The rising star in Canada's Conservative Party - John Baird

OTTAWA -NATIONAL POST - John Baird's new role as steward of Canada's environment caps a "meteoric" rise in politics that could see him one day run for leadership of the Conservative party, according to political analysts.

Eleven years after he was first elected to Ontario's provincial legislature, the 37-year-old Mr. Baird became federal Environment Minister yesterday -- a position that places him in the hot seat for what promises to be a central issue in coming election.


"His career has been nothing short of meteoric ... he made the leap to federal politics extremely seamlessly and really hasn't encountered many bumps on the road," said Barry McLoughlin, an Ottawa-based media consultant with McLoughlin Media.


"You'd have to say this is a young guy with an incredible political future -- he has already surpassed in 10 years what some people accomplish in their entire political careers."

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY says: John Baird is one of the 'best and brightest' in Canadian politics and I respect and admire him.