Angry in the Great White North

National Newswatch published the story of MP Peter Stoffer's upcoming confrontation with NDP leader Jack Layton:

N.S. MP Peter Stoffer disagrees with his leader's stand on rejecting the upcoming federal budget sight unseen.

Stoffer told 'The Afternoon News" radio show host Tom Young, that his party should 'wait and see what is in the budget' before rejecting it sight unseen.

Stoffer indicated he would raise his concerns over Layton's stand at the NDP's caucus meeting next week.

Raise his concerns in caucus?

That's a bold move.

What's even bolder is Peter Stoffer telling everyone that he plans to confront Jack Layton in caucus.  It's not breaking caucus confidentiality to reveal what is going to be discussed, only what was actually said.

On the other hand, telegraphing to everyone what the discussion is going to be primes the media to look for a leak on that particular question.

Are we going to find out if the caucus as a whole voiced doubts about Jack Layton's leadership with regards to the coalition and the upcoming budget?  Peter Stoffer's questions could open the floodgate.

But the real question is this.  Just how popular is Peter Stoffer within NDP circles?  I mean, does an MP that is a bit-player in caucus with few friends or supporters confront the leader in a caucus meeting?

He can, of course, and no one will take him seriously.

But Peter Stoffer is not that sort of NDP MP.  By all accounts, Peter Stoffer has got friends both inside of caucus and across party lines:

In Ottawa on Parliament Hill, Peter Stoffer has been consistently voted "Most Fun MP to work for" by The Hill Times newspaper, and is known for the "All Party, Party" - a non-partisan fundraiser for various charities.

But Peter Stoffer has had prior confrontations with Jack Layton:

Peter Stoffer and Jack Layton are said to conflict on many policy issues, particularly on Stoffer's strong advocacy of the Canadian Forces. Publicly however, Stoffer has been supportive of the current NDP leader.

Perhaps that last observation in Peter Stoffer's Wikipedia entry needs to be updated.

Should we read more into this Peter Stoffer's plan to "raise his concerns"?

Is Peter Stoffer just raising is concerns, or is he also raising his profile?

Is this the beginning of a challenge?  Why else would Peter Stoffer be so public about this?