Senator Beth Marshall.
Here’s the view from January 19:
Beth Marshall would be too obvious just because all the spec puts her name up right next to the two Loyolas. She’s at the point now where her name is on everyone’s list of nominees for everything. Watch out if the Pope drops dead tomorrow. Local spec will have Beth in the running right behind the two Loyolas; it’s gotten to be that much of a cliche.
An interesting choice if one that is remarkable for how cliche it really is.
Others have already pointed out that Marshall very publicly declined to join the ABC silliness. That obviously stood her in good stead for this plum.
Others, however, have also over-estimated her lack of connections to the local provincial Conservatives and how this might not help improve relations between the federal Connies and their provincial cousins. Bear in mind she was handed the plum of over-seeing implementation of the Green report and has been a faithful party player on the House of Assembly management committee.
She’s tight enough with both the federal and provincial crews to serve as a bridge. And it’s not like she hasn’t got experience in changing her tune when it serves her partisan purpose as well.
Don’t be surprised if she goes to cabinet in short order or otherwise gets a neat job to facilitate the rapprochement. The anti-Ottawa hysteria that once was the local Connie stock-in-trade will quickly be a thing of the past.
-srbp-