Posted on 01/20/2006 2:20:51 PM PST by Heatseeker
In a last-minute blow to high-profile Liberal candidate Michael Ignatieff, the president of the party’s riding association in Etobicoke-Lakeshore swung his support today to Conservative rival John Capobianco in Monday’s federal election.
The controversial process by which Ignatieff was acclaimed the candidate over local hopefuls ruled ineligible by the party was a major factor in the decision, said Ron Chyczij, who had hoped to contest the nomination himself.
"I can no longer in good conscience support the Liberal candidate in this riding," he said in a statement released this afternoon.
"After the nomination fiasco, I’ve purposely waited on the sidelines to see if Michael Ignatieff can in some way redeem himself as a credible Liberal candidate in this riding . . . this has not happened."
The move comes in what is believed to be a tight race in the riding, held for 12 years by Liberal MP Jean Augustine, who is retiring.
Chyczij also resigned as president of the riding association and said the “last straw” leading to his decision was controversy about the views of Ignatieff, a former human rights professor at Harvard University, on the Iraq war, torture and ethnic groups.
Ignatieff, the author of 16 books, supported the U.S.-led Iraq war but has vigourously denied charges his writings support torture of suspects in the war on terror and have slandered ethnic groups, including Ukrainians.
Liberal officials and Capobianco’s campaign could not immediately be reached for comment.
Ukrainians make up about 7 per cent of the riding, but the Liberal riding association was dominated by Ukrainians after a split with Augustine.
Chyczij also slammed Ignatieff for making the cleanup of the riding’s polluted lakefront his top priority, saying the Liberal government has done little on the issue for the last 12 years.
"The Conservatives are the only major party on record to openly declare that they would end the practice of 'parachuting' candidates," Chyczij said.
"This together with their platform on an elected Senate, fixed terms and free votes in Parliament I think are very appealing and go a long way in addressing my concerns."
Chyczij also paid tribute to NDP candidate Liam McHugh-Russell, saying he and Capobianco "both have a clearer impression of what is important to the residents of this riding."
"I urge voters to cast their ballot strategically in this election to ensure that Michael Ignatieff, the touted heir apparent to Paul Martin, gets a time-out to reconsider his future political ambitions in this country."
Toronto-born Ignatieff left his job at Harvard University near Boston in mid-December to run in the election and teach at the University of Toronto after being out of the country for almost 30 years.
He bought a condominium near the university last year; he does not live in the riding.
Ping?
Do we care about Canada?
Gesundheit!
Watching CBC/CTV this Friday evening i`m witnessing
unabashed cheerleading for the Liberal aka,Librano Party.
It`s not even disuised anymore as their desperation has
now become full blown panic.
And while it's a small step if they can throw out the socialist pigs who've been fattening themselves at the public trough, perhaps there is hope for places like Mass.
Sure I care.
Yes.
Canada, outside of two or three big cities, was essential inaccessable to anyone except Eskimos until the mid 1960s when the snowmobile was invented. A huge wave of popularity for finding out "what the hell is out there anyway, Garth, eh?" led the a nationwide popularity of Snowmobile Riding Clubs, each of which had particular areas they toured and made trails in. These club boundaries form the essential political boundaries in Canada to this day.
Everyone have a great weekend! See you later.
I said "Gesundheit!"
If we win Etobicoke-Lakeshore, it will sure send a big crack into Fortress 416, and Capobianco is almost assured a cabinet post in a Harper government.
Anything that improves the chances of conservatism anywhere in the world is worth worrying about.
No kidding. I can't stomach either network but did catch Shameless O'Whatshisname this morning - I tell ya, he looks dry eyed from crying so much and he's going to have blisters all over his fingers from wringing his hands so much.
Capobianco is also a strong social conservative, which seems like a bad fit for Toronto, but inside sources suggest that it hasn't hurt him at all. (It would be like someone running on a moral platform in the north Bronx)
Flaherty is a Red Tory??? He holds Reform/Alliance positions on almost every issue, and he is pro-life and pro-family. He was the most right-wing figure of the Mike Harris governments.
Yes, For election purposes, the Canadian electoral map is divided into
"ridings".
The size of the riding is determined by the amount of land a local
Canadian could cover while seated backwards on a horse in one day
Generally, this was preceded by a day of drinking a case of two four
Molsons Canadian.
Guys from Toronto were not good at holding their liquor, so consequently
"ridings" tend to be smaller and more numerous - thus giving
Toronto more seats in Parliment.
Hope that helps..
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
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