for Donald Trump, but not for the Dragon’s Den star.
Both are now suggesting it was just “politics”. Last month O’Leary was accusing Bernier’s campaign of membership fraud. The response by Bernier was that Kevin O’Leary is nothing but “a loser” who likes to spin things and throw mud around. In his opinion, Millennials are not getting the opportunities they were promised. All that has changed. “He’s a winner,” Bernier said when taken to task about his earlier comments. O’Leary stated, “I love politics”. There was also a considerable difference in the tone of the policy interpretation between the two after O’Leary’s exit embracing Bernier’s much-discussed support for dismantling Canada’s supply management system for dairy and poultry. O’Leary went as far as saying Bernier was the “candidate that best mirrors my policies.” “I’m totally committed to finishing the job. I want Trudeau gone,” O’Leary vowed as he pledged to use his “massive social media platform” to reach young people and convince them not to vote for Justin Trudeau again. In his opinion, Millennials are not getting the opportunities they were promised. The next Conservative leader will be announced on May 27, but it will not be O’Leary in the running as we have heard the all too familiar saying, “I am out” by Mr. Wonderful.
Some analysts suggest poll numbers showing O’Leary tanking in French Canada had a lot to do with his decision to step down. O’Leary admits his 12% of the membership vote in Quebec would not deliver what he feels will be the 30 seats needed to upset Prime Minister Trudeau in the next election. “Look at how many times Quebec has determined the federal outcome of elections in this country,” O’Leary said. “It is the Florida of Canada.” That might be a premature statement considering Stephen Harper won a majority government in 2011 with only five seats in Quebec. O’Leary has made many statements suggesting his efforts in Quebec have been overlooked. Recently he advocated stated he worked very hard to win a path to Ottawa by enticing Quebec voters with his policies. However, those voters would have been just Conservatives choosing a leader. In a general election, he would be far less likely to hold the popular vote. One analyst expressed, “in one breath he talks about how hard he worked in Quebec and then moments later he was talking about being on CNBC in New York.” O’Leary was also criticized for continuing to fund raise even after he announced his intention to leave the race. “The fundraising will continue. It will continue,” O’Leary said. The multimillionaire stated he still has campaign bills to pay off so he doesn’t think his continued fund raising is inappropriate.
O’Leary was quick to throw his support behind arch rival Maxine Bernier. The two have never really gotten along.
21
MAY 2017 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter