2006 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
| File:Lib-can.png | |
| Date | December 2 - December 3 2006 |
|---|---|
| Convention | Montreal, Quebec |
| Resigning leader | Paul Martin |
| Won by | ongoing campaign |
| Candidates | 8 |
| Entrance Fee | C$50,000 |
| Spending limit | C$3.4 million |
The Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention of 2006 was prompted by Paul Martin's announcement that he would not lead the Liberal Party of Canada into another election, following his party's defeat in the 2006 federal election in Canada. The party's biennial convention has been scheduled to occur from November 29 to December 1 2006 in Montreal's Palais des congrès, followed by the party's leadership convention at the same venue occurring December 2 to December 3, 2006. The victor will likely lead the Liberal Party in the next federal election as its presumptive candidate for Prime Minister of Canada.
The party constitution lays out a process by which the party leader is chosen by several thousand delegates, who are elected by riding associations, women's associations, and Young Liberal clubs in proportion to the number of votes they receive at a delegate selection meeting of the general membership of that association. Hundreds of other ex-officio delegates are automatically awarded delegate spots at the convention, including Liberal Members of Parliament, Senators, riding association presidents, past candidates and members of provincial or territorial association executive boards.
As stipulated by the party constitution, the selection of delegates for the convention must occur 35 to 59 days prior to the convention itself, and only Liberals who joined the party 90 days before the delegate-selection meetings can vote for delegates or become delegates themselves. As a result, the early months of the leadership race was dominated by competing drives to sign up members likely to back various candidacies.
The convention date is approximately three years after the 2003 convention, which saw Paul Martin selected after years of conflict between his faction of the party and that of outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.
Parliamentary leadership until the convention
On February 1, 2006, Outgoing Prime Minister Paul Martin announced that he would like to continue as leader of the Liberal Party until his successor was chosen but he would not serve as Leader of the Opposition. [1] Later that day, the 103-member Liberal caucus selected Bill Graham, Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and the outgoing Minister of National Defence, as Leader of the Opposition and interim parliamentary leader in the House of Commons. (The caucus was soon reduced to 102 members when David Emerson crossed the floor to join the Conservatives.) Graham named Lucienne Robillard, member for Westmount—Ville-Marie and the outgoing Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, as his deputy leader.[2] Alberta Senator Dan Hays, outgoing speaker of the Canadian Senate, was chosen as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.
Though Martin initially intended to remain the official leader until the party chose his permanent replacement, the former Prime Minister announced on March 16, 2006 that his resignation would take effect the following weekend, once the Liberal Party executive set the date of the convention. According to media reports, Martin made his decision to end speculation that he may lead the Liberals into the next election, should the Harper government fall in the following few months.[3]
Bill Graham was given the full-fledged role of interim leader (rather than just interim parliamentary leader) by the National Executive on March 18, 2006. Interim leaders are traditionally expected to be neutral in leadership races and are typically individuals who are not expected to be candidates themselves.
Rules
The date and rules of the convention were decided upon by the Liberal Party National Executive during its meeting on March 18–March 19, 2006.[4]
The party constitution required that a convention be held within a year of the leader's resignation and that the party's biennial convention be held by March 2007. The leadership convention will also serve the function of the party's regular policy convention meaning there will be debate and voting on policy resolutions and an election for the party's executive.
Selection of delegates by riding associations and party clubs will occur on the weekend of September 29 to October 1. Only those who have purchased or renewed their party membership by July 4, 2006 will be eligible to vote. There are expected to be approximately 850 ex-officio delegates who automatically gain the right to attend the convention by virtue of being a Liberal Member of Parliament, recent candidate, Senator, etc. The Liberal Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission will be entitled to send a delegation that is in proportion to the percentage of the Canadian population that is Aboriginal. All delegates except those with ex-officio status and those who gain election as independent delegates are bound to a particular candidate on the first ballot, however all delegates are free to move about as candidates drop off over ensuing rounds of voting.
Each candidate must gather the signatures of at least 300 Liberal Party members, at least 100 of which are in each of three provinces or territories and pay a $50,000 fee to enter the contest (down from $75,000 at the previous convention). The spending limit for each campaign has been set at $3.4 million, down from $4 million. All of the first $500,000 raised by each candidate will be kept by the candidate's campaign while any amount raised above that figure will be subject to a 20% levy by the party. In contrast to the previous race when the sale of party memberships was severely restricted, the executive decided to allow party membership to be purchased online.
The Convention Organization Committee, and the convention proceedings will be co-chaired by Dominic LeBlanc and Tanya Kappo. Steven MacKinnon, National Director of the party, will be the General Secretary of the convention.[5]
The deadline for candidates to enter the race is September 30.[6].
The voting is done in two stages on the ballot:
- The top part of the ballot lists the names of each of the leadership candidates; party members may vote for a candidate or remain undeclared.
- The second part of the ballot lists names of prospective delegates who are standing on behalf of the various leadership candidates.
- Riding associations have fourteen delegate positions: four men, four women, two seniors (over age 65) and four youths (under 26).
- Women's clubs have one delegate position each.
- Youth clubs and seniors' clubs each have four delegates, of which two are male and two are female.
Ex-officio delegates can automatically attend and vote at the convention without the requirement of getting elected. Ex-officio delegates include MPs, Senators, Riding Association Presidents, immediate past candidates, and a certain number of party executive members and members of the executive of various Liberal Party Commissions (such as the national youth commission, national women's commission, national Aboriginal commission etc) and provincial sections of the federal party as laid out in Section 16(13) of the party constitution.
At the convention, the first ballot by elected delegates is pre-set according by proportional representation according to the amount of support each leadership candidate received at the delegate selection meeting (i.e., the "leadership portion" of the ballot cast at riding association or club meetings), even if the delegate has personally expressed support for another candidate. Ex-officio delegates can vote however they wish and it is only they who will cast ballots initially. If there is a second ballot (i.e., if no leadership candidate receives over 50% of the vote on the first ballot), all delegates will be free to vote according to their personal preference.[7]
Analysis
The unofficial Liberal Party tradition was to alternate between francophone and anglophone leaders. With Stéphane Dion as the only francophone candidate in the current race, however, this tradition will be broken by the 2006 race if any candidate other than Dion wins.
As the possibility of a 2006 Liberal leadership race emerged during the midpoint of the election campaign, most media speculation focused on the surfeit of potential candidates poised to replace Martin. Some optimistically billed this convention as being most likely to provide a broad field of skilled contenders not seen since the 1968 convention that included Pierre Trudeau, Robert Winters, Paul Martin, Sr., John Turner, Joe Greene, Mitchell Sharp and Allan MacEachen. Such speculation seemed rooted in the assumption that high profile members of the Chrétien cabinet that had elected not to challenge the Martin juggernaught in 2003—most commonly enumerated as John Manley, Allan Rock, Brian Tobin, and Martin Cauchon—would return to federal politics, along with 2003 runner-up Sheila Copps and Martin's own presumptive heir Frank McKenna, prompting a balanced matchup between multiple household names.
Instead, all of the above-mentioned politicians indicated they would not be contesting this race. Some commentators have stated that this is because of a prevailing view that the Liberal Party will spend an extended period in Opposition meaning that winning the party leadership comes with no certainty of becoming Prime Minister. Also, some say that the reported party debt might also have something to do with them backing down.[8]
There is also the toll politics may take on one's personal life. In his decision not to run, Frank McKenna cited the fact that the prime ministership is a twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week job that leaves little time for anything else. [9]
While some view the withdrawal of prominent candidates as indicating that the Liberal leadership is undesirable, others have heralded the potential for a "wide open" leadership race that is free from the baggage of the past which might do much to heal the lingering rifts in the party. [10] [11] [12]
Early in the race the field of declared contenders was often described as having a first tier of six potential winners (the "big six") most commonly cited as consisting of Scott Brison, Stéphane Dion, Ken Dryden, Michael Ignatieff, Gerard Kennedy and Bob Rae. [13][14]. By August of 2006 however most news articles cited the top-tier of consisting of only three, or four potential winners most commonly cited as Stéphane Dion, Michael Ignatieff, and Bob Rae, [15], [16], [17], but also occasionally including Gerard Kennedy. [18], [19], [20]
In October 2006, the Toronto Star reported that the campaigns of Gerard Kennedy and Stéphane Dion were holding talks about a potential alliance. The paper speculated that this alliance would be likely to win as their combined delegates would surpass both Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae. [21]
In May 2006, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported that the then-eleven candidates were tested for bilingualism certificates by University of Ottawa professor Hélène Knoerr. Seven received passing scores: Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff both received top scores, while Stéphane Dion (who was tested on his English fluency), Joe Volpe, Martha Hall Findlay, Gerard Kennedy and Maurizio Bevilacqua also were graded as bilingual. (Bevilacqua later dropped out of the race.) The remaining candidates all failed the test, whereby each candidate was asked the same four questions and graded based on their syntax, vocabulary, and grammar. Hedy Fry (who also withdrew) did not finish the interview. The newspaper initially errantly reported that Kennedy and Bevilacqua had failed to meet fluency requirements in French, but later retracted this statement. [22]
Opinion polls
According to an opinion poll [23] of Liberal party members by the Globe and Mail, conducted from September 12-18, Michael Ignatieff enjoyed a slim lead over the pack with 19% support. The remaining candidates' support was calculated at: 17% for Bob Rae, 13% for Stephane Dion, 9% for Gerard Kennedy, 9% for Ken Dryden, 3% for Scott Brison, 2% for Joe Volpe, 1% for Martha Hall Findlay, and less than 1% for Hedy Fry. The poll found that 27% of party members did not know or were undecided about their choice. The poll appeared to show a potential second-ballot weakness for Ignatieff: 12% selected him as their second choice, compared to 23% for Rae and 17% for Dion. The accuracy of the poll was possibly questionable, since it was taken based on membership lists provided by Brison, Dryden, and Dion.
A poll [24] of Liberal party members in Ontario and Quebec by EKOS Research Associates for the Toronto Star and La Presse, conducted from September 17-24, showed similar results, with Rae and Ignatieff supported by 25%, Dion at 17%, and Kennedy at 16%. Rae and Dion again had strong support for second choice at 27% each, compared with 19% for Ignatieff.
Party insiders have suggested that Ignatieff would need to secure at least 35% of the delegates elected on "Super Weekend" to avoid being overtaken in subsequent ballots. Although he won the most delegates overall on that weekend, he did not reach the 35 per cent target.
Registered candidates
Individuals who have gathered the necessary signatures from 300 party members and paid the first $25,000 installment of the entry fee:
Scott Brison
Scott Brison is the MP for Kings—Hants and was Minister of Public Works and Government Services under Martin. He had previously been a Progressive Conservative MP (since 1997) and had run for the leadership of the PC Party. Brison crossed the floor to join the Liberals shortly after the creation of the Conservative Party of Canada. An openly gay former investment banker, Brison is a fiscal moderate and social progressive. He stood for the leadership of the PC Party on a platform of Employment Insurance reform, more private involvement in healthcare, integrated defense strategy with the US, and socially liberal policies. His 2006 Liberal leadership platform emphasises the candidate as a "defender of the environment, business innovation and socially progressive values[25].
High profile supporters
Former New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna, considered the leading contender until he announced he was not running in the race, had donated $3000 to Brison's campaign in August and formally endorsed Brison on November 30.[26] [27]
- Supporters in caucus prior to first ballot: 10
- MPs: 4 Scott Brison, Mark Eyking, Shawn Murphy, Michael Savage
- Senators: 6 Sen. Jane Cordy, Sen. Jim Cowan, Sen. Joseph Day, Sen. Michael Kirby, Sen. Wilfred Moore, Sen. Gerard Phalen.
- Date campaign launched: April 22, 2006
- Date officially registered: May 25, 2006[28]
- Website: scottbrison.ca
Stéphane Dion
Stéphane Dion was Intergovernmental Affairs minister under Chrétien, Environment minister under Martin. Before entering federal politics by his 1996 appointment to cabinet followed shortly by his election to parliament from Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, Dion was a professor of political science and noted federalist commentator. Dion is noted for his vocal opposition to Quebec sovereigntism and his support for such measures as the Clarity Act. He was considered a Chrétien loyalist who nonetheless worked well with the Martin camp. Dion announced his candidacy on April 7. [29]
High profile supporters
Former Liberal House Leader Don Boudria [30]and former Finance Minister John Manley's Leadership Campaign Chair Herb Metcalfe are serving as Dion's Campaign Co-Chairs. Paul Martin's BC Lieutenant Mark Marissen is his National Campaign Director [31]. One-time Progressive Conservative leadership aspirant David Orchard has also announced his support of Dion [32]. Additional high profile supporters include the leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party David Karwacki[33], Jamie Elmhirst the President of the British Columbia wing of the Party [34], Adam Campbell the President of the Alberta wing of the Party [35], former Green Party deputy leader Tom Manley [36], Former Prime Minister Paul Martin's Chief of Staff Tim Murphy [37], and Marc-Boris Saint-Maurice the co-founder and former leader of the Marijuana Party of Canada [38]. Former Justice minister Allan Rock endorsed Dion on December 1.
- Supporters in caucus prior to first ballot: 17
- MPs: 11 Sue Barnes, Colleen Beaumier, Bonnie Brown, Stéphane Dion, Charles Hubbard, Marlene Jennings, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Glen Pearson*, Francis Scarpaleggia, Paul Steckle, Bryon Wilfert
- Senators: 7 Sen. Tommy Banks, Sen. John Bryden, Sen. Maria Chaput, Sen. Joan Fraser, Sen. Vivienne Poy, Sen. Fernand Robichaud, Sen. Claudette Tardif
- * Glen Pearson is an MP-elect, having won the November 28th by-election in London North Centre.
- Date campaign launched: April 7, 2006
- Date officially registered: May 24, 2006[39]
- Website: stephanedion.ca
Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden was Social development minister under Martin. A former star goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens hockey team, Dryden was elected in 2004 as a star candidate for the Liberals. He was instrumental in putting forward a child care strategy during the Martin government. Dryden, who has written a book about the public education system, stressed the importance of improving the education system in order to keep Canada competitive. "Learning is at the core of our future -- for a person, a society, an economy, a country," Dryden said. "Learning is our only real security, our only real opportunity, and this program, years in the hoping, was the first big step towards truly lifelong learning." He also said Canada's unique, multi-ethnic mix needs to be held up as an example to the world.
- Supporters in caucus prior to first ballot: 12
- MPs: 5 Don Bell, Ken Boshcoff, Ken Dryden, Tina Keeper, Anita Neville
- Senators: 7 Sen. Sharon Carstairs, Sen. Art Eggleton, Sen. Joyce Fairbairn, Sen. Jerry Grafstein, Sen. Frank Mahovlich, Sen. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, Sen. Rod Zimmer
- Date campaign launched: April 28, 2006
- Date officially registered: May 29, 2006 [40]
- Website: kendryden.ca
Martha Hall Findlay
Martha Hall Findlay, a Toronto lawyer, was the first candidate to officially declare she would run for the leadership when she did so on February 8, 2006 [41]. She has previously run as a Liberal candidate in the 2004 election, losing to Belinda Stronach in the district of Newmarket—Aurora. When Stronach crossed the floor in 2005, Hall Findlay ceded her Liberal nomination for the riding to Stronach. Hall Findlay, 45, is fluently bilingual and presently works as the principal of her own management and legal consultancy organization, The General Counsel Group, which works primarily in the high-tech and telecommunications fields in Canada and Europe.
- Date campaign launched: February 8, 2006
- Date officially registered: May 24, 2006[43]
- Website: marthahallfindlay.ca
Michael Ignatieff
Michael Ignatieff is a public intellectual, who has worked as a teacher, writer/journalist and politician. For most of his professional life Ignatieff lectured and wrote outside Canada; first in the United Kingdom at Cambridge University from 1978-1984, then in London as a journalist and writer until 2000 when he was named director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University. His 1993 novel, Scar Tissue was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Upon his return to Canada in 2005, he became a visiting professor at the University of Toronto, and in the 2006 federal election campaign he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as MP for Etobicoke—Lakeshore. Ignatieff is a staunch supporter of interventionism, and was in favour of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, despite the conflict's relative unpopularity in Canada, and recently in the United States. Some media see Ignatieff as belonging to the right-wing of the Liberal Party because of his positions on foreign affairs. However, he has taken a centre-left position on most domestic social policies.
High profile supporters
Ignatieff is supported by Senator David Smith, a powerful Chrétien organizer and chairman emeritus of Canada's largest "cross-border" law firm, , Ian Davey (son of Senator Keith Davey), Alfred Apps, a Toronto lawyer and Martin fundraiser and Paul Lalonde, a Toronto lawyer and son of Marc Lalonde, are heading up his campaign.[1] David Peterson is Ignatieff's honorary campaign co-chair along with former Trudeau cabinet minister Marc Lalonde. Jim Peterson serves as Ignatieff's Ontario campaign co-chair with Aileen Carroll. Rodger Cuzner is the Atlantic Canada campaign chair while Pablo Rodriguez, former president of the Liberal Party's federal Quebec wing, is the national campaign co-chair. [44]
- Supporters in caucus prior to first ballot: 49
- MPs: 39 Larry Bagnell, Mauril Bélanger, Gerry Byrne, John Cannis, Denis Coderre, Roy Cullen, Rodger Cuzner, Sukh Dhaliwal, Jean-Claude D'Amours, Ruby Dhalla, Wayne Easter, Raymonde Folco, Albina Guarnieri, Michael Ignatieff, Derek Lee, John Maloney, Keith Martin, John McCallum, David McGuinty, Joe McGuire, John McKay, Gary Merasty, Maria Minna, Stephen Owen, Jim Peterson, Marcel Proulx, Yasmin Ratansi, Geoff Regan, Pablo Rodriguez, Anthony Rota, Todd Russell, Lloyd St. Amand, Raymond Simard, Paul Szabo, Robert Thibault, Alan Tonks, Roger Valley, Blair Wilson, Paul Zed
- Senators: 10 Sen. Lise Bacon, Sen. Roméo Dallaire, Sen. Dennis Dawson, Sen. Francis Fox, Sen. Elizabeth Hubley, Sen. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, Sen. Pana Papas Merchant, Sen. Grant Mitchell, Sen. Nick Sibbeston, Sen. David Smith
- Date campaign launched: April 7, 2006
- Date officially registered: May 2, 2006[45]
- Website: michaelignatieff.ca
Gerard Kennedy
Gerard Kennedy was until April 5, 2006 the Minister of Education in the Ontario provincial government of Dalton McGuinty. Kennedy was a key player in rebuilding the Ontario Liberal Party and bringing it to government in 2003. As Education Minister, he is widely viewed as having restored faith in the public education system after years of growing support for private schools. He resigned from cabinet on April 5 in order to enter this leadership race. [46] He was the runner up in the 1996 Ontario Liberal leadership race, having finished in first place on the first four ballots, he was defeated by McGuinty on the fifth and final ballot. He is viewed by many in the media as being on the left wing of the party.[47]
High profile supporters
Kennedy is backed by Senator Terry Mercer, former national director of the federal Liberal Party. He also enjoys the support of former Premier of Prince Edward Island Keith Milligan and former Premier of New Brunswick Ray Frenette. While former cabinet minister Joe Fontana is still supporting Kennedy, he has since resigned his seat in the House of Commons to run for Mayor of London.[48] On 25 November, the Globe and Mail reported that Justin Trudeau had declared his support for Kennedy's leadership bid. [49]
- Supporters in caucus prior to first ballot: 19
- MPs: 13 Omar Alghabra, Navdeep Bains, Brenda Chamberlain, Raymond Chan, Mark Holland, Gurbax Malhi, Dan McTeague, Bernard Patry, Mario Silva, Scott Simms, Brent St. Denis, Andrew Telegdi, Borys Wrzesnewskyj
- Senators: 6 Sen. Larry Campbell, Sen. Aurélien Gill, Sen. Sandra Lovelace Nicholas, Sen. Terry Mercer, Sen. Robert Peterson, Sen. Charlie Watt
- Ex-Officio:
- Date campaign launched: April 27, 2006
- Date officially registered: May 17, 2006[50]
- Website: gerardkennedy.ca
Bob Rae
Bob Rae was the Ontario New Democratic Party Premier of Ontario from 1990 to 1995 and was a federal NDP MP in the House of Commons from 1978 to 1982. Since leaving electoral politics, Rae has worked on a number of contentious issues for the federal government, most notably the Air India disaster; has worked in international relations advising on constitutional issues and has conducted a study for the Ontario government on post-secondary education. Rae joined the Liberal Party in April 2006 (he had been a Liberal in the 1960s) before launching his campaign that month and is running as a centrist.[51] In a speech to the Canadian Club of Winnipeg on March 13, 2006, Rae expressed his interest in uniting the 'progressive' forces of Canada in order to regain a majority government in the Canadian House of Commons. "There's a progressive record that's shared by a majority of Canadians, but so far, we have not succeeded in becoming a majority in the House of Commons, so we must think a bit about how that can happen."
Concerns about Rae's ability to appeal to Ontario voters, given his turbulent tenure as Premier in the early to mid 1990s, have been expressed. [52]
High profile supporters
Rae is supported by former senior Chrétien aides such as Eddie Goldenberg and John Rae (who is Bob Rae's older brother) as well as senior Ontario provincial Liberals such as provincial finance minister Greg Sorbara and provincial health minister and Deputy Premier George Smitherman. On May 12, Rae was endorsed by longtime Trudeau cabinet stalwart Allan MacEachen [53]. Former leadership contenders Maurizio Bevilacqua, Carolyn Bennett and Hedy Fry withdrew from the campaign to throw their support to Rae, with Bevilacqua becoming National Co-Chair for the campaign and Chief Advisor on Economic Policy[54]. Susan Kadis, the former Toronto co-chair of Ignatieff's campaign, endorsed Rae on October 27th. Former Finance Minister Ralph Goodale endorsed Rae on November 28th[55].
- Supporters in caucus prior to first ballot: 25
- MPs: 13 Carolyn Bennett, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Irwin Cotler, Ujjal Dosanjh, Hedy Fry, John Godfrey, Ralph Goodale, Susan Kadis, Lawrence MacAulay, Diane Marleau, Bill Matthews, Brian Murphy, Andy Scott
- Senators: 12 Sen. Jack Austin, Sen. Pierre de Bané, Sen. Michel Biron, Sen. Joan Cook, Sen. Mac Harb, Sen. Mobina Jaffer, Sen. Jean Lapointe, Sen. Colin Kenny, Sen. Jim Munson, Sen. Pierrette Ringuette, Sen. Bill Rompkey, Sen. Peter Stollery.
- Additional caucus support: 1
- MPs: 1 Joe Volpe (after 1st ballot)
- Date campaign launched: April 24, 2006
- Date officially registered: May 11, 2006[56]
- Website: bobrae.ca
Joe Volpe
Joe Volpe was Minister of Citizenship and Immigration under Martin. He announced his candidacy on April 21, 2006. A former schoolteacher, he was elected to the House of Commons in 1988. His top priorities will include reinvigorating the party to get it back "on a professional keel." He will aim to "make it a good corporate institution that it's been and the nation-building institution that it has always proved to be." Volpe's main campaign themes are expected to include, making education and training a higher priority and improving the system for accommodating immigrants, planks that draw on his cabinet experience as human-resources minister and immigration minister.
Volpe ran into trouble on June 2nd when it was revealed that his campaign had received $5,400 in donations from each of three children under the age of 15. All of whom were children of executives of the pharmaceutical company Apotex. [57] The donations were later returned. This situation led to the creation of the satirical Web site Youth for Volpe. [58] Subsequently Sukh Dhaliwal and Yasmin Ratansi left the Volpe campaign to support Michael Ignatieff.
The Liberal Party of Canada announced a $20,000 fine against Mr. Volpe because his campaign allowed membership forms to be distrubuted to cultural associations in Quebec without ensuring that new members would pay their own membership fee. Volpe was subsequently exonerated, and the fine was withdrawn.
Following the candidate speeches on December 1 Volpe announced his support for Bob Rae's candidacy meaning Volpe will withdraw after the first ballot results are announced regardless of whether or not he is automatically eliminated as the bottom candidate.
- Supporters in caucus: 5
- MPs: 5 Joe Comuzzi, Wajid Khan, Massimo Pacetti, Lui Temelkovski, Joe Volpe
- Senators: 0
- Date campaign launched: April 21, 2006
- Date officially registered: May 12, 2006[59]
- Website: joevolpe.ca
- Number of Ballots: 1
- Result: Following candidate speeches announced that he would withdraw following the first ballot to support Rae.
Current delegate totals
| Candidate | Elected Delegates | % of Elected Delegates | Ex-officio Delegates | Total Delegates | Current Percentage | 1st Ballot Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Ignatieff | 1,377 | 29.3% | 230 | 1,607 | 27.7% | 37.6% |
| Bob Rae | 943 | 20.1% | 86 | 1,029 | 17.8% | 27.6% |
| Gerard Kennedy | 820 | 17.5% | 111 | 931 | 16.1% | 26.0% |
| Stéphane Dion | 754 | 16.1% | 129 | 883 | 15.2% | 25.1% |
| Ken Dryden | 238 | 5.1% | 46 | 284 | 4.9% | 14.8% |
| Joe Volpe | 226 | 4.8% | 7 | 233 | 4.0% | 13.9% |
| Scott Brison | 181 | 3.5% | 35 | 216 | 3.7% | 13.6% |
| Martha Hall Findlay | 46 | 1% | 5 | 51 | 0.9% | 10.7% |
| Undeclared delegates | 112 | 2.4% | 406* | 518 | 8.9% | - |
| Neutral ex-officio | 0 | - | 50* | 50 | 0.9% | - |
| Total | 4,697 | 100% | 1,105 | 5,802 | 100% | - |
* Undeclared and neutral ex-officio delegates might choose not to attend convention and therefore might not vote.
As of November 27, 2006, 23:53 EDT.
Results
Results for the Liberal Leadership were covered live from a flash application on the Liberal Party Website.
First Ballot| Candidate | Elected Delegates |
|---|---|
| Michael Ignatieff | |
| Bob Rae | |
| Gerard Kennedy | |
| Stephane Dion | |
| Ken Dryden | |
| Scott Brison | |
| Joe Volpe | |
| Martha Hall Finlay |
Movement:
- Volpe went over to Rae on the evening of December 1st prior to the announcement of the first ballot's results and will not be on the second ballot regardless of the outcome of the first.
Endorsements
Ex-officio delegate endorsements
Newspaper endorsements
| Newspaper | Candidate(s) Endorsed | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Globe & Mail | Stéphane Dion | [60] |
| Le Devoir | Michael Ignatieff | [61] |
| Montreal Gazette | Stéphane Dion | [62] |
| Toronto Star | Bob Rae | |
| Toronto Sun | Stéphane Dion and Martha Hall Findlay | [64] |
Withdrawn candidates
Carolyn Bennett
Carolyn Bennett announced her entry into the race on April 24, 2006 and withdrew from the race on September 15 to endorse Bob Rae. [65]
Maurizio Bevilacqua
Maurizio Bevilacqua formally declared his candidacy on April 19 and withdrew from the race on August 14 to endorse Bob Rae.
Hedy Fry
Hedy Fry entered the race on May 4 and withdrew on September 25 to endorse Bob Rae.
John Godfrey
John Godfrey announced his entry into the race on March 19 2006 and withdrew from the race on April 12, before becoming an official candidate, citing health reasons. [66] On October 20, he endorsed Bob Rae. [67]
Unaffiliated caucus members
9 MPs and 6 Senators declared themselves neutral in the race, while 2 of 102 MPs and 10 of 63 Senators have not made their affiliations known or remain undecided.
Party biennial
The first three days of the Convention, November 29 to December 1, will constitute the biennial convention of the Liberal Party of Canada. As such, delegates will cast their ballot for party executive positions as well as the new leader. They will also engage in plenary workshops and other meetings associated with biennial conventions.
The keynote speech at the opening was delivered by Howard Dean, chairman of the U.S. Democratic National Committee, on the topic of party renewal [68].
A number of executive positions will be contested at the convention. There are three candidates for the position of President: Bobbi Ethier, former MP Tony Ianno, and Senator Marie Poulin. Executive members elected at the Convention will serve two-year terms.[69]
Timeline
Past events
- January 23 2006 - As returns indicate that the Liberals had lost the 2006 federal election to Stephen Harper's Conservatives, Prime Minister Paul Martin concedes the election and announces his intention to resign as Liberal party leader. In his concession speech, held in the early hours of the morning (EST), he states: "I will continue to represent with pride the people of LaSalle—Émard, but I will not take our party into another election as leader".
- January 25 2006:
- Former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada John Manley ^ informs the media that he will not seek the party leadership, stating "While I hope to play a role in the renewal, healing and unification of the Liberal party, I have decided for personal reasons that I will not be a leadership candidate" [70]. On election night Manley appeared on CBC television's coverage of the election, and immediately after Prime Minister Paul Martin's announcement was asked whether he might seek the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. Manley's response at that time was to poke fun at himself saying: "Some may want a dynamic, charismatic leader. Some others may support me."
- Former Premier of New Brunswick Frank McKenna announces his resignation as Canada's ambassador to the United States. Although submitted in the context of giving Harper the opportunity to appoint an Ambassador who will support Harper's vision of U.S. - Canada relations, it was widely speculated that he was lining up for a run at the federal Liberal leadership.
- January 30 2006 - ^ Surprising many pundits, Frank McKenna announces he will not run for the leadership. Prior to this, McKenna had been tipped and widely reported as the race's frontrunner. [71]. While recognizing the significance of the leadership McKenna acknowledged: "You’ve got pretty good odds of being the prime minister if you’re leader of the Liberal party." [72] However, he put an end to his association with the 2006 Liberal Party leadership race, explaining that he did not want "his life to become consumed by politics." [73] as he had allowed it to become when he was premier of New Brunswick. He also said his decision was in part because: "I reminded myself of my vow upon leaving office that, having escaped the trap, I wouldn’t go back for the cheese." [74]
- January 31 2006 - ^ Brian Tobin announces he will not seek the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. [75] Mr. Tobin rationalized his stepping out of the running as an opportunity for the Liberal Party to heal, revitalize and rejuvinate itself. In his words: "... I think it's time for new blood and I think it's time for new players and I think this is an opportunity for the Liberal party to renew itself and, in the process, to heal itself a little bit as well." and that: "I think that I've had my opportunity and I made my contribution. I enjoyed it enormously," (both quotes)[76]
- February 1 2006 - ^ Martin announces that he will remain leader of the Liberal Party until his successor is chosen but will not take on the position of leader of the opposition, allowing caucus to chose a parliamentary leader. Later that day the Liberal caucus chooses Bill Graham for that position, and Lucienne Robillard is named as his deputy. [77] Martin subsequently moved up the date his resignation became effective to March 19, 2006.
- February 3 2006 - ^ Both Lloyd Axworthy and Allan Rock announce they will not run for the leadership of the Liberal party. [78]
- February 8 2006 - ^ Martha Hall Findlay becomes first to declare candidacy for the leadership. [79]
- March 1 2006 - ^ The Toronto Star reports that Gerard Kennedy is seriously considering a leadership bid and that he is backed by Senator Terry Mercer, former national director of the Liberal Party of Canada. [80]
- March 9 2006 - ^ Scott Brison is revealed to have sent an email to an investment banker in November 2005 prior to the Martin government's change of policy on income trusts. It is also revealed that the RCMP had interviewed Brison as part of its investigation on an alleged leak of information on the policy shift and related claims of "insider trading". Though Brison insists he was only passing on public information, his judgement in the matter has raised questions about his suitability as a candidate for the party's leadership.[81]
- March 13 2006 - ^ Bob Rae gives a speech to the Canadian Club in Winnipeg outlining his views of the problems facing the country. He says he'll make up his mind on whether he'll run for the Liberal leadership in the next few days.[82]
- March 14 2006 - Mark Marissen, Martin's chief organizer in British Columbia, reportedly commits to manage the Dion leadership campaign. This likely confirms Marissen's wife Christy Clark is not considering a run at the leadership herself. [83]
- March 18 2006:
- The federal Liberal Party's national executive holds the first of two days of meetings to decide on the date of the leadership convention as well as the preliminary rules for the contest.
- Paul Martin formally resigns as leader and Bill Graham is appointed interim leader of the party until the convention.
- March 19 2006:
- Convention rules and spending limits are finalized.
- A press conference is held at 3 p.m., during which the date and location of the convention, the entrance fee for candidates, spending limits and other details of the process for selecting the new leader are announced. [84]
- ^ Don Valley West MP John Godfrey becomes the second declared candidate for the leadership. "I intend to run [...] I just don't think this thing, in the end, is going to be won by money." [85]
- March 20, 2006 - Musician Ashley MacIsaac declares himself a candidate for the leadership; his announcement is widely characterized in the media as a publicity stunt to promote his new album. However, MacIsaac never formally files his registration as a candidate, and announces in June that he is abandoning his campaign, officially citing his lack of ability to speak French.
- March 23 2006 - At the King Edward Hotel in Toronto, Paul Zed and Dennis Mills host a cocktail reception honouring Sheila Copps for thirty years in public life. The event is attended by virtually every declared or rumoured leadership hopeful, and is viewed by most as the public launch of the leadership race.
- March 29 2006 - ^ Vaughan MP Maurizio Bevliacqua confirms in a television interview that he will likely be a candidate.
- April 5 2006
- Gerard Kennedy resigns from the Ontario cabinet clearing the way for him to enter the federal leadership contest.[86]
- According to the Globe & Mail, Bob Rae has submitted his application to join the Liberal Party.[87]
- April 6 2006 - Belinda Stronach announced she wouldn't join the race citing the way the contest is structured. Sources close to Stronach also cite her lack of French as a factor. [88]
- April 7 2006
- The leadership campaign formally starts on this date, the first in which candidates can officially register and the date from which time window for the selection of delegates and party membership is counted.[89]
- Stéphane Dion joined the race. His stated priorities include economic and social development, environmental sustainability and a better public health services. [90]
- Michael Ignatieff officially declares his candidacy.[91]
- April 8, 2006 - The Alberta wing of the Liberal Party holds its annual convention in Edmonton. A "leadership panel" is organized which is billed as the first opportunity for declared and prospective candidates to appear and "debate" each other. Declared candidates Clifford Blais, Stéphane Dion, John Godfrey, Martha Hall Findlay, Michael Ignatieff, and Gerard Kennedy, participate along with undeclared candidates Maurizio Bevilacqua, Carolyn Bennett, Scott Brison, Ruby Dhalla, Joe Fontana, Hedy Fry, John McCallum, Bob Rae, Joe Volpe, and Paul Zed.[92] Denis Coderre was absent due to a prior commitment. [93] Ken Dryden could not attend due to a family wedding.[94]
- April 12, 2006 - John Godfrey withdraws from the race, citing concerns about his health.
- April 19, 2006 - Greater Toronto Area MP Maurizio Bevilacqua officially enters the race. [95]
- April 21, 2006 - Toronto MP Joe Volpe enters race.[96]
- April 23, 2006 - Nova Scotia MP Scott Brison enters the race.[97]
- April 24, 2006 - Former Ontario Premier Bob Rae and Toronto MP Carolyn Bennett formally declare their candidacies.[98]
- April 27, 2006 - Toronto MPP Gerard Kennedy enters the race.
- April 28, 2006 - Toronto MP Ken Dryden launches his campaign.
- May 4, 2006 - Hedy Fry announces her leadership bid.
- June 1, 2006 - Following demands for an investigation and accusations that he had violated the Elections Act, Joe Volpe gives back $27,000 in donations given by the children of Apotex corporate executives who had exceeded the legal limit for their own individual donations.[99]
- June 10 2006 - The first formal leadership debate of the campaign occurred in Winnipeg. [100]
- June 17 2006 - Moncton hosted the campaign's second formal debate. [101]
- July 4 2006 - Deadline for anyone wishing to vote in the leadership election to take out party membership if they are not a member already or if they are a former member whose membership has lapsed. Those who were formerly "Life members" (a defunct category in Newfoundland and New Brunswick) have until the end of September to renew.
- July 13 2006 - The Toronto Star reports that Gerard Kennedy appears to have signed up more new members than any other candidate. The article says that it had been "conventional widsom" that Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae were the leaders in the race but "(t)hese numbers would indicate a change in the dynamic of the race". [102]
- July 26 2006 - Jim Karygiannis resigned as national chair of Joe Volpe's campaign due to disagreements over Volpe's position on the war in Lebanon.
- August 14 2006 - Maurizio Bevilacqua becomes the first official candidate to drop out of the race. He throws his support to Bob Rae.
- August 21 - August 24, 2006 - Vancouver - National Liberal Caucus meets in Vancouver, BC
- August 22 2006 - Liberal Women's Caucus Leadership Forum in Vancouver.
- September 10 2006 - Quebec leadership and policy forum in Quebec City.
- September 15 2006 - Carolyn Bennett withdraws from the race and endorses Bob Rae.
- September 17 2006 - British Columbia leadership and policy forum in Vancouver.
- September 25 2006 - Hedy Fry withdraws and endorses Bob Rae.
- September 29 - October 1, 2006 - "Super Weekend" during which all riding associations and party clubs elect delegates to the convention.
- September 30 2006 - Deadline for candidates to formally register.
- October 10 2006 - A debate for the "frontrunners" is hosted jointly by the Canadian Club of Toronto and the Empire Club of Canada. It is a tradition, according to the clubs, that dates back 100 years to invite the frontrunning candidates in Toronto mayoral elections as well as Ontario and federal leadership campaigns. Messrs. Ignatieff, Rae, Kennedy and Dion were invited but Mr. Ignatieff declined to attend. Mr. Ignatieff said he would not attend unless all eight candidates were allowed to participate though the clubs said he also offered to come and speak individually without other candidates present. [103]
- October 15 2006 - Toronto leadership and policy forum.
- November 29 - December 1, 2006 - Liberal biennial convention.
- December 1, 2006 - Candidate speeches and first ballot
Upcoming events
- December 2, 2006 - First ballot results are scheduled to be released at midnight. Voting for the second ballot commences at 9am. Subsequent ballots continues throughout the day as needed. New leader is scheduled to speak at 7pm.
- December 3, 2006 - Liberal leadership convention wrapup.
See also
- Liberal leadership conventions for the results of all past conventions.
- Leadership convention for more information about the selection of party leaders in Canada.
- Endorsements for the Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention, 2006
- List of ex-officio delegates to the Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention, 2006