Rewarding mediocrity

There’s a prevailing opinion that Nate Erskine-Smith is the Benedict Arnold of the Ontario Liberal Party who brought down Bonnie Crombie.
I don’t know Erskine-Smith and I don’t live in his Beaches-East York riding, but during the pandemic, I was involved in an online all-candidates debate in that riding. He was a most impressive speaker.
He answered questions comprehensively and intelligently. He was personable and very bright. He clearly has a strong grasp of a wide range of issues.
I sympathize with him for his frustration on being left out of Mark Carney’s cabinet. When you look at some of the less-than-stellar Toronto area MPs who made the cut, you have to wonder why a smart young lawyer was left out.
I know a number of people who live in his riding. They tell me they like him and he is an excellent representative. We should welcome ambition in young politicians, not condemn it. Instead, we reward mediocrity.