Posted on 12/08/2008 3:07:41 PM PST by bruinbirdman
Canada's opposition leader Stephane Dion tendered his resignation on Monday, paving the way for new leadership to continue his Liberals' fight with the ruling Conservatives for control of parliament.
"I have decided to step aside as leader of the Liberal Party effective as soon as my successor is duly chosen," Mr Dion said in a statement, days after fumbling a power grab from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority government.
Former Harvard academic Michael Ignatieff is reportedly set to be named interim Liberal leader until a party convention in May, supported by one of two rivals who also sought to succeed Mr Dion.
That could happen as early as Wednesday, said local media.
Last week, Mr Dion spearheaded a move to unseat Mr Harper and install a Liberal-led coalition over the Conservatives' failure to seed an economic recovery as the nation is forecast to be entering a recession.
But he was tripped up by a shutdown of parliament by the governor-general, at Mr Harper's request.
The prime minister now has two months to try to resolve the political crisis before parliament resumes at the end of January.
Mr Harper's finance minister is also preparing a budget for January 27 expected to undercut the coalition's call for a fast-tracked economic stimulus package.
"As the governor-general has granted a prorogation, it is a logical time for us Liberals to assess how we can best prepare our party to carry this fight forward," Mr Dion commented.
"There is a sense in the party, and certainly in the caucus, that given these new circumstances the new leader needs to be in place before the House resumes," he said. "I agree."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
"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 Palelologus
The bad news is the Liberals may come up with someone more acceptable, so the public won’t be quite as put off the next time they go for this gambit.
Heh, haven’t been following the Canada fight closely the last few days, but this seems pretty sweet.
I’m sure you guys are crying your eyes out!
Dion’s attempted coup was classic Marxist. Marxist as in Groucho Marx in “Duck Soup.”
Hey, I’m in Canada now - Woodstock, Ontario - business.
They don’t allow Fox News here so I’m depending on Free Republic for “Balance.”
And, after the disaster, they try to claim the PM?
The bad news is the Liberals may come up with someone more acceptable
that wouldn’t be Ignatieff :
On Wednesday 11 October 2006, Ignatieff described Israel’s attack on Qana during its recent military actions in Lebanon as a war crime. Susan Kadis, who had previously been Ignatieff’s campaign co-chair, withdrew her support following the comment. Other Liberal leadership candidates have also criticized Ignatieff’s comments. Ariela Cotler, a Jewish community leader and the wife of prominent Liberal MP Irwin Cotler also left the party following Ignatieff’s comments.
IS this a direct quote or a translation from French?
Truly bad news would be if the Liberals had a leader the people actually liked. Ken Dryden would be Harper’s worst nightmare.
If Dion tried to say that in English they'd have to suture his lips and tongue back on.
Dion makes Cretin look like a veritable genius.
True. At least Chretien could understand the English spoken to him even if he sometimes mangled his responses. You could at least get the gist of it.
Of course. I had trouble with French in Junior High. All those extra letters didn't make sense. Chretien also seemed to have a sense of humor. Dion appears to be a dolt.
When is Canada going to digital TV broadcasting?
August 31, 2011.
Dion stopped farting.
His bowels are finally empty. Very smart move my them. They should have done it before the coup attempt.
Ignattif seems to be a strong frontrunner for the job. He seems to be a foreign policy hawk and not very objectionable as far as Grits go. Canucks could probably see him as a PM. Not good.
We should hope Bob Rae gets it somehow. His tenure as Premier (He was NPD then) of Ontario was such a supreme disaster you’d think the Liberals would have him shot before they’d elect let him leader. Certainly he won’t help them win back seats in Ontario. Maybe he could sway NPDs voters to vote Grit but that party hates him for ditching them.
Ummm.... didn't he already "decide" this after his party's butt whuppin' two monthes ago?
The Liberals have repeatedly pointed out that he's a lame duck "outgoing party leader" until May.
He’s quitting now instead of waiting till May. The Liberals will choose a new interim leader in the next few days who will serve until the leadership election.
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