If Stephen Harper considered proficiency in French to be an essential requirement for a party leader, why did he not make sure that his caucus members took that requirement seriously? Lisa Raitt, for one, has been a minister from the moment she was first elected in 2008, and nine years later she can't carry on a conversation in French! Another point that Ibbitson makes is that the new leader needs to have support from "both the Red Tory and Reform wings of the party," when there are and were no bona fide Red Tories in Harper's party, as those qualifying to be thus described fought the take-over of the Progressive Conservative Party tooth and nail. There are, however, fake "Red Tories:"  media has chosen to call Peter McKay a "Red Tory,"  although he betrayed his party and all the authentic Red Tories  when he went along with the hostile takeover, despite a  signed agreement  with David Orchard NOT to merge with the Reform Alliance. See davidorchard.com for the contract.