Canada’s Liberals set to pick new leader, likely Michael Ignatieff

By Michael J.W. Stickings

If you're interested, my latest piece at The Guardian on Canada's rather exciting political situation was posted this morning:

Ignatieff’s moment.

It looks like the new leader of the Liberal Party will be former Harvard professor and noted international relations expert Michael Ignatieff.

Ignatieff was first elected to Parliament in 2006 -- from a suburban Toronto riding into which he was parachuted, much to the displeasure of some of the locals. Although a relatively new politician, he is seen by many Liberals as the party's saviour, and, indeed, he tends to carry himself with an air of detached (and arrogant) statesmanship.

The question is whether he'll be able to guide the party, currently in opposition, a distant second to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives, through these rather turbulent and partisan times. He would certainly boost the party's credibility, as well as its poll numbers (at least short-term), but I have my doubts. While his academic credentials are impressive, his positions on such matters as pre-emptive war and torture, both of which he has defended in terms of his "lesser evil" theory (as in, they're lesser evils than, say, terrorism), are, to put it mildly, controversial. Furthermore, it's not clear what he stands for other than wishy-washy centrism and the advancement of his own political career.

My clear preference is former Ontario premier Bob Rae, a far more progressive and democratic figure than Ignatieff. But Ignatieff has the overwhelming support of the Liberal caucus and the decision could come as early as tomorrow.

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UPDATE: Rae has pulled out of the leadership race, throwing his support behind Ignatieff.

Said one "senior Liberal," quoted in the Star, "[Ignatieff] could've well won, but leaping for the reins of power without giving the grassroots a voice -- these are people who are going to do your organizing and legwork for the party. It says the party can't move, can't be nimble. It's very dismaying."

I agree.