Spotted (or not) at the Liberal convention

Suites, snubs and side-eyes

ABOVE THE FOLD

ONTARIO CRASHES GRIT CON — Liberals descended on Montreal this weekend for their federal convention, and there were plenty of folks from the Ontario leadership scene working the crowds. But it’s also who wasn’t there that’s raising eyebrows.

Spotted: Wannabe provincial leaders ERIC LOMBARDI, VIK HANDA and LEE FAIRCLOUGH were in attendance. Fairclough also hosted a private, invite-only reception — something that rubbed some delegates who weren’t on the list the wrong way. “Their question was, ‘well how come I wasn’t invited?’” said one person who was in the room. “That also means Lee’s suite wasn’t (relatively) well-attended.”

NAVDEEP BAINS, the former federal minister and now-Rogers exec, was also on hand, dousing gasoline on rumours he’s poised to launch a bid for OLP captain any day now (scooped here).

Another name floating around out there: MARK SAKAMOTO, a lawyer, author and MICHAEL IGNATIEFF-era adviser. Word on the street is Sakamoto is mulling a bid for provincial …