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The Brampton Guardian
Ignatieff a unifying force for local Liberals
Wednesday December 17 2008
Roger Belgrave
Local Liberal MPs insist they are firmly behind their new leader in forming the united political front needed to change the course of a misguided Conservative government.

Brampton members of Parliament appear comfortable with the manner in which the country’s new Liberal Party leader has been chosen and excited about a renewed sense of unity within the party.

Toronto MP Michael Ignatieff was named federal Liberal leader last week by party hierarchy. Former leader Stephane Dion’s resignation came sooner than he or the party previously planned following last October’s election defeat. Leadership candidates Bob Rae and Dominic LeBlanc bowed out of the race and made way for Ignatieff to become interim leader. His official coronation is expected at a party convention in the spring.

The appointment could lead to Ignatieff becoming the next prime minister if the minority Conservative government is forced into a non-confidence vote by oppositions parties in January.

The National Executive consulted with Caucus, defeated candidates from the last election and riding association presidents before appointing Ignatieff. The crowning was extraordinary in its swiftness and process, but guided by the party’s constitution. With the writing on the wall for Dion, the party wanted a leader in place to deal with the approaching political confrontation next month and economic crisis.

During an economic recession government must have a plan to responsibly stimulate the economy, but also help those impacted by the financial downturn, said Brampton West MP Andrew Kania. The Liberals and other opposition parties contend the Conservative government’s economic fiscal update failed to present a plan to do either.

Kania, who is Ignatieff’s national outreach campaign director, said the process to appoint him leader involved plenty of input from grassroots members. Mississauga-Brampton South MP Navdeep Bains and Bramalea-Gore-Malton MP Gurbax Malhi announced their support for Ignatieff early in the leadership race. Bains pointed out the leadership process was swift, but has not ended.

“We will have a convention, we have delegates, we will have grassroots engaged, it’s just that in terms of candidates running there is only one official candidate,” said Bains.

A leadership convention is still scheduled April 30 to May 3 in Vancouver, but it is highly unlikely Ignatieff will find any opposition to his leadership bid before or during the convention.
Competition is good, but Liberals have realized that party unity is paramount, Bains said. Even Brampton-Springdale MP Ruby Dhalla, who was once contemplating her own leadership bid, is behind the Ignatieff appointment.

“I think it was an historic moment. It was the start of a new chapter,” Dhalla said. “Because as far back as I can remember in the last two decades all I have seen is leadership wars and bitterness and these battles and it was phenomenal to be able to see with the victory of Michael Ignatieff that the party, I think, for the first time is united.”

A new leader and united front send a message that the Liberals are prepared for another election or to form a coalition government if Prime Minister Stephen Harper does not rethink his economic strategy, Bains said. However, there is also a message the opposition is open to working with the Conservatives if there is “monumental change” to the direction outlined in the government’s economic update, he added.

“All the options are on the table, which I think is important for Canadians to know,” Bains said.