Politics·Video

Mood of the Conservative convention discussed by At Issue panel

The National's At Issue panel offer some different points of view about the possible mood of delegates at the Conservative national convention in Calgary, in the wake of the Senate scandal.

The National's At Issue panel offer some different points of view about the possible mood of delegates at the Conservative national convention in Calgary, in the wake of the Senate scandal. 

Chantal Hébert, speaking from the convention centre, says she thinks the delegates will be looking for the prime minister to provide some answers about the scandal when he delivers his speech Friday night.

Andrew Coyne suggests that in the face of the scandal, the delegate mentality that "everybody is out to get us" will help unify the members.

Bruce Anderson doesn't think there will be any "big explosions of discontent" at the convention, but that he'll be watching for the reaction of the party faithful, for whom the idea of a party with integrity and strong ethics is something they fight hard for.

"I think those people are going to be wondering whether or not the prime minister has been doing a good enough job of protecting their reputation, the reputation of the party that they work for, that they work to support," Anderson says.

The panel also speak about the significance of Minister of Employment and Social Development Jason Kenney offering up his support for Nigel Wright, even as the prime minister has taken a hard line against his chief of staff.