The Liberal leadership race is approaching a crucial juncture, with the delegates for its Montreal convention being selected across the country over the weekend of Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.
globeandmail.com invited all of the candidates to come on-line before that delegate-selection process.
We were pleased to have Michael Ignatieff take part in this series of live on-line discussions.
The questions and Mr. Ignatieff's answers appear at the bottom of this page.
Michael Ignatieff (Deborah Baic/The Globe and Mail)
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In Michael Valpy's Globe profile of Mr. Ignatieff, Being Michael Ignatieff, he wrote: "When you look at Michael Ignatieff's life, you can't help but be impressed by his accomplishments and by the discipline he has imposed on himself to achieve them."
Mr. Ignatieff, who has spent much of his adult life outside of Canada, is somewhat of an enigma to many Canadians, wrote Valpy. But the neophyte politician, in office for less than a year, is considered a front-runner in the race.
A writer, scholar and journalist, Mr. Ignatieff is considered one of the world's leading experts on human rights, democracy, security and international affairs. He has authored 16 fiction and non-fiction books, which have been translated into 12 languages, and served as the director of Harvard's Carr Center for Human Rights. In January, he became an MP for the Toronto riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore.
Editor's Note: globeandmail.com editors will read and allow or reject each question/comment. Comments/questions may be edited for length or clarity. We will not publish questions/comments that include personal attacks on participants in these discussions, that make false or unsubstantiated allegations, that purport to quote people or reports where the purported quote or fact cannot be easily verified, or questions/comments that include vulgar language or libellous statements. Preference will be given to readers who submit questions/comments using their full name and home town, rather than a pseudonym.
Rasha Mourtada, globeandmail.com: Welcome, Mr. Ignatieff, and thank you for joining us today to answer questions from globeandmail.com readers. Let's get started. What is the single most-important reason why you should be elected leader of the Liberal party and have a chance to become the Prime Minister of Canada?
Michael Ignatieff: Thanks, Rasha, for starting us off with the question at the heart of this race. I've been a Liberal all my life. I'm deeply proud to be a Liberal and to stand for the progressive tradition Liberals have upheld in Canada.
I am in politics to defend and renew Liberalism in Canada. Last January, Canadians voted to change the government. I have spent the last six months traveling across the country, listening to Canadians from all walks of life, and I am convinced that we can defeat the Harper Conservatives by giving Canadians a positive alternative. I commit to being a leader who listens to all Canadians, and who will set high expectations and bold ambitions for a country that I know can be more than the sum of its parts. I believe we need to have strong environmental policy, support development overseas, commit to Aboriginal Canada, invest in postsecondary education, and make a gesture of recognition and respect towards Quebec. I'm deeply prepared to fight for these issues.
Jim Sheppard, Executive Editor, globeandmail.com: Where do you place the 8 candidates right now in terms of being front-runners, middle-of-the-pack or well-behind-the-rest? What's your strategy since it appears no one will win on the first ballot at the convention?
Michael Ignatieff: I'm somewhat uncomfortable with this question because every one of the leadership candidates are putting in a tremendous effort to stand up and be counted in this race. They're doing it for the prospect of better serving this country while working to re-engage Canadians in the Liberal Party. As such, they're all top-tier candidates. How the media has perceived them is less important than how their contribution will result in a stronger Party and more Canadians looking towards the progressive approach that the Liberal Party must offer over the next decade if we're going to meet the challenges ahead.
My "strategy" for second ballot support is no different than it is now — to let all Liberals know, regardless of age, background, experience or accomplishment, that they are welcome on my team. But it's also about putting forward a different way of doing politics as well as a number of ideas that I believe are important to pursue if we are going to win back the confidence of the Canadian people as a renewed Liberal Party.
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