Who's going to Ottawa?

The strategy is simple and sound: Westmount would never send anyone other than a Liberal to Ottawa, so why not use that fact to ensure that an important 'star' candidate with Cabinet potential gets elected?

Never mind that Westmount has several excellent candidates right here, born and raised on these hilly streets (or at least long-term residents) who know this community far better than anyone from elsewhere. Never mind that a chorus of loud voices have protested the very thought of at least another four years of non-local representation. The Dion Liberals have made the decision for the greater good of the party — and, by extension, the nation — but once again at Westmount's expense.

The Hon. Lucienne Robillard has served this community very well in her capacity as MP, appearing in the riding as often as anyone with a major portfolio could manage. She has been criticized by many Examiner readers for her apparent invisibility, despite making more effort than most of her Parliamentary colleagues to keep in touch with her constituents. Given her unblemished track record, it would be wrong to state that Westmount has been short-changed in the MP department. But nothing can compare with a representative who knows the streets, the stores and the various neighbourhoods of their constituency — and that is exactly what Westmount is being denied when the Liberals 'parachute' someone into the riding.

Considering the high calibre of some Westmounters whose names have been whispered as potential candidates for MP — former mayor Peter Trent prominent among them — it seems that we may once again be denied the personal and familiar brand of official representation in Ottawa that residents of so many other ridings take for granted.

We should have the opportunity to choose who represents us, not be told who it will be.