The bus carrying Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff broke down just outside the Eastern Ontario town of Hawkesbury Tuesday, just before 6 p.m.
The breakdown occurred on the first day of the Liberal Leader's six-week, cross-country excursion to promote Mr. Ignatieff's and his party's fortunes
A similar malfunction on the first day of Ontario Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty's 1999 election campaign was seen as emblematic of the party's mismanagement and inexperience, leading to its defeat at the hands of Conservative leader Mike Harris.
In 2008, Mr. Ignatieff's predecessor faced similar woes. Stéphane Dion's Air Inuit plane was forced to make an unexpected landing in Montreal in the early days of his failed election campaign.
At first, Tuesday's delay appeared temporary, as passengers were herded back onto the bus. But after a few hundred metres, the bus once again pulled over. This experience was repeated several times.
Mr. Ignatieff remained in his seat, saying little.
The breakdown has put in peril plans for a Liberal Party barbecue in Cornwall, about an hour's drive away.
After about half an hour, communications director Mario Laguë said a second bus had been dispatched, and that cars that were nearer would pick up Mr. Ignatieff and his wife, Zsuzsanna Zsohar, for the barbecue, along with as many journalists as could be accommodated.
After the announcement, Mr. Ignatieff came to the back of the bus offering a wry smile.
"The best laid plans...," he said.
Shortly after 6:30 p.m. ET, Mr. Ignatieff departed the stricken bus with a wave and: "See you soon, folks."
(Photo: John Ibbitson/The Globe and Mail)
