TORONTO - Gerard Kennedy's bid to become the federal Liberal candidate in the Toronto riding he once held as a provincial politician proved far easier than his failed attempt at leading the party.
Unlike the Liberal leadership race, which put him up against seven high-profile candidates, Kennedy was alone on this ballot after former Liberal MP Sarmite Blute threw her support behind the special adviser on election readiness and party renewal.
Kennedy was thus easily acclaimed Tuesday night as the Liberal candidate for Parkdale-High Park, a riding he held for 10 years as a provincial politician and cabinet minister.
"I'm very excited to have the chance to step forward on your behalf,'' he told a packed crowd of banner-toting, button-clad supporters at a local public school gymnasium _ an appropriate setting for the one-time education minister.
"It's not going to be easy to bring back a Liberal government. ... It's really fundamentally important that we understand as Liberals that we don't have a right to be the government in Ottawa, but what we have a right to do is to compete and put in front of Canadians what we really stand for.''
While the Liberals are logistically ready to hit the campaign trail as soon as the Conservatives call an election, Kennedy later admitted his party could use some time to regain the trust of Canadians.
He suggested Prime Minister Stephen Harper's failure to call a spring election is a good indication he's not confident he'll win a majority government.
"Canadians, I guess, are telling him that he doesn't have a choice,'' Kennedy said. "They want to see at least two strong options.
"I think Mr. Harper is probably a bit concerned that we have the capacity to grow and become a stronger party.''
While Kennedy took the spot uncontested despite his party's stated commitment to boost the ranks of women candidates -- even by barring men from seeking nominations in some ridings -- he said the federal Liberals are on track for running women in at least one-third of the ridings.
The Parkdale-High Park seat has been held since the 2006 election by New Democrat Peggy Nash.
Kennedy left provincial politics to try his hand at the leadership of the federal Liberal party because he said he was appalled with the Harper government.
The fourth-place candidate threw his support behind Stephane Dion after the second ballot -- a move considered the key behind Dion's surprising win.
