The story
Jason Kenney says interesting things. Yesterday, he called on Toronto’s mayor to resign. Not a single Conservative had called for such a thing, but Kenney went up and spoke right into a mic. He’s long been known as a potential successor to Stephen Harper, the kind of guy who has the support of social conservatives, and probably a few others, in his party’s caucus.

On Twitter, he says nice things about his colleagues across the aisle. When he goofs up and, say, tweets an anti-union joke and then deletes the tweet, he suffers for only a couple of hours. Walking up to a mic and calling for a troubled mayor to resign, and then winning an award as Most Knowledgeable MP, will help that cause. This morning, the National Post‘s John Ivison calls Kenney “the man most likely to succeed” the Prime Minister. He wrote it as if it were common knowledge, which maybe it is. Keep watching Kenney. Probably, he’ll keep saying interesting things.

The stat
87: the number of Conservative MPs who voted for MP Stephen Woodworth’s motion, last September, to have a parliamentary committee study the criminal code’s definition of a child. The motion was defeated 203-91. That could form the basis of Kenney’s support in caucus.

The quote
“I personally think [Ford] should step aside and stop dragging the city of Toronto through this terrible embarrassment.” —Kenney

 

What’s above the fold

The Globe and Mail	Jason Kenney called on Rob Ford to step down as Toronto mayor.
National Post	The Parti Quebecois claims its values charter is a “Jefferson moment.”
Toronto Star	Ford lost key staff to the deputy mayor’s office.
Ottawa Citizen	Cutting troops is an option for the cash-strapped Canadian Forces.
CBC News	Greenpeace activists are climbing Montreal’s Biosphere.
CTV News	Police documents claim Ford consumed a narcotic in February.
National Newswatch	The pro-life faction of the Conservative caucus won’t fade away.

 

What you might have missed

THE NATIONAL	Cluster bombs. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird pledged $10 million to the eradication of cluster munitions around the world—a lower number than some advocates sought. Baird faces criticism for legislation that would allow Canadians to serve alongside countries that deploy cluster munitions.
THE GLOBAL	Bombardier. The Canadian manufacturer inked a deal with a Middle Eastern airline at the Dubai air show. Iraqi Airways committed to buying five CS-300 jets, Bombardier’s newest offering, and could buy almost a dozen more. Bombardier has firm commitments for 177 planes from other customers.

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