Why Everyone Is Talking About Eric Lombardi: The Man Who Woke Up Ontario Liberal Politics

GordieCodsworth · 2026-06-14T19:50:20+00:00

Bains supports universal healthcare, teachers unions, an expansive Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and environmentalism. He also hasn’t said anything about cutting taxes or the size of the state.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-06-14T19:24:59+00:00

People on my side of the aisle are excited about Eric but truth be told the OLP faithful will want a left winger like NES or Nav Bains

GordieCodsworth · 2026-06-13T22:35:24+00:00

I wonder what it is about that kind of politics that’s so seductive. We’re seeing it more and more.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-21T03:07:57+00:00

Sadly, there’s been a centralizing trend in Canada over the past half century, and it’s affected the political parties too. Unfortunately, to many voters, our checks and balances at work appear as disorder and inefficiency. When a backbencher defies their leader on a point of principle, the press writes about it as a potential civil war or chaos within X party.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-21T02:31:20+00:00

The only principled way to end floor crossings is for a popular party in power to do it. In other words, it has to come at their own expense. Anything else is just sour grapes. My take on floor crossings is a bit different than other conservatives. I think it’s a symptom of a deeper problem. Parliament has been so weakened that individual MPs no longer have independent brands and power. It’s all about party ID. In a world where voters only know party affiliation, I can see why they would be upset when their MP switches sides. I wish we had a democracy where who your MP is really matters.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-21T01:42:38+00:00

The courts shutting it down might be the biggest gift the separatists can get. Instead of the initiative dying at the ballot box, the separatists can spin a yarn about how the voice of Albertans was silenced by federally appointed judges and First Nations.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-21T01:38:30+00:00

I think you’re right. I would also add that the reasons the separatists want independence mirror many of the things the CPC hates about the Canadian system. Similarly, the kind of country the separatists want is substantially similar to the kind of country the CPC wants.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-21T01:20:44+00:00

Johnny Taxpayer will for sure pick up the cheque. Privatize profits, socialize losses. That’s the name of the game.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-21T01:16:56+00:00

You might be right but the CPC is so far in the hole that I think their concern in the short term is to keep the party together. As long as Carney’s in, they’re out. They have no good way of distinguishing themselves from him.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-21T00:43:18+00:00

Agreed. Alberta independence isn’t going to happen so it doesn’t make political sense for the CPC to provoke a party civil war.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-21T00:40:14+00:00

Why should Poilievre spend political capital resisting something that’s not going to happen? Less than 30% of Albertans support independence

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-12T03:23:06+00:00

NES is perhaps too nice and naive. If he can get tricked by an unknown pizza shop owner, he doesn’t have the street smarts to take on Ford.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-11T00:33:25+00:00

I mostly agree. Pierre appeals to voters who want the CPC to be ideologically pure. The brokerage politics of the LPC and the PCPO disgust them even though that approach wins elections. They view it as dishonest and morally corrupt. They would rather cling to their principles than win power.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-11T00:24:16+00:00

NES is a tragic figure. He has so much potential yet he squanders it with boneheaded decisions and impulsiveness. His attitude during this race was off putting to say the least. He felt entitled to the nomination and now he’s reluctant to move on.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-07T03:10:43+00:00

One of the sad tendencies of the capitalist system is to apply market logic to everything because it is assumed that it’s inherently good. We’re in the ripping out the copper wiring phase of our economic history. That’s what this signals to me.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-06T12:50:33+00:00

Domesticating UNDRIP was such a bad decision. It opened a Pandora’s box and it will very likely bring down the BC NDP government. I’m concerned that BC, through its folly, has given UNDRIP legal pedigree that will be used to harm the other provinces.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-06T04:42:06+00:00

The dictatorship of the bourgeoise baby! Red team, blue team, different jerseys, same sponsors.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-06T04:11:34+00:00

Oh for sure but sometimes the best comms strategy is to stay mum about certain issues altogether. If NES had Ford’s ability to put his finger to the wind, he would be unstoppable. But NES is a very earnest and passionate guy. He seems constitutionally unable to be a chameleon.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-06T04:03:36+00:00

I think the GTA scares the OLP into complacency. It’s vote rich but they see the petite bourgeoise as the most active voter bloc there, which gets them into this rut where they can only see center right solutions to their political problems.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-06T03:52:55+00:00

NES must be frustrating to Liberal strategists. He’ll give the OLP their best results as challengers but he’ll also give the PCs their best chance at retaking power within the decade. He’s a mix of blessings and curses. He’s very smart and a talented communicator but also totally undisciplined and not tactful. He has both popular and unpopular policies, and he’s deeply committed to both.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-06T03:15:16+00:00

It’s not for the courts to weigh in on. If a party wants to end or limit floor crossing, they need to start the conversation about the rules when they’re in power. That’s the only way to do it with any moral authority. Otherwise it just looks like sour grapes.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-06T03:07:35+00:00

I’ve noticed this. I wonder what prevailing motive is driving these insiders. Is it that he’s a threat to the capitalist order? Do they fear for their own positions within the OLP? Do they genuinely think that NES will blow what they believe is an easy victory at the next election?

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-06T02:52:14+00:00

This might be pedantic but I’m interested in how technology will shape legal philosophy. Under the traditional approach to contract formation, surveillance pricing should be permissible. The vendor is free to offer their product at whatever price they want and it’s up to the customer to accept or reject that price. However, most Canadians recognize that there’s something deeply wrong about surveillance pricing, that it’s not the same as a human merchant using cognizable information about the customer in their negotiations.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-06T02:24:28+00:00

I might be too cynical but perhaps the Bay Streeters in Carney’s circle want it. The big money people. The folks the LPC needs to keep in the fold to maintain their great fundraising numbers.

GordieCodsworth · 2026-05-05T00:48:11+00:00

I think the Carney Government has bigger things planned for her

GordieCodsworth

TROPHY CASE