TheStar.com | Canada | Ignatieff takes the prize
Ignatieff takes the prize
Hebert: Liberals co-operate Bitterness in Rae's camp Ignatieff takes the crown Long time coming for Ignatieff Dion's muted exit 46 MPs backing Ignatieff Travers: Liberals haven't learned Text of Rae email Text of Ignatieff email Ignatieff wouldn't boost coalition much: poll Ignatieff vows new course Bitterness lingers for Rae's loyalists
He realized that he just couldn't win.Path clear to assume Liberal leadership as early as today after rival bows out
Dec 10, 2008 11:10 AM
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Bruce Campion-Smith
Tonda MacCharles
Joanna Smith
Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA–Michael Ignatieff has seized his long-sought prize – the Liberal leadership – raising fresh questions about the future of the opposition coalition that has vowed to defeat the minority Conservatives next month.
The fate of the coalition will be among the pressing issues facing Ignatieff as he prepares to take over the leadership of a party battered by cash woes, two lost elections and dismal poll numbers.
Heading into the caucus meeting expected to officially name Ignatieff as leader Wednesday morning, Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla said she feels relieved the "bitter" leadership contest is finally over.
As with her new leader, she left room for backing down on the coalition if the Tories propose a budget they could accept.
"I think Mr. Ignatieff said it best: a coalition if necessary but not necessarily a coalition," she said.
Liberal MP Scott Brison delivered a similar message when he used the past tense in saying "the coalition was effective" at forcing Harper "back to the drawing table."
Brison said it is clear Canadians want an alternative to Harper, but that alternative could be something other than a coalition.
"It’s up to Canadians to tell us what they want," he said.
He said the alternative could be "a strong Liberal party with a permanent leader in place."
LeBlanc said the Liberals should accept Harper’s invitation to give their input on the budget but also said Harper would be difficult to trust.
Late yesterday, Ignatieff paid tribute to the two candidates who had pulled out of the race and hailed the party for responding "quickly to changing circumstances to offer stability and leadership to Canadians."
The 61-year-old Liberal MP for Etobicoke—Lakeshore was assured of the leadership yesterday after Bob Rae – the last rival candidate in the race – dropped out, conceding he didn't have enough support to win in the party's stripped-down contest that left little time to sign up new backers.
Ignatieff, a runner-up in the 2006 contest that saw Stéphane Dion elected party leader, could take over as interim leader as early as today. That's when Liberal MPs and senators meet behind closed doors and are expected to make their own recommendation that Ignatieff serve as interim leader.
At the same time, the party executive were planning to conduct a hurried "consultation" with riding association presidents and various ex-officio members to solicit their confirmation of Ignatieff. He won't be ratified as full-time leader until the party's convention in May in Vancouver.
Last night, the party announced that consultations would be completed by 1 p.m. today, clearing the way for the national executive to announce Ignatieff as the interim leader by 2 p.m.
The Liberals are in a rush to have a new leader in place by the end of January, when a key budget vote could see the minority Conservatives defeated, sparking a new election or paving the way for a Liberal-led coalition to take power.
Ignatieff, 61, who launched his leadership bid by promising to "outwit and outthink" the Conservative government, faces a key decision over the coming weeks whether to remain in the coalition with the NDP and defeat the government.
New Democrat MPs and some in the Liberal ranks, including Rae, have been adamant that Harper's Conservatives must be toppled no matter what is in the Jan. 27 budget. But Ignatieff has been lukewarm to the idea of a coalition, and has suggested he would prefer to see the budget before acting.
On Sunday, he said "coalition if necessary but not necessarily coalition."
"I think it's very important for Canadians to have the coalition option so that if Mr. Harper presents a budget which is not in the national interest we can present to Canadians a coalition alternative to spare us a national election," he told CTV's Question Period.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried to fracture the coalition by extending an olive branch to the Liberals, saying he's hoping the new leader will "be willing to sit down with me" and talk about the economy.
"I'm optimistic that the next leader of the opposition may want to look at different kinds of arrangements in the best interests of the country," Harper said in an interview with CBC News.
"It's in the interests of the government to find a consensus, certainly among the federalist parties ... to find things we can agree on in the short-term to make sure we do whatever we can to help the economy, to keep people working."
Rae, 60, suggested Ignatieff's commitment to the coalition, which would be supported by the Bloc Québécois, as a real option should not be "underestimated."
"He recognizes that Canadians and everybody have to get more comfortable with this idea, which is obvious," Rae said.
Ignatieff's selection as leader is sure to add new spark to the Commons debates. For the past two years, as deputy leader, he was often the Liberal to whom Harper responded more succinctly and effectively than he did to Dion.
Ignatieff will have to act fast to define himself with voters, rather than letting the Conservatives, with their fat war chest, hit the airwaves to paint him in an unflattering light, as they did with Dion.
"We should anticipate that they will do it again or worse," said Liberal MP David McGuinty (Ottawa South).
But Ignatieff hopes to counter that with an "outreach, an engagement process," McGuinty said.
As well, Ignatieff had also promised a policy convention soon after taking the leadership but McGuinty is urging him to hold a series of eight or 10 meetings across the country to tap into local concerns.
Ignatieff is expected to hold a news conference today.
He, Rae and New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc arrived together for a Christmas party for Liberal MPs and senators last night in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill.
"Very Christmassy," Rae said when the three former rivals were asked how they were feeling.
MP Judy Sgro (York West) said the party would be a celebration after the last hectic two weeks.
"It's a huge relief," she said of being able to choose the new leader.
Anthony Rota (Nipissing—Timiskaming) said the choice of Ignatieff has excited MPs and, it's hoped, signals a period of stability for a party that has had five leaders in five years.
"We've been through a lot. We want some stability. It's time to rebuild," said Rota, the party's caucus chair.
LeBlanc, 40, who dropped out of the leadership race on Monday, suggested Ignatieff will offer a different leadership style to Liberals and to the country.
"I think he has an ability to forge consensus, and he seems very open to listening to ideas other than his own. But at the end of the day, the leader has to make the decision. I think he will arrive at those decisions with a great deal of support in the caucus and in the party precisely because he is so considerate of others' opinions," he said.
Ignatieff posted a statement on his website praising Rae as a "great Liberal and a great friend."
"Bob Rae has dedicated his life to serving Canadians and I have always felt privileged to count him as a friend and colleague. His decision today reflects his commitment to the unity of our party.
TheStar.com | World | Disgraced Illinois governor returns to work
Disgraced Illinois governor returns to work
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is free after his arrest on political corruption charges. The FBI say he was caught on wiretaps scheming to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat for cash or a plum job in the new administration. Email story
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Dec 10, 2008 12:09 PM
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO – Illinois Gov. Rod Blagovich returned to work Wednesday, a day after he was arrested and accused of scheming to enrich himself by selling president-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.
Blagojevich is out on bond and has denied any wrongdoing.
The Democratic governor left his home on Chicago's North Side early Wednesday and waved to the media before quickly getting into a dark SUV without talking to the reporters.
A short time later, Blagojevich's SUV arrived at his office.
"He is still the sitting governor of Illinois today, now, and that is not something we have any say in or control of," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in unveiling corruption charges Tuesday against the 52-year-old governor.
The governor's lawyer, Sheldon Sorosky, said Tuesday he didn't know of any immediate plans for the governor to resign. Blagojevich believes he didn't do anything wrong and asks Illinois residents to have faith in him, Sorosky said.
"I suppose we will have to go to trial," he said.
Blagojevich could still appoint someone to fill Obama's seat despite the charges that he tried to barter it away for cash or a plum job in what Fitzgerald called "a political corruption crime spree."
But it would take a lot of nerve and Blagojevich would have to hurry because state legislators are racing to snatch away his power to appoint a new senator and put it in the hands of voters.
"No appointment by this governor, under these circumstances, could produce a credible replacement," Senator Dick Durbin said Tuesday after the governor, was arrested on charges of conspiring to commit fraud and soliciting bribery.
Until state legislators call a special election, though, Blagojevich still has the power to fill the Senate seat left vacant by Obama.
Obama was not accused of any wrongdoing.
"I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so we were not I was not aware of what was happening," Obama said. "And as I said, it's a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don't think it's appropriate to comment."
Prosecutors stepped in and had the governor arrested because he was on "what can only be called a political corruption crime spree," Fitzgerald said.
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