bring it on, hahahahahaha, let the liberal party die

Doug
said

Who cares! Liberals will vote for anyone as long as that person shovels more and more tax money into their entitled little pockets!

Carl
said

Having McGuinty as federal Liberal leader is every federal Conservative's dream.

OttawaSouthSteve
said

Nooooooooooo! I've already got his brother as premier leading the Provincial Liberals, I don't want another McGuinty leading the Federal Liberals!!!! Make it stop!