The battle for a seat in the House of Commons has the potential to be a tight race in the home riding of Parliament.
Ottawa Centre will pit two new high-profile candidates – Liberal Penny Collenette and Conservative Brian McGarry – against the New Democrat Paul Dewar.
Although the history of the riding indicates that the left-of-centre parties have been most successful in the riding, McGarry, a former Liberal and self-proclaimed “Red Tory,” says now is the ideal time for a Conservative to be elected. “I think you should put someone in Parliament who will be in government.”
The last time that the riding sent a Conservative to Parliament was in 1978 when PC Robert de Cotret won the seat in a byelection.
McGarry is a well-known businessman and community leader who has lived in Ottawa Centre for 47 years. He served on the Ottawa Board of Education for nine years, and one term on regional council in 1994. He is the CEO of Hulse, Playfair and McGarry Funeral Chapels.
He is most passionate about making the riding safer. “I am not at all reluctant to say, no apologies, we are tough on crime,” he says. “Unfortunately in my business we deal a lot with the victims.”
He says he will fight hard to tackle local issues. His concerns include water quality, arts and culture funding, public transportation and small businesses.
McGarry says he thinks he appeals to left-leaning residents because of his social policies. He says Stephen Harper has opened the Conservative tent up to allow more political viewpoints within the party.
Harper is one of the reasons that influenced McGarry becoming a Conservative. The Harpers came to McGarry’s assistance when his wifedeveloped a tumor on her spine. They recently took the McGarry’s nine-year-old daughter into their home at 24 Sussex.
“I like the Harpers. They are ordinary Canadians doing extraordinary things,” he said.
His esteem for Harper aside, McGarry is also disillusioned with the Liberal party. He says Liberal leader Stéphane Dion is a “nice man” and an “accomplished academic,” but his is not the Liberal party of Lester Pearson or Pierre Trudeau.