The Canadian people have spoken, and the message reads loud and clear: We're too nice. How else to explain the Monday night election victory of new Prime Minister Stephen Harper, an Iraq war-supporting, gay marriage-opposing Conservative-with-a-capital-C from the oil drilling and cattle ranching province of Alberta? But as the country adapts to its "51st red state" status, a new Canadian reality show called The Next Great Prime Minister is already searching for his replacement:

Canadian broadcaster CTV on Wednesday unveiled plans for the show, which will premiere February 4. Five young Canadians will endure public speaking and debate challenges to transform themselves into a possible national leader. The prize includes an internship in a Canadian public policy think tank.

TV reality shows have long depended on stage veterans like pop stars, supermodels and actors for celebrity judges. But this format will see former prime ministers Kim Campbell, Joe Clark, Brian Mulroney and John Turner passing judgment.

Producers are touting the foursome's "unbelievable chemistry," with Mulroney emerging as the group's nasty, "tell it like it is" judge ("I'm not lying to you. Worst agricultural subsidies reform plan we've heard in Saskatoon."), Clark the urban slang-spewing technical taskmaster ("Your foreign policy platform's just a'ight, dawg."), and Campbell the lovably loopy-headed, narcotized cheerleader.

• Canada's ex-prime ministers in reality TV gig [Reuters/THR]