Just a few short weeks ago I announced my candidacy for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada at a convention to be held in early May.
Since that day our country has been through an extraordinary time:
- An Economic Statement that was firmly rejected by the people of Canada as misleading, hopelessly partisan, and inadequate to the economic challenge of our time;
- A decision by the three opposition parties to present an alternative to the Harper government because it is so clear it has no intention of leading or governing with the advice and consent of other parties;
- An unprecedented decision by a Prime Minister to suspend Parliament in order to avoid a vote of confidence, and the formal approval of that decision by the Governor General of Canada;
- Mr Dion’s decision to move up the date of his resignation, and, most recently, the National Executive of the Liberal Party’s decision to establish a consultation with selected groups within the party before appointing an interim leader.
In these circumstances, I believe that the Liberal Party of Canada requires a new permanent leader to be in place before Parliament returns at the end of January.
Michael Ignatieff has put forward his candidacy for the interim leadership.
I am not a candidate for the interim leadership. Nor shall I pursue my candidacy for the party leadership at the Vancouver convention. The National Executive will make its decision and I shall accept it without rancour or undue disappointment. If the choice is Michael Ignatieff, which I fully expect, I offer my full and unqualified support to Michael, a friend and colleague of more than forty years standing. I call on my friends and supporters to do the same. I know Michael to be a person of wisdom and generosity. He will make a great Prime Minister.
There are some who will be disappointed with this decision, and who would have liked the contest to continue. But I ask them to recognize that we cannot always control the flow of events, and that our own interests and ambitions are less important than the greater interest of the Liberal Party and the country. We must now work constructively to make the changes in the party we know need to happen. I call on the party at its next convention to adopt a straightforward one person one vote mechanism for future leadership contests. I also urge the new leader to give top priority to party democracy, to an expanded membership and to a party that is inclusive, respectful, financial successful, and technologically up to date.
The Liberal Party has known too much division in the past and I have no intention of pursuing a course that would hurt the party. I would ask everyone in the Liberal Party to be conciliatory and respectful, to adopt Laurier’s “sunny ways” and put aside any mixed feelings about this, or any other leadership contest. We need a party and a government of all the talents to provide Canadians with the leadership we need. That is how we shall defeat the deeply divisive tactics and rhetoric of Stephen Harper. We shall have an opportunity to do this with our coalition partners when the House of Commons returns from its enforced vacation.
I am profoundly grateful for the deep friendship and loyalty that has been so much a part of our campaigns, and hope that all Liberals will accept this decision of mine with good grace. It is only in working together that we are going to achieve great things with and for the people of Canada.
I want to thank my family, my campaign team, and those many Canadians who have given me so much love and support. I also want to thank the people of Toronto Centre whom I am so proud to serve. Let us put this passion to work for the Liberal Party and for the Canada we love so much.
