Photo: Mark Hill Photography/flickr

For the “You Read It Here First” file, I wrote on Friday:

Toronto Centre needs a candidate with a track record of advancing more substantive and more progressive positions on economic issues. Specifically, the NDP should nominate someone who can take on Freeland regarding inequality and what to do about it.

Yesterday, Linda McQuaig announced her candidacy for the NDP nomination for the upcoming federal by-election in Toronto Centre. She is no stranger to the Progressive Economics Forum, having made several appearances on this blog and having once helped adjudicate our student essay contest.

If vitriol on Twitter is a barometer, the Liberals regard her as the greatest threat to their candidate, Chrystia Freeland. The obvious contrast is between their most recent books on inequality.

I have not read Freeland’s book. But Jonathan Kay (from whom progressives might not expect much sympathy) observes, “McQuaig’s book has harder edges, wonkier content, and more specific policy prescriptions.”

She has also written many other books on several other important issues, including deficit phobia, globalization, energy and the environment.

The NDP’s Achilles Heel has long been an alleged lack of credibility on economic issues. B.C. was the latest example of the political right’s rhetorical focus on the economy derailing New Democrats. That election also illustrated how simply being cautious and not saying much about economic issues is an ineffective defence.

The NDP needs candidates who can confidently engage in economic policy debates. Nominating McQuaig would be a significant step forward on that front.

Photo: Mark Hill Photography/flickr