Canada's Opposition Will Have New Leader: Michael Ignatieff

Globe and Mail:

Canadian opposition leader Stephane Dion announced he would step down as Liberal Party leader yesterday. After other candidates backed out, Michael Ignatieff is the only candidate in the race. He is expected to take over the party leadership this week.

View this slideshow timeline of Ignatieff's career in academia, books, television and politics.

Read the whole story: Globe and Mail

Comments

[b4one]

No one in Canada is talking about the National Post anti-abortion article by Jonathan Kay on Dec 9, 2008. Not only does Mr. Kay advocate more restrictions against a woman's right to choose, he cites events going on in the USA where doctors are intimidating women who want abortions.

Two days later the article was sent to the members of Canada's multi-party parliament which consists of 308 elected officials (aka: members of parliament or MPs) by Conservative Party MP Maurice Vellacott. MP Vellacott was part of the ultra conservative Canadian Alliance in the 90s. That party with our current PM Harper joined the Progressive Conservatives to form the current Conservative Party which is now in power.

The Conservatives are almost a twin of the GOP but because they have publicly softened many of their more radical ideas, Canadians have supported them but only with minority governments. Which means they have to get the support of the majority of MPs to pass legislation.

Harper's second win has given him confidence that he can push more divisive ideas on election weary Canadians. MP Vellacott's support of this article is an ominous signal of more things to come.

National Post is pro Harper (Bush's David Frum writes for them).

Dec 11, Jonathan Kay compliments MP Vellacott for sharing his article and reprints it with MP Vellacott's letter.

Vellacott's website: http://www.mauricevellacott.ca/about.html

National Post's article: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/tags/Maurice+Vellacott/default.aspx

[LeeCalif]

Very quick read ....... where is it ?

[ljkcan]

Well make it 5 fellow Canadians posting. Harvard, London school of economics, University of Toronto. just to start. I wish him well as our liberal Leader.
And perhaps more like minded and in step with Obama. My only hesitation is he voted for the extension of the war and I detest this war. I think you could pour every cent into Afghanistan and not change their tribal and backward ways.

After listening to Mr. Harper on the National last night I do hope Mr Ignatieff sends Mr Harper back down the hill.

[Furby]

Greetings Fellow Canadian Huffposters, all four of you. I suppose this is where Canucks go to have a nice quiet chat amongst themselves. Perhaps our invisibility is a blessing in disguise. Yes, Ignatieff is a throw back to the times when politicians were accountable and visionary, and still heeded the call to public service. Let's not scare this fellow off because we won't find a better candidate. I haven't heard him speak French but hopefully he can pull it off well enough not to disenfranchise French Canada, and by that I mean I hope he has more of a mastery of the language than Jack Layton or Stephen Harper do, and that ain't sayin much.

[idontknowanything]

Greetings Furby. Iggy speaks excellent French. :)

[liseworks]

Salut, fellow Canuck !!
Making some good changes N of the border, just like we are !!

[CanadianforObama]

This is looking pretty good. Even though Iggy is more right wing than I like, I believe he's going to do Canada proud. The thought of Obama having to deal with Harper was pretty depressing; the thought of Obama dealing with Ignatieff is exhilarating.

[Hawka]

Well, here's hoping he can still make good this new coalition somehow. Good luck with taking down Harper Mr. Ignatief!

[idontknowanything]

Michael Ignatieff is a wonderful, brilliant leader. He will do a tremendous service to Canada, North America and the world. He is a man of destiny. I feel as strongly about him as I did about Obama, and I love BO.

We have been very blessed in Canada to have such a person called to service.

[Octoberluna]

I'm surprised but pleased to see Mr. Ignatief basically walk into the job he was denied under the usual channels. He is an intellectual who has been educated in the finest schools and has real world experiences - a far cry from just about ANY other Canadian politician. This is not the time for Canada's citizens to mistake intelligence for arrogance or vice versa. I am not saying he'll be our salvation but at least the man uses his brain as a tool as opposed to just being a tool like Harper.