2009 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election
Template:Future election in Canada
File:Lib-can.png | |
Date | April 30 - May 2, 2009 |
---|---|
Convention | Vancouver |
Resigning leader | Stéphane Dion |
Candidates | 3 |
Entrance Fee | $90,000 |
Spending limit | $1,500,000 |
The Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention of 2009 has been prompted by Stéphane Dion's announcement that he would not lead the Liberal Party of Canada into another election, following his party's defeat in the 2008 federal election in Canada.
The party's national executive met on November 8, 2008 to set rules for the contest and choose a date and location for the convention. A biennial and leadership convention will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia from April 30-May 3, 2009 with the new leader being chosen on May 2.[1] Delegates to the convention will be chosen from March 6-10, 2009 by those Liberal Party members who joined on or before February 6, 2009.
Declared candidates
The following candidates have declared their intention to run for the leadership:
Member of Parliament for Etobicoke—Lakeshore; first elected in 2006; former leadership front-runner.[2]
- Supporters in caucus: 9
- MPs: 9: Paul Szabo,[3] Bonnie Crombie, John McCallum, Sukh Dhaliwal, David McGuinty,[4] Navdeep Bains, Mark Holland, Mario Silva, Scott Simms[5]
- Senators: 1: Sen. Larry Campbell[6]
- Other High Profile Supporters: Former Liberal national director Steven MacKinnon, former party president Michael Eizenga, former Martin and Dion organizer Mark Marrisen, Marc-André Blanchard, president of the Quebec Liberal Party, Don Guy, 2007 campaign director for Dalton McGuinty.[7] Warren Kinsella, former National Post columnist, [8] former MP Omar Alghabra,[9] Tyler Banham, 2008 Liberal Candidate for Hamilton-Mountain and former National Director of the Young Liberals, Brigitte Legault, 2008 Liberal Candidate for Vaudreuil-Soulanges and former President of the Young Liberals of Canada (Quebec) and current VP francophone on the national party executive. [10]
- Date campaign launched: November 13, 2008
- Date officially registered:
- Website: michaelignatieff.ca
- Number of ballots:
- Result:
Member of Parliament for Beauséjour, first elected in 2000, fluently bilingual Acadian with deep roots in the party. His father, Roméo, was press secretary to Pierre Trudeau, later an MP and cabinet minister, and eventually became Governor General.[11] On October 27, LeBlanc became the first candidate to declare his candidacy for the Liberal Party leadership. [12]
- Supporters in caucus: 1
- MPs: 0
- Senators: 1 Sen. Percy Downe[13]
- Other High Profile Supporters: Scott Reid and Tim Murphy, former aides to Paul Martin; former Chrétien era PMO communications adviser Steven Hogue; Mark Watton, formerly of MP Ken Dryden's leadership campaign in 2006; and Janice Nicholson, strategist in Gerard Kennedy's campaign.[14] Also endorsing Dominic LeBlanc are a number of prominent New Brunswicker's, including Premier Shawn Graham, Minister of Finance Victor Boudreau, Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne and former Deputy Premier Doug Tyler.[15]
- Date campaign launched:
- Date officially registered:
- Website: dominicleblanc.ca
- Number of ballots:
- Result:
Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre; first elected in 2008; former NDP Premier of Ontario; former leadership contender.[16]
- Supporters in caucus: 2
- MPs: 1 Ujjal Dosanjh, [17]
- Senators: 1 Sen. Sharon Carstairs[18]
- Other High Profile Supporters: Former federal cabinet ministers Lloyd Axworthy, Anne McLellan, Lawrence MacAulay and Reg Alcock;[19] David Herle, former Martin campaign manager; Jonathan Goldbloom, Montreal communications consultant; Karl Littler, former senior Paul Martin strategist; John Duffy, Martin strategist, political author, and consultant;[20] John A. Rae, Power Corporation executive and former Chrétien advisor; George Smitherman, deputy premier of Ontario; Greg Sorbara, former Ontario finance minister.[21]
- Date campaign launched: November 20, 2008
- Date officially registered:
- Website: www.bobrae.ca
- Number of ballots:
- Result:
Potential candidates
The following individuals, listed in alphabetical order, have been mentioned in one or more media reports as possible candidates for the leadership and have not publicly refuted suggestions they will run:
- Ruby Dhalla: Member of Parliament for Brampton—Springdale since 2004.[22] On November 18 she was reported saying "I am currently consulting with supporters and senior Liberals from coast to coast as to what the future holds. I will be making my decision public in the near future."[23]
- Ken Dryden: Member of Parliament for York Centre. Federal Minister of Social Development, and former NHL goaltender whose playing career won a place for him in the Hockey Hall of Fame.[24]
Non-candidates
- Navdeep Bains: Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Brampton South; when Mr. Bains was elected for the first time in 2004 he was the youngest Liberal MP in Parliament.[24] Reported to be backing Ignatieff.
- Scott Brison: Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants. First elected as a Progressive Conservative in 1997. Crossed the floor to the Liberals in 2003 and served as Minister of Public Works from 2004 to 2006. Former Liberal leadership contender. [25]
- Martin Cauchon: Former Member of Parliament (1993-2004). Former Minister of Justice.[26] "While my heart says yes, the realities of fundraising and organization are too daunting at this time."[27]
- Denis Coderre: Member of Parliament for Bourassa since 1997, federal cabinet minister from 2002 to 2006. «Je ne serai pas candidat à la prochaine course au leadership. J'ai le goût d'être chef du parti et je pense avoir les capacités pour être chef du parti, mais, comme dit la chanson, "I have the right love at the wrong moment".»[28][29][30]
- Ujjal Dosanjh: Member of Parliament for Vancouver South since 2004. Federal Minister of Health from 2004 to 2006. Former NDP Premier of British Columbia. Said on November 6th on Mike Duffy Live that due to his lack of French, a bid by him would be "unrealistic."
- Martha Hall Findlay: Member of Parliament for Willowdale; First elected in 2008; Former leadership contender. She the fact that she still owes about $170,000 from the last leadership contest "played a big role" in her decision.[31]
- Gerard Kennedy: Member of Parliament for Parkdale—High Park; first elected in 2008; former Ontario Education minister; former leadership contender.[32]
- John Manley: Former Member of Parliament and former Deputy Prime Minister under Jean Chrétien released an announcement saying "I found that there was indeed water in the pool... However, I truly found that in my mind and heart, I have moved on from the world of elected office. I also found that I lacked the burning ambition necessary to mount and sustain such a campaign."[33]
- Elizabeth May: Green Party of Canada leader, in response to rumours of a Draft May movement, May said "“The Green Party is my home and the Green party is where I'll stay." [34]
- Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, says he'll stay out of the Liberal leadership race and won't endorse any candidate with the exception of his brother David if he ran.[35]
- David McGuinty: Member of Parliament for Ottawa South, first elected in 2004. Younger brother of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. Says he wishes to focus on his duties as an MP[36]
- Frank McKenna: The former Premier of New Brunswick, as well as the former ambassador to the US, has said "Although I have been deeply moved by expressions of support for me from across the country, I have not been persuaded to change my long-standing resolve to exit public life for good. [37]
- Carole Taylor, former British Columbia Liberal Party Finance Minister, said “I’m appreciative of the nice comments that have been made, but I’m not intending to run for the federal leadership.”[38]
- Brian Tobin: Former Premier of Newfoundland & Labrador & federal cabinet minister said in London that he will "absolutely not," consider running for Liberal leadership. [39]
- Justin Trudeau told a national news agency "I can assure you that if there is a leadership (race) right now I will not be running for any leadership role."[40]
- Joe Volpe: Member of Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence First elected in 1988. Former Ontario Cabinet Minister; former leadership contender. “I was delighted to be a candidate,” Volpe said. “It did not turn out well in part because people tried to frame me into a discussion regarding me that had nothing to do with policy issues. I’m not sure I want to go through that experience again.”[41]
Timeline
- October 14, 2008 - Federal election returns a Conservative minority government and a diminished Liberal caucus.
- October 15, 2008 - Joe Volpe calls for Stephane Dion to resign as leader.
- October 20, 2008 - Liberal leader Stéphane Dion announces his intention to resign as party leader as soon as his successor is chosen.
- October 27, 2008 - Frank McKenna announces he will not be a candidate; LeBlanc declares his intention to run.
- October 31, 2008 - Rae announces his candidacy.
- November 4, 2008 - John Manley announces he will not run.
- November 8-9, 2008 - Liberal Party executive meets to decide on the date, location, and rules governing the race.
- November 11, 2008 - Martha Hall Findlay announces she will not run.
- November 12, 2008 - Gerard Kennedy and David McGuinty announce they will not run.
- November 13, 2008 - Ignatieff announces he will run.
- November 16, 2008 - The Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario) holds an all-candidates. Rae boycotts when Ignatieff refused to allow the media to attend.
- November 20, 2008 - Rae officially launches his campaign.
- February 6, 2009 - Deadline for new Liberal Party members to join the party.
- March 6-10, 2009 - "Super delegate" weekend in which ridings elect convention delegates
- April 30-May 2, 2009 - Convention
References
- ^ "Federal Liberals to pick new leader May 2 in Vancouver". Vancouver Province. 2008-11-08. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ Jane Taber (2008-11-12). "globeandmail.com: Ignatieff's in, Kennedy's out". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/536053
- ^ http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iSigjesV0pN_fDKR9g5wBgssAw_A
- ^ http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081116/rae_ignatieff_081116/20081116?hub=TopStories
- ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081113.wliberals13/BNStory/politics/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20081113.wliberals13
- ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081030.wliberals31/BNStory/politics/
- ^ http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/15/kelly-mcparland-michael-ignatieff-in-his-own-write.aspx
- ^ http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081116/rae_ignatieff_081116/20081116?hub=TopStories
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/note.php?note_id=35474408609&ref=nf
- ^ "Possible Liberal leadership contenders". Canadian Press. 2008-10-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ The Globe and Mail, 27 October 2008
- ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081113.wliberals13/BNStory/politics/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20081113.wliberals13
- ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081113.LIBERALS13/TPStory/National
- ^ http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/464861
- ^ Joanna Smith & Joan Bryden (2008-10-31). "Rae to seek Liberal leadership". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/GAM.20081111.COSIMP11/TPStory/TPComment
- ^ http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20081031/rae_leadership_081031/20081031/?hub=TorontoNewHome
- ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081119.wrae20/BNStory/politics/home
- ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081113.wliberals14/BNStory/politics/home
- ^ http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/528703
- ^ Greenaway, Norma (2008-10-20). "The possible contenders". Canwest News Service. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ http://www.northpeel.com/news/article/60551
- ^ a b Toronto Star
- ^ Chronicle-Herald
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081118.wcauchon19/BNStory/politics/home
- ^ Buzzetti, Hélène (2008-11-12). "Course au leadership du PLC - Coderre passe son tour" (in French). Le devoir. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ O'Neill, Juliet (2008-11-12). "Ignatieff picks up key Dion backers". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ Bryden, Joan (2008-10-20). "Liberals cast themselves in leader's light". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ Globe and Mail
- ^ "Kennedy says no to Liberal leadership run". Canadian Press. 2008-11-12. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ O’Neill, Juliet. "Manley says no to Liberal leadership race". National Post. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ Tutton, Michael (2008-10-16). "Elizabeth May Vows Byelection Run". Westcoaster.ca. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ Toronto Star
- ^ "David McGuinty won't run in Grit leadership race". Edmonton Sun. 2008-11-12. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ CTV.ca 28 October 2008
- ^ thetyee.ca 23 October 2008
- ^ London Free Press, 25 October 2008
- ^ Canadian Press
- ^ "Volpe says no to seeking Liberal leadership". Insidetorontovotes.ca. 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-11-12.