Entertainers in Canadian politics

We have former professional hockey players in Parliament--Ken Dryden and Frank Mahovlich. We have or had Hollywood actors in U.S. Governors' mansions, Congress, Mayors' offices, major lobby groups--Arnold Schwartznegger, Sony Bono, Clint Eastwood and Charlton Heston. How about entertainers in politics? Up until now, they have usually participated in the sidelines, working on different campaigns. Steven Page, one of the Bare Naked Ladies, campaigned with NDP leader Bob Layton during the 2006 federal election in Canada. Paul Mccartney campaigned in early March for the U.S. Humane Society to lobby Canada to shut down the annual seal hunt. Brigitt Bardot has funded a foundation in her name and came to Ottawa today to also advocate the end of the seal hunt. But the really big news--Ashley MacIssac wants to campaign to succeed Paul Martin Junior and become leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. "That's ultimately the plan," the recording star told Sun Media. "At this point, I'd be a crazy dark horse to pound my chest. But I don't see any reason not to say that I am serious and there's nobody in the face of this great country that Stephen Harper would prefer less to have to deal with on a day-to-day basis." Maybe MacIssac's entry will add glamour to the Liberal leadership race the same way Belinda Stronach added glamour to the Conservative leadership race. Anyway, we need thirtysomething-year-olds in politics and MacIssac will be excellent in drawing attention from voters aged 18 to 35. MacIssac may not be rich like Hollywood actors; even so, he expects to raise funds by auctioning his paintings to finance his unannounced campaign. How original. Good for him.