X Marks the Spot

Just got back from the Living Arts Centre, where the Progressive Conservatives finally unveiled their candidate.

Ramdyal "Ravi" Singh, a Bank of Nova Scotia compliance manager, will carry the PC banner for the next six weeks, and, if he's elected, for four years after E-Day.

Masood Khan withdrew from the race on Saturday. He was angry because there was an open contest even though he felt he should be appointed.

So, the event earlier tonight wasn't as exciting as it could have been.

There was one thing that was particularly interesting about Singh's coronation: it was ostentatious.

First, as one walked up to the south doors of the Living Arts Centre, there was parked in front of the doors two BMWs, a sinfully hideous, bright yellow Hummer, and a stretched SUV limousine.

Then, inside there was, well, the inside of the LAC, which is cavernous, sleek and still feels very new. I have attended nomination meetings at cheap banquet halls and rented office space, and even a library hallway, but never somewhere like the Living Arts Centre.

It wasn't as if the nomination meeting was happening in one of the small rooms at the LAC, either; it was in Hammerson Hall.

Hammerson Hall, one of the doorwomen told me, can seat 1,300 people.

The Tories at the event didn't number more than 80. The whole nomination meeting could probably have taken place in the limousine parked out front.

There was also the attitude of the meeting - it was smug.

Before the ceremonies, I spoke to Singh and Blair McCreadie, President of the Ontario PCs.

McCreadie described the resignation last week of the riding's executive council thusly: "Sometimes people take their toys and go home, and it is what it is."

Granted, it was a better answer than I got from Singh, who simply shrugged.

Once inside Hammerson Hall, the speeches began. The crowd didn't appear interested.

At least two people were unaware you're meant to turn your phone to vibrate while listening to a speech, and one was unaware that it's rude to actually answer the phone during a person's speech. I'm not sure how heavy the rock you live under would need to be to not know that, but I now know such a rock exists.

I don't think Singh minded, though. He speaks slowly and deliberately. Very slowly. And without any semblance of passion. By halfway through his short speech, he seemed as bored as his audience.

In fact, by the time he got to the money shot - "we are going to elect a Tory government, we're going to paint the province blue" - he had become so monotonous that most of the audience didn't realize it was time to applaud, and when about a quarter of the audience did applaud, it visibly startled Singh.

Khan is not known for his modesty or tact, but, at first glance, he would certainly have made for a much more interesting candidate, from a reporter's standpoint, than Singh will.