Anna Gainey, the eldest daughter of former Montreal Canadiens captain Bob Gainey, will seek the Liberal nomination in the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount in anticipation of the by-election that will be called following of the departure of former Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau.
Liberal sources confirmed to The Press that the candidacy of Mme Gainey, who was president of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2014 to 2018, is acquired. Mme Gainey could confirm his candidacy over the next few days.
Liberal activists are already hard at work in the constituency she covets to ensure that she wins the nomination meeting if other candidates should come forward, according to our information.
Currently, M.me Gainey is the executive director of Canada 2020, a progressive politics think tank that is close to the Liberal Party of Canada. She is also the Executive Director of the Gainey Foundation, which funds charities providing educational programs for young people. This foundation was created shortly after the tragic death of his sister, Laura Gainey, who fell from a boat during a raging storm off Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
“It is certain and certain that Anna Gainey will present herself in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount. She has been preparing since Marc Garneau announced his departure,” said a reliable Liberal source, who requested anonymity because she was not authorized to speak publicly on this issue.
“She will be in line. That’s for sure,” confirmed a second Liberal source well acquainted with the matter.
The main interested party did not respond to the interview request of The Press Monday, which was a public holiday for many.
A veteran in the PLC
Removed from the cabinet following the September 2021 federal election, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau announced on March 8 that he was ending his political career by resigning from his post as an MP.
PHOTO JUSTIN TANG, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Former federal cabinet minister and former astronaut Marc Garneau when announcing his retirement from politics on March 8
Mme Gainey had praised Mr. Garneau’s contribution the day he announced his resignation.
Thank you, Marc Garneau. Your leadership has been an inspiration to all Canadians. It is an honor to consider you a friend and to have had you as an MP for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount. I wish the best to you and your whole family.
Anna Gainey, Executive Director of Canada 2020, on her Twitter account
Mme Gainey has been active in the Liberal Party of Canada for several years. She is also very close to Justin Trudeau. She and her husband, Tom Pitfield, played prominent roles in Trudeau’s 2012 leadership campaign.
Mme Gainey and her husband had accompanied Justin Trudeau and his family on the prime minister’s famous trip to the Aga Khan’s private island for a holiday vacation in 2016.
Previously, M.me Gainey worked as a close aide to ministers Bill Graham and John McCallum in the former Liberal government of Paul Martin.
She was also president of the Westmount–Ville-Marie Liberal Association, the former name of the riding held by Marc Garneau.
More partials to come
The departure of Mr. Garneau brings the number of vacant seats in the House of Commons to five. Two seats are vacant in Manitoba, one seat is vacant in Alberta and one in Ontario.
In the Liberal ranks, there is talk of the possibility that Justin Trudeau will call by-elections in these five ridings before the holding of the national convention of the Liberal Party, which is to be held in Ottawa in early May.
“We would like to have our five candidates chosen and present at the party convention,” noted a liberal source.
Mr. Trudeau must announce before June 11 the date of the by-election to be held in Winnipeg South Centre, which was held by former minister Jim Carr, who died last December following cancer. Mr. Carr’s son, Ben Carr, will run for the Liberal Party.
These by-elections would help gauge the mood of the Canadian electorate at a time when the rising cost of living remains a source of concern for many Canadians who are struggling to make ends meet.
The Liberals have had a rocky start to the year due to widespread media reports of Chinese interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. They are three points behind the Conservatives in voting intentions, according to an average surveys conducted by 338Canada.com. According to this site, the Conservative Party garners an average of 34% of support across the country, compared to 31% for the Liberal Party and 19% for the New Democratic Party.