“MP Bill Blaikie spoke for many is saying he was sick of being told the NDP was too mainstream. Most party members feel they’re branded in their own communities as radical enough already. Another irony is that the NPI may have been defeated by its own anarchist tendencies. There was no evidence of organization on their floor fight. MP Svend Robinson led off saying the NDP has drifted to the mushy middle, which had the effect of sending Blaikie – longtime champion of unpopular causes such as disarmament – rushing to the mike with his blistering – and popular – response.”
November 26, 2001 Straight Goods - In Spite of Themselves NDP and NPI win - Ish Theilheimer

\"Blaikie, who on one level is in the mold of Tommy Douglas - a United Church minister who used to work at Winnipeg's Stella Mission - has called for the NDP to move beyond its role as the country's social conscience. On the other hand, he would be celebrating the party's roots of struggle for social justice for ordinary Canadians, as well as warning against the dangers of the marketplace.\"
July 3, 2002 Uptown Magazine - Nick Ternette

“Winnipeg MP Bill Blaikie angrily challenged Mr. Robinson’s argument in favour of a new party, provoking thunderous applause by declaring “this is not a mushy middle party and I’m tired of hearing it.” He said there was nothing mushy about opposing the war in Afghanistan. He was drowned out by applause and chants of “NDP, NDP!” as he urged pride in the party’s record and asked his colleagues to “stop beating up on ourselves.””
November 25, 2001 Ottawa Citizen - NDP Delegates Vote against new party - Juliet O’Neill

“Many say Bill Blaikie could be the person to turn the party’s fortunes around.”
August 23, 2001 Global News - Bill Blaikie will run for leadership position - Richard Madan

“The New Democratic Party, and its predecessor the CCF, had its roots in the social gospel: many of its key figures, like J.S. Woodsworth, T.C. Douglas and Stanley Knowles were ministers, and New Democrat MP Bill Blaikie is part of this tradition”
June 3, 2001 Toronto Star - Religious undercurrents shape our political culture - Graham Fraser

“Sitting in his West Block office the imposing and bearded MP sums up the three criticisms of the party … Not everyone accepts the argument that the party is too close to the centre “Show me!” demanded Blaikie.”
February 20, 2001 Ottawa Citizen - The three faces of the left - Charles Gordon

\"Alan Whitehorn, a political science professor who has written two books on the NDP, said Blaikie is a sharp wit who commands respect in the caucus.
Trevor Harrison, a political sociologist at the University of Lethbridge, said Blaikie has the potential to draw support from both NDP traditionalists and typically younger activists.\"
June 17, 2002 Canadian Press - Manitoba MP Blaikie first in the race for leadership of federal NDP