Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ignatieff spurns, embraces paternity of Quebec nation
Canadian Press via Sun Media ^ | 2006-11-23 | Bruce Cheadle

Posted on 11/23/2006 12:47:31 PM PST by Clive

OTTAWA (CP) - Liberal leadership candidate Michael Ignatieff's on-again, off-again ownership of the Quebec-as-nation push is definitely on again.

Ignatieff, the Liberal MP with the impressive academic credentials, has been alternately embracing and distancing himself from the initiative with dizzying regularity.

Early Wednesday afternoon in a round-table discussion with The Canadian Press, Ignatieff was emphatic that a controversial internal Liberal party resolution to recognize Quebec as a nation was not his idea.

"Just so it's clear, for the 20th time, the (Quebec) resolution was not initiated by the Ignatieff camp," he said. "It was initiated by people who support a range of candidacies."

At that point in the day, the concept was clearly dividing the Liberal caucus and was a potential political liability.

By late Wednesday, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's surprise announcement that he'd introduce a Commons motion to recognize Quebecers as a nation within a united Canada, Ignatieff had begun to change his tune.

"I think it's a good day for Canada," Ignatieff said of the Conservative motion.

"That is to say, I'm proud of the way in which the Liberal party and my candidacy listened to Quebec."

By Thursday morning, Ignatieff was firmly planting his flag in the initiative.

It is just the latest Ignatieff U-turn on the subject.

When the Quebec wing of the Liberal party adopted the nation resolution on Oct. 21, Ignatieff's campaign issued a press release trumpeting his leadership on the issue:

"I was the first to say our party must recognize the fact that Quebecers consider their province as their national home, and that we cannot let the failures of the past forever define our constitutional future," Ignatieff was quoted in the release.

A week later, amid a raging public debate over the potential ramifications of the resolution for the Liberal party, the Ignatieff team began calling reporters with "new massaging."

Credit for the nation notion was to be shared among all the leadership candidates.

Ignatieff had urged caution in Montreal when the Quebec-as-nation resolution was adopted: "It's the first step in a long road, and we have to proceed prudently and wisely."

But Ignatieff - during a Sept. 10 leadership debate in Quebec City - had been the first federal politician in a decade to pry the lid off the constitutional casket.

"Other candidates have said . . . recognizing Quebec as a nation in the Constitution is too difficult," Ignatieff said in his prepared, closing remarks in the Quebec capital. "Yes, it's difficult, but we must do it.

"Otherwise, what alternative are we offering against (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper's status quo and the Bloc's politics of fantasy? I'm not in politics to say that the things we need to do are difficult, but to find solutions."


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: canada; canadasjohnkerry; canuckstraddler; flipflop; foritagainst; liberalparty; michaelignatieff; quebec; wafflehouse
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

1 posted on 11/23/2006 12:47:33 PM PST by Clive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Clive
Michael Ignatieff's The John Kerry Of Canada

"I was for Quebec nationhood before I was against it."

Its not going to endear him to both Quebec and English Canada.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

2 posted on 11/23/2006 12:49:35 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child; albertabound; AntiKev; backhoe; Byron_the_Aussie; Cannoneer No. 4; ...
He was for it before he was against it but now he is for it again.
3 posted on 11/23/2006 12:49:48 PM PST by Clive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child; albertabound; AntiKev; backhoe; Byron_the_Aussie; Cannoneer No. 4; ...
He was for it before he was against it but now he is for it again.
4 posted on 11/23/2006 12:50:24 PM PST by Clive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive

And this makes a difference to whom? Wait until he hears and learns from Howard Dean at the convention. THEN you will hear some talk worth writing down!


5 posted on 11/23/2006 12:57:48 PM PST by twonie (Just because there are fewer of us don't mean we are wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: twonie
You can say liberals know how to come down on both sides of every issue so they're NEVER wrong! (laughing)

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

6 posted on 11/23/2006 12:59:26 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Clive
This south-of-the-border fan of Conservative Canada refers to him as "Michael Ignoretieff" …
7 posted on 11/23/2006 12:59:59 PM PST by ShorelineMike (Constituo, ergo sum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive

I would like to see canada fracture and the eastern and far western provinces join the US as States.


8 posted on 11/23/2006 1:01:39 PM PST by LC HOGHEAD (World War 3...free nations vs the Islamofascists...Which side are the Liberals on? who will survive?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ShorelineMike
Singularly unimpressive. I believe the only Liberal aspirant from Quebec is Stephane Dion. That illustrates the Libranos dearth of leadership talent in La Belle Province.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

9 posted on 11/23/2006 1:01:41 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: twonie
"And this makes a difference to whom?"

Several Canadian FReepers have been polite with you during your brief (since November 7th) tenure on FR not withstanding your habitual rudeness & sniping on several Canada related threads which you've apparently hunted down for no other reason.

Your now effectively expressed admiration for Howard Dean is as ludicrous as it is inarticulate.
Strongly suggest you mend your Trollish ways - and fast!
10 posted on 11/23/2006 1:17:32 PM PST by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: GMMAC
Howard Dean can show the Liberals how to win. Cut And Run From Afghanistan.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

11 posted on 11/23/2006 1:19:22 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: LC HOGHEAD

"I would like to see canada fracture and the eastern and far western provinces join the US as States."

Here's one scenario.

Ontario remains as Canada.
The western provinces, which have more in common with their neighboring states to the south than with eastern Canada, join the US.
Quebec becomes French Canada and annexes provinces to her east. These are the natural markets for Quebec and the Atlantic provinces are such economic basket cases, no one else will touch them, neither can they survive independently.


12 posted on 11/23/2006 1:37:39 PM PST by gcruse (http://garycruse.blogspot.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

Actually he was using a long standing Liberal tactic of saying one thing in Quebec in French, and another in the rest of Canada in English. For whatever reason the MSM did not give him a pass on it like they usually do.


13 posted on 11/23/2006 3:48:59 PM PST by Cdnexpat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Clive

North America....comprising....the United States....Mexico....Canada.....and Quebec....hmmm.

Interesting.


14 posted on 11/23/2006 3:55:11 PM PST by Defender2 (Defending Our Bill of Rights, Our Constitution, Our Country and Our Freedom!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive
Since we've (both Canada and the US) long referred to Indian tribes as "nations," then Harper is on solid ground to do away with the controversy and pronounce Quebec to be one, too.

Indeed, one of Merriam-Webster's definitions of "nation" is "a tribe or federation of tribes."

And the Quebeckers' insistence on remaining apart from the rest of Canada is nothing but tribalism. Why they'd want their province compared to an Indian reservation is beyond me, but so be it.

I just want to know if I'll be able to buy cheap cigarettes there.

15 posted on 11/23/2006 4:07:56 PM PST by BfloGuy (It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive
I'd have difficulty if I was a waiter in some establishment he'd pick to have breakfast in. It would be impossible for me not to suggest that he try the waffles.

Regards, Ivan

16 posted on 11/23/2006 4:11:27 PM PST by MadIvan (I aim to misbehave.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
Michael Ignatieff's The John Kerry Of Canada

How could anyone with half a brain take these jokers seriously?

..I am John kerry....who served in Vietnam....reporting for duty.

17 posted on 11/23/2006 6:54:13 PM PST by Donald Rumsfeld Fan ("Fake but Accurate": NY Times)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Donald Rumsfeld Fan

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

18 posted on 11/23/2006 8:16:13 PM PST by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: GMMAC

Oh, did I forget to indicate "Sarcasm on"? So sorry.


19 posted on 11/24/2006 4:56:45 AM PST by twonie (Just because there are fewer of us don't mean we are wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: twonie; fanfan
"Oh, did I forget to indicate "Sarcasm on"? So sorry."

The content of some of your past comments more than raises the possibility that it's actually the one above where you failed to indicate intended sarcasm.

Again I'd caution, if disruptively insulting and baiting other FReepers based upon their nationality is one of your principal objectives on FR, you quite likely won't be around very long.
20 posted on 11/24/2006 8:25:27 AM PST by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson