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Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion to Resign
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by Jarrett Martineau | October 20, 2008 at 11:28 am
807 views | 28 Recommendations | 11 comments
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Canada's Liberal Party leader Stéphane Dion has officially announced his plans to resign.
NowPublic is tracking real-time updates to this story. Please check out Scan for more information on Dion's resignation.
Stéphane Dion has resigned as the leader of the Liberal Party. He will stay until May, when a leadership convention will pick his successor
See previous NowPublic coverage on Dion's anticipated resignation and the future of the Liberal Party's leadership.
The leader of Canada's main opposition Liberal Party, Stephane Dion, has announced he is to resign after last week's election defeat.
Canadians re-elected the Conservative Party, led by Stephen Harper, to head a third minority government in the space of four years.
The Liberal Party won just 76 seats, a loss of 19.
Mr Dion said he would remain party leader until an election could be held, to ensure a "successful transition".
The Liberals had failed to inspire voters with an ambitious green carbon tax plan, says the BBC's Lee Carter in Toronto.
His potential successors include former Ontario premier Bob Rae and deputy party leader Michael Ignatieff.
Dion is only the second Liberal leader in history to fail to became [sic] prime minister, joining Edward Blake who led the party in the 1880s.The once-mighty, self-described "natural governing party" is now likely to turn a previously scheduled policy convention, booked for May in Vancouver, into a leadership convention.
The contest is almost certain to become another showdown between deputy leader Michael Ignatieff and former Ontario NDP premier Bob Rae. They were the front-runners in the 2006 contest but so polarized the race that Dion was able to come up the middle to score a stunning come-from-behind victory.
Dion tried to fight fair & Canada rewarded him accordingly. Very sad to see him go but political games aren't won by keeping your gloves on.
Dion should have stepped down immediately. The last thing his party needs is a lame duck leader in the House until the convention.
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Mike Wood
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (11)
at 11:30 on October 20th, 2008
Jarrett Martineau, thanks for getting this story out so quickly. It will now show up on the home page for four hours. If new developments justify it, I'll renew this flag for another cycle.
at 11:38 on October 20th, 2008
Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:46 on October 20th, 2008
It's too bad actually. An honest, intelligent, committed Canadian with a real plan has been booted by a system gone awry. Our elections have deteriorated to the point that what is considered a leader by the electorate is a slick, glib, sound-biting, created "counterfeit" entity, not a real person at all.
Harper or Dion all things considered? Dion hands down.
at 13:58 on October 20th, 2008
Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff. It will be interesting to see who steps into Mr. Dion's shoes.
at 14:02 on October 20th, 2008
Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 14:10 on October 20th, 2008
Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff.
- reply
Gail NB (not verified)at 15:10 on October 20th, 2008
It is a very sad day, for Canada. Many do not realize it yet, but Stephane Dion is a remarkable leader. Even in resignation he was a gentleman. I am pleased he shall stay on as Leader of the Opposition even if it is just until May.
Honesty and Integrity are hard to come by in politicians.They must have been his downfall.
at 15:15 on October 20th, 2008
Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff. WOW!! Who woulda saw that one coming? I mean didn't Mr. Dion say Harper was out of touch with Canadians and one HE and the LIEBERAL PARTY had the Pulse of the Nation to truly RULE? Guess Dion and the Lieberal were talking about the Pulse of some other Nation, as certainly according to the polls and their impending Bankruptcy seems to point in that direction.
at 15:18 on October 20th, 2008
I had so much hope for Dion after the last Liberal leadership campaign; he really seemed to be aligned with Canadians' concerns about the environment and progressive social change. But in the past year and half he's proven direly incapable of managing his public image or being able to use the media to sway most Canadians' perception of him as a weak and ineffectual leader. It's an unfortunate day for Dion -- but I am most interested to see where things go from here.
Could 2009 be Ignatieff or Rae's time to shine?
at 16:37 on October 20th, 2008
You know for all his foibles, the man may have had intelligence, honesty and integrity, but that is not enough to lead a country when one is unclued to the concept of what Canadians wanted.
As for Bob Rae, anyone who has lived in Ontario during his tenure as Premier may have a difference of opinion. Manley would be a great choice, but they may have to convince him to lead them, without Manley kicking and screaming to stay out of the Liberal Party. Dion I am afraid will become the New Joe Who?
at 20:12 on October 20th, 2008
Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff.