THE LIBERALS CHOOSE A NEW LEADER Introduction A somber Paul Martin made his way to emerge. Martha Hall Findlay was the Focus the podium on the evening of January first to declare her candidacy and, by In a leadership 23, 2006, to deliver the concession spring, 14 others jumped on the leader- contest that prom- speech he had hoped he would not have ship bandwagon. These included aca- ised to be the most competitive since to give. By the time the polls closed on demic superstar Michael Ignatieff and Pierre Trudeau’s the West Coast, the Martin Liberals former Ontario NDP premier Bob Rae. bid in 1968, the were out and the Harper Conservatives The race itself held little appeal in the Liberal race of 2006 were in—although with a minority early going as there were too many proved to be a government. Martin addressed his candidates vying to have their voices political thriller. This News in Re- supporters with the class of a career heard. But by September the battle lines view story looks at politician. He ended his address with were drawn as the field was narrowed the candidates, the his pledge to continue to represent his to eight candidates. campaign, and the constituents as well as his decision to The Liberal brass couldn’t have been surprising election step down as party leader. “During the happier. The candidates were seen as of Stéphane Dion coming days,” Martin advised, “I will intelligent and competent, and some as the new Liberal leader. consult caucus and the party leadership provided a refreshing vision for the in order to come across with an orderly party. Most importantly, none of them transition and ensure an effective carried any substantial political baggage leadership in the House of Commons from the previous Chrétien and Martin Definition and the party” (The Globe and Mail, regimes. The four frontrunners were: Caucus is a political term that refers to January 24, 2006). While a chorus of • Michael Ignatieff – a prominent a meeting of the “No! No!” rang out among his support- scholar and new MP, billed by some elected members of ers, Liberals watching the resignation to be a visionary in the likeness of political party. either in the auditorium or live on televi- Pierre Trudeau sion almost immediately turned to their • Bob Rae – former NDP premier of Blackberries, cell phones, and comput- YV Ontario who had proven himself to be Sections ers to begin the conversations back and a skilled problem-solver in political marked with this forth that would eventually bring as symbol indicate circles, particularly for his work in content suitable for many as 15 Liberal hopefuls to the convincing the government to hold an younger viewers. forefront in a bid for the party’s top job. inquiry into the Air India disaster • Gerard Kennedy – the young, dynamic Narrowing the Field Ontario Minister of Education who In the days immediately following the entered the race, recruited more new election loss and resignation of Martin, members to the party than any other speculation began to swirl regarding candidate, and proved himself to be an who might best lead the party into the adept and influential political force next federal campaign. Contenders such as John Manley, Frank McKenna, • Stéphane Dion – the former minister Lloyd Axworthy, and Brian Tobin were of Intergovernmental Affairs and, encouraged to run but they all decided more importantly, minister of the that the job was not for them. Already Environment, who vowed to win the suffering from the post-election blues, trust of Canadians on a platform of this was not good news for the Liberals. environmental protection, social However, candidates gradually began to justice, and economic sustainability. CBC News in Review • December 2006 • Page 6 Strategists believed that these four not be able to do. Rae fell victim to this Further Research candidates had a realistic chance of sentiment on the third ballot; Ignatieff, To stay informed winning the party with Ignatieff and who had been the frontrunner for the about the Dion Liberals and their Rae given the clear edge because of entire campaign, lost on the fourth. opponents consider support from backroom powerbrokers Dion rode a wave to victory that put the a regular visit to who could attract large numbers of grassroots ahead of the party the official Web delegates to their camps. That left powerbrokers. He surged from fourth sites of Canada’s Kennedy and Dion (the third- and place to first over the course of four major political parties: Liberals – fourth-place candidates respectively) ballots. He was seen as the only “pure www.liberal.ca, with little hope of winning the leader- Liberal” left on the ballot and, to almost Conservatives – ship on their own. So they decided to everyone’s surprise, emerged as party www.conservative.ca, meet on several occasions leading up to leader at the end of the day. New Democratic the convention. Eventually they brokered Party – www.ndp.ca, Winning the Next Election Bloc Québécois – a deal that would lead to an outcome that www.blocquebecois.org almost none of the experts expected. When a jubilant Dion got his chance to and Green Party – speak to the convention after winning www.greenparty.ca. The Convention the leadership, he said to the crowd at Entering the leadership convention, the Palais des congrès in Montreal, as political pundits said the race was too well as the nation watching on televi- close to call. Many anticipated that the sion, “The most exciting race in the contest would be a two-horse race history of our party is over—let’s get between Ignatieff and Rae, with that ready for the election” (Toronto Star, perspective being the dominant theme December 3, 2006). Before Liberals through the first two ballots. But then could pack their suitcases and start their something dramatic happened. Despite commute home from Montreal, the being eligible to appear on the third analysts were already dissecting Dion’s ballot, Kennedy—likely as a result of a political character. Could he beat strategic deal that he and Dion had Harper? Could he win in Quebec? Did agreed to in one of their meetings— he have what it takes to capture the dropped out of the race and threw his attention of the nation in an election support to Dion. Suddenly Dion ap- campaign? Would his emphasis on peared to be the man to beat. Word environmental issues resonate with the from the convention floor began to national electorate? While the political focus on Dion as the man to unite the experts debated these questions, Dion party, something that the two “outsid- left the convention knowing that he had ers,” Michael Ignatieff (who hadn’t been underestimated coming into the lived in Canada for 30 years before leadership race and would likely be turning to politics) and Bob Rae (the underestimated going into the next former NDP premier of Ontario), would federal election. To Consider 1. How was news of Paul Martin’s resignation greeted by many Liberals? 2. Who were the top four candidates going into the leadership convention? What strengths did each candidate have going into the voting? 3. What advantage did Ignatieff and Rae have over Kennedy and Dion? 4. How did Dion manage to win the leadership race? 5. Why might it be dangerous for the Conservatives, the NDP, and the Bloc to underestimate the abilities of Dion? CBC News in Review • December 2006 • Page 7 THE LIBERALS CHOOSE A NEW LEADER YV Video Review 1. What nickname is often applied to Canada’s Liberal Party? Carefully respond to the questions as you view the video. 2. How many months did Liberals campaign for a new leader? _____________ 3. How many leadership candidates made it to the convention? ____________ Did you know . Every person 4. Which candidate was in the lead before the convention? ________________ elected as Liberal leader since 1887 5. What were some of Michael Ignatieff’s weaknesses? has become prime minister of Canada. 6. What problems faced Bob Rae in the race? 7. Who were the other two top-four candidates besides Ignatieff and Rae? 8. What experience did Stéphane Dion bring to his leadership bid? 9. Who were the other four candidates? 10. How many ballots were needed to pick a clear winner? _________________ 11. What key event helped Dion win the race? 12. If you had been a delegate to the convention, which candidate would you have supported? Why? CBC News in Review • December 2006 • Page 8 THE LIBERALS CHOOSE A NEW LEADER Timeline 2006: The Search for a Liberal Leader Review the following timeline and complete the activity that follows. January 23 The Liberals lose power June 1 Joe Volpe is accused of im- to the Conservatives, and Paul Martin proper conduct under the Elections Act resigns as party leader. and agrees to return donations given to January 25 - February 3 The him under the names of several children following high-profile Liberals an- of corporate executives. nounce they will not pursue the position June 10 Leadership debate #1 in of party leader: John Manley, Frank Winnipeg McKenna, Brian Tobin, Lloyd June 17 Leadership debate #2 in Axworthy, and Allan Rock. Moncton February 8 Martha Hall Findlay August 14 Maurizio Bevilacqua becomes the first person to enter the drops out of the race and throws his race. support behind Bob Rae. March 18 Paul Martin formally August 21 – 24 National Liberal resigns as Liberal leader. Caucus meets in Vancouver. The Lib- March 19 John Godfrey becomes the eral Women’s Caucus Leadership second candidate to enter the race but Forum meets on the 22nd in Vancouver.