By Pepper Parr
October 28th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Update:
In the closing sentence of this article we said: “They wonder why Burlington could not find a decent Catholic candidate to represent them..
The they was the Catholic community. Several readers questioned the Catholic reference, informing us that the candidate didn’t have to be a Catholic and that is correct. What we were saying is that many in the Catholic community in Burlington wanted someone to represent their views in the House of Commons. The Conservative party leadership appeared to like the look of Jane Michael. Many Catholics in Burlington didn’t. And many who were not Catholic were terrified that Michael would get the traditional Conservative vote and take the seat. Sanity prevailed.
It is just a little after the votes were counted and the riding of Burlington re-elected Karina Gould that the Gazette was finally able to communicate with a second person who was able to confirm what we were given by a Burlington resident on the way Elizabeth Jane Michael was named as the Conservative Party candidate.
We wanted someone to corroborate what we had learned – but were not able to do so before the election.
Our source wrote the following. We have been able to confirm that the writer is real but for personal job related reasons we cannot reveal the names of either source.
“I could easily add to all the ‘unusable’ dirt I hear you have been receiving about Jane Michael, but I’m not going to do that now.
“The line you have about Burlington conservatives not being able to understand how Jane Michael became the Conservative candidate is certainly true. The information I have will shed some light on this and explain why CPC chose Jane Michael to be Burlington’s candidate. This is just me putting the threads together. Jane Michael’s Campaign Manager is Paul Marai. Their history goes way back. They served eight years together as trustees on the HCDSB. Marai also has a big connection to the Conservatives.
“Here are a few of bits of info:
Elizabeth Jane Michael was sanctioned by the HCDSB in May of 2018 for ‘violating code of conduct’ at an in-camera meeting.
“In a news report in another publication HDCSB Anthony Quinn said: “The reprimand may not seem like much, but it’s the strongest sanction available to the board under the legislation.”
Paul Marai was Michael’s Campaign Manager. He is also the Director of Digital operations for RMG – The Responsive Marketing Group Inc
“At the board’s public meeting May 15, 2018, vice-chair Paul Marai read a motion announcing the sanction and stating the penalty: Michael is barred from attending two board meetings, removed from her position on the discipline committee and excluded from the search for a new director of education “from the beginning to the end of the hiring process.”
“Michael had the highest trustee expenses while with HCDSB. Many other controversies.
“Michael’s Campaign Manager, was Paul Marai who is a Digital Director of RMG – The Responsive Marketing Group Inc. This company does work for political parties, and election work from federal to municipal. One service they provide is robo calling.
“In RMG marketing material RMG is described as an industry leader for over 20 years. “Responsive Marketing Group is Canada’s preeminent integrated political marketing services company. We bring together decades of experience in voter contact, fundraising, and cutting edge data science to offer unparalleled audience insight and engagement services.”
“RMG does work for the Conservative Party of Canada and has done work in the Burlington and neighbouring ridings for years provincially and federally. Paul Marai, through the company RMG, has a connection to Andrew Scheer’s campaign team and Conservative party staff.
“Marai was helping Jane when she tried to win the PC nomination in 2016.
“This ‘Michael to Marai to Scheer/Hamish Marshall connection’ is why Burlington conservatives ended up with Jane Michael.” Hamish Marshall was Andrew Scheer’s campaign manager.”
Our source adds that “there is certainly nothing wrong with all these connections.” She felt the public had a right to know.
Our first source gave us basically the same information.
The Conservative Party liked the strong Catholic anti abortion position Michael had taken and were prepared to go to some lengths to get her there.
But there was just too much that didn’t smell right and the voters of Burlington decided to stay with the incumbent. Many strong Conservative Catholic voters in Burlington spoke to the Gazette saying that they couldn’t stomach the candidate they were told they had to take.
They wonder why Burlington could not find a decent Catholic candidate to represent them.
They are out there.
Related news stories:
Gazette hacked.
Pepper Parr is the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
Why would the candidate need to be Catholic?
Editor’s note. The story has an update.
One of the principles emerging from the PC and Reform Party merger in 2002 was the need for more grass-roots involvement and control at the constituency level. This concept seems to have been abadoned altogether in favour of pushing an extreme, single issue agenda with limited local appeal.
It’s time the So-Cons in the Conservative Party got the message that the majority of voters aren’t hanging their hats or their votes on the abortion issue. This is a polarizing subject, and there is no clear consensus around it. Moreover, there are a myriad of other issues in this country (e.g. poverty, taxation, job creation, productivity, international trade, Indigenous rights, housing, affordability, etc.) that are of far more consequence and importance to Canadians. Having a “one trick pony” as a candidate who ducks public meetings, avoids active campaigning, and only speaks to her base, is neither helpful nor engaging. The Conservatives could and should have won this election in a cake walk given the outright incompetence of the Liberal government and the idiotic antics of the Prime Minister. The fact they didn’t is because Tories like me parked our votes with other candidates as a clear and tangible demonstration of our disgust with the backroom machinations in the local riding association.
In the words of Edmund Burke: “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it”. Those who are now in control at the local Conservative EDA need to turn over control to others who are more in touch with local needs. Dispatch the So-Cons to the sidelines, and let’s get on with building a viable alternative to the Trudeau government with broad-based appeal to all Canadians, not just right-to-life religious zealots. As for Andrew Scheer, his days are clearly numbered. Time to man up and pack it in!
Excellent post, Stephen! I too believe that Scheer should resign and open the leadership campaign up. His social conservative views are clearly out-of-synch with urban voters which is where the Conservatives need to increase their electoral support. These views were ruthlessly attacked by the Liberals in this election and Scheer didn’t help his own cause by not dealing directly with the attacks–this allowed the Liberals to BRAND him as untrustworthy. The next election is likely no more than two years away and this image of Andrew Scheer will follow him as the Liberals will surely adopt the same attack strategy. Overall, the Conservatives need to make a calculated shift back to their centrist, Progressive Conservative roots. IMO, the best leadership candidates for the PC’s are Lisa Raitt (her defeat in Milton has more to do with shifting demographics–it’s a reality that the nickname of her riding is Brampton West), Michelle Rempel, or Rona Ambrose.
“Burlington could not find a decent Catholic candidate”…. why does Burlington need a Catholic candidate? Is that now a qualification to be a Conservative….?
Editor’s note: The story has an update.