Dion’s Stealth Replacement Strategy

I’ve been watching with a bit of interest how Stephane Dion has been handling the by-election preparation in the Montreal riding of Outremont which was vacated in the winter by Paul Martin’s Quebec lieutenant Jean Lapierre (who incidentally praised Stephen Harper’s government on his new show after he had left his Ottawa bench). Dion quickly quelled rumours that Justin Trudeau would carry the party’s seat in the traditionally Liberal riding, and instead reserved his right as party leader to appoint a candidate in the riding.

So who did Dion chose? A woman who would help Dion meet his much-talked about but little praised quota for the number of female Liberal candidates he wants to run in the next election? How about someone who would actually be able to appeal to the ethnic minorities in the riding, given that the NDP is making a power play for the seat with a popular former Quebec Liberal minister? No, he chose one of his own: a university accademic from Montreal named Jocelyn Coulon.

Coulon isn’t shy about his expectations either, reportedly saying that Dion is seeking his expertise on foreign affairs, defence issues, and Africa, which makes Dion’s current caucus specialists in these areas what? Chopped liver? Considering that Dion already has people like Michael Ignatieff, himself an academic expert on foreign affairs, and current critics in these areas like Ujjal Dosanjh and Denis Coderre already handling these areas, what does this say about Dion’s trust in his own caucus or the Liberal leader’s evaluation of that talented “dream team” the Liberals keep on bringing up when referring to their high-ranking members. Still yet, why doesn’t Dion let Justin Trudeau run in the riding that the young Trudeau currently resides in? These are all very good questions for Canadians and particularly Quebecois to consider as this by-election begins to come into the spotlight. The answers point to a leader so insecure with his own ability and with the more capable rivals around him that he feels compelled to use extreme powers to appoint a bunch of loyal yes-men (and note:not yes-women!) so as to reinforce his position as leader. Not much of a management style, now is it?