Lisa Raitt is the president and chief executive officer of the Toronto Port Authority (TPA), a Canadian federal corporation that manages commerce, transportation (including the Toronto City Centre Airport) and recreation in the Toronto harbour. She has also served as the TPA's corporate secretary and general counsel,[14] and harbourmaster. She is believed to have been the first female harbourmaster of a Canadian port.[15] She is currently on unpaid leave from the TPA for the duration of the election. Lisa Raitt's OFFICIAL Campaign WebsiteLisa Raitt's Campaign Blog
Gerry Labelle was born in Mattawa and raised in Sudbury. He is a businessperson and community activist in Sudbury, where he operates a consulting firm.[16] Labelle is a founding member of Music and Film in Motion and has served on the board of several non-profit organizations. At the time of the election, he was a member of the Make Poverty History committee on the city's Social Planning Council.[17]
Labelle became involved in a minor controversy during the 2008 campaign when he made statements in a French-language interview that seemed critical of the Conservative government. According to a press release from Liberal incumbent Diane Marleau, Labelle criticized Finance MinisterJim Flaherty for describing Ontario as "the last place" to invest, took issue with the government's decision to abolish the Court Challenges Program of Canada, and said that he was not impressed with the Conservative Party's environmental record. He later issued a retraction, saying that he had not expressed himself clearly and was fully supportive of the Harper government.[18] Labelle also spoke in support of the arts community and rejected arguments that his party was hostile to the arts.[19] Late in the campaign, the Sudbury Star newspaper noted that he "did not come across as a Harper Conservative".[20]
Labelle received 11,073 votes (25.79%), finishing third against New Democratic Party candidate Glenn Thibeault. He has said that he will probably run for Conservatives again.[21]
^Graham Fraser, "Race for the right," Toronto Star, 13 June 2000, p. 1; Sheldon Alberts, "Day aides threaten to sue Strahl," National Post, 17 May 2001, A1; Brian Laghi, "Harper fires four former Day staff," Globe and Mail, 23 March 2002, A8.
^Randy Boswell, "U.S. murder case to test Tories on extradition," National Post, 28 June 2006, A6; "Media Advisory - President of the Treasury Board in Greater Toronto Area" [press release], Canada NewsWire, 16 January 2007, 8:24.
^"Minister of Finance to Address the Conseil du patronat du Québec and to Visit Varennes, Quebec" [press release], Canada NewsWire, 27 March 2007, 15:16.
^Sarah Rogers, "Quinlan promises anglo attention; B-M Tory," Sherbrooke Record, 9 April 2008, p. 4.
Sources: Official results, Elections Canada: 2006 and 2008
^"Port CEO rips Martin for bridge comments" The Globe and Mail, Online Edition. 28 November 2003.
^"Covering the waterfront; Toronto's first female harbourmaster takes helm of complex port job" Toronto Star, page B1. 5 April 2001.
^Harold Carmichael, "Labelle wants to carry Tory banner", Sudbury Star, 20 July 2007, A4; "Tories prepare for nomination meeting", Sudbury Star, 2 November 2007, A4; Rachel Punch, "Parties ready for fall vote", Sudbury Star, 29 August 2008, A1.
^Lara Bradley, "An unlikely Tory among Liberals", Sudbury Star, 4 October 2008, A3.
^"Labelle retracts radio interview statements", Sudbury Star, 22 September 2008, A3; "Voters still wary of Harper" [editorial], Sudbury Star, 27 September 2008, A10.
