Archambault speaks about Fenik's switch to the NDP

Jeff Green | May 20, 2015

Liberal candidate for the newly formed Lanark-Frontenac-North Kingston riding, Phillipe Archambault, said that Perth Mayor John Fenik omitted some details when he announced he was seeking the NDP nomination for the riding.

Last week, Fenik announced that he is leaving the Liberal Party because of his concerns about party leader, Justin Trudeau, and will be seeking the NDP nomination at a nomination meeting in Perth on May 31.

While Fenik described himself as a “well known Liberal” in his media release, Mr. Archambault filled in some of those details this week.

Archambault said that he first met Fenik a year ago when both of them, along with Phil Somers, were invited to a number of Liberal riding association sponsored events aimed at introducing prospective candidates to the membership.

“In September John decided not to seek the nomination, but to run for mayor of Perth once again. After that I asked him if he would endorse my candidacy and he said yes.”

At the two Liberal candidate nomination meetings last October, one in Sydenham and one in Perth, Fenik was one of the speakers who introduced Archambault to the voters.

After Archambault was chosen over Phil Somers, John Fenik offered his services as campaign manager, and the offer was accepted.

While he would not go into details, Phillippe Archambault said that in early February, he decided to relieve Fenik of his duties as campaign manager.

“Things were not working out so I had to let John go from the campaign,” he said. “I am still on good terms with him and I look forward to debating the issues. We texted each other about that just this morning.”

The Liberal campaign in the riding has been underway for months now, and according to Archambault there is an appetite for change.

“I am hearing from a lot of people who want to unseat Mr. Harper, and I think the Liberals are in the strongest position,” he said.

He added that even though the NDP finished second and the Liberals third in the previous Federal election in Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington (LFL&A), the riding that makes up most of the territory in the new riding, a Liberal survey of voter intentions that was done in February shows them to be in a solid second place position with over 30% support, with the NDP a distant third at “under 15%” and the Conservative Party still leading but with less than 50% support".

In the most recent federal election, Scott Reid polled 57% in LFL&A.

As for John Fenik's chances when the NDP nomination meeting comes up next week, there are no other candidates who have come forward thus far, and at least one un-named long time riding association member expressed little concern about John Fenik's Liberal past, describing him as a popular mayor who is strong on community developing, and suggesting he will be welcomed with open arms on May 31. Later this week, it was confirmed that the nomination period has pased and John Fenik has been acclaimed as cndidate. The nomination meeting will become a campaign kickoff event, and MP Paul Dewar will be delivering the keyonte address.

It all speaks to a lively pre-campaign between the two opposition parties during the summer, perhaps joined by incumbent Scott Reid, followed by a lively exchange of views during the campaign proper, which will likely take place in late September and/or early October.