Categories: Capital Read, Inside the Queensway

Unpack your bags, Mr. Dion – You're staying at Stornoway! Well, for another week.

by kadyomalley on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 6:11am - 7 Comments

The following arrived in the wee small hours of the morning. Will it satisfy both Team Ignatieff and the Contraerians? Somehow, I suspect we won’t have to wait too long to find out:

Liberal Party Announces Consultative Process to Appoint an Interim Leader

OTTAWA – Liberal Party President Doug Ferguson announced Monday that the Liberal Party’s National Executive has approved a consultative process by which it will appoint an interim Liberal Leader. This announcement follows the resignation of the Hon. Stéphane Dion announced earlier this week.

“I first wish to thank Mr. Dion for the courage and passion with which he led the Liberal Party of Canada,” said Mr. Ferguson.

“At this critical time in our country’s history, the National Executive, in consultation with Caucus, is now tasked by our Party’s constitution with selecting an interim Leader who will preside over a very volatile minority Parliament, and a possible general election.”

Mr. Ferguson emphasized that the Liberal Party’s overriding objective is to select an interim Leader through a process which respects the principles of fairness and openness.

In this spirit, with respect to its decision to select an interim Leader, the National Executive has chosen to consult broadly with the Party’s constitutional bodies, including Caucus, defeated candidates from the last general election, Council of Presidents, and Commission Club Presidents. Through this process, an interim Leader is expected to be chosen as early as Wednesday, December 17, 2008.

“In keeping with our national Canadian character, the Liberal Party brought together good sense and balance in seeking broad consultation in an expedited timeframe,” concluded Mr. Ferguson.

Tags: Bob Rae, liberal party of canada, Michael Ignatieff, midnight madness, most complicated leadership process ever

More by kadyomalley

Wascally Wabbit

Contraerians?
You’ve done better Kady…but this too will pass!
Is the Executive’s response adequate – open and fair?
Nope!
Are they hidebound by their Constitution?
Nope – I don’t think so – not to the degree they are claiming!
Their constitution is in the middle of a substantive rewrite and is not even off the presses yet.
More to the point – I have seen Governing Council make quite arbitrary decisions at the provincial level – so these folks would have to convince me they tried very very hard to find a way within the “strictures” of the existing constitution before I would accept that this was not a done deal cooked up behind closed doors!
Sisyphus

If Layton was smart ( I know, Big If ) he’d pronounce the Coalition no longer active because one of the signees was no longer available to speak for their party. And if Iggy was interested in reviving the beast, hey, give him a call. ” Coalition if necessary “, indeed. Pompous ass.
Westerner

In numerous interviews Iggy has shown little interest in the Coalition. Some Liberals see it somewhat as a bargaining chip in extracting concessions from the Conservatives. Better to run, not walk away from this alliance and do a deal, on the budget, with the Cons.
Ti-Guy

Better to run, not walk away from this alliance and do a deal, on the budget, with the Cons.

Right…because Herr Harper really is the cooperative type.

Any deal should be conditional on Harper resigning and agreeing to be kicked in the groin.
Westerner

Ti-Guy

Yes, like Dion.
Sophie

Maybe they could kick each other in the groin?
Layton and Duceppe, too, just for good measure.
Jenn

Wow, Jennifer Smith nailed it.

I’m surprised by the negative comments. Obviously, a new leader must be installed as soon as possible in order to deal with the Dictator.

The Liberal Party of Canada has a Constitution (and if it is being rewritten as we speak that is irrelevant because the one that is passed is the one that must be used TODAY.) That Constitution mandates the National Executive to choose an interim leader. I certainly see Mr. Rae’s point on the unfairness of them appointing Mr. Ignatieff without a wider consultation. So that’s what they’re doing.

In view of the time constraints and the current Constitution, I really don’t see a more fair and open choice. Maybe if you have a suggestion that could actually be implemented, it would be better to voice that than some complaints.