WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE LIBERALS?
Fifty years ago in 1958 John Diefenbaker's Progressive Conservatives won an overwhelming majority government while the Liberals occupied just 48 seats. In 1984, two years before I was born, Brian Mulroney's Progressive Conservatives won their own massive majority government leaving the Liberals with just 40 seats in the House of Commons. These two points in history represent the only time Liberal support has been lower than it is right now since 1882. Stephane Dion's Liberals walked away from the Oct. 14th election with just 76 seats in the House of Commons. The big difference between now and those elections in '58 and '84 is that we have a minority government as opposed to a lop-sided majority seen by Diefenbaker and Mulroney. So what does this mean for the future of the Liberals and their leader, Stephane Dion?
Following yesterday's federal election and the serious blow dealt to the Liberals at the hands of Canadian voters many questions have been raised regarding the leadership abilities of Dion and what the Liberals will do to try and get back on track. Dion's two biggest rivals in the last Liberal leadership race, Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff, have been deflecting questions about Dion's leadership and their own intentions to run for the leadership of the Liberals. Even before the final results were in there has been speculation about how much longer Dion will be the head of the Liberal Party.
Last night, there were thoughts that Dion might even include something in his concession speach implicating his intentions regarding his leadership which did not pan out. If you ask me, I don't think this will be a rushed process like when Chretien stepped down or the night of the 2006 election with Paul Martin. Dion and the Liberals will take their time and maybe in a year or so we'll see a leadership race. That means for the next year or two Harper should have clear sailing in the House of Commons to run the government the way he wants without the threat of being defeated. At the very earliest, the next election won't be until late 2011 but that is a very early estimate.
In December of 2006 when Dion took over the reigns of the Liberal Party from interim-leader Bill Graham I had speculated about Dion's leadership abilities and said he wasn't the best fit for the Liberal Party. That was then, and it is even more clear today. It's too early to start thinking about possible contenders for the Liberal leadership besides obvious choices Dion, Rae, and Ignatieff so I won't begin to contemplate it until at least a little further down the road.
It's obvious the Liberals need to do something, what that is... yet to be determined. Stephen Harper is wasting no time at all with his new mandate already announcing a new economic plan for Canada including some big moves and for now the Liberals are going to have to let him run with it because they are in no position to be making demands.
- DCM
Following yesterday's federal election and the serious blow dealt to the Liberals at the hands of Canadian voters many questions have been raised regarding the leadership abilities of Dion and what the Liberals will do to try and get back on track. Dion's two biggest rivals in the last Liberal leadership race, Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff, have been deflecting questions about Dion's leadership and their own intentions to run for the leadership of the Liberals. Even before the final results were in there has been speculation about how much longer Dion will be the head of the Liberal Party.
Last night, there were thoughts that Dion might even include something in his concession speach implicating his intentions regarding his leadership which did not pan out. If you ask me, I don't think this will be a rushed process like when Chretien stepped down or the night of the 2006 election with Paul Martin. Dion and the Liberals will take their time and maybe in a year or so we'll see a leadership race. That means for the next year or two Harper should have clear sailing in the House of Commons to run the government the way he wants without the threat of being defeated. At the very earliest, the next election won't be until late 2011 but that is a very early estimate.
In December of 2006 when Dion took over the reigns of the Liberal Party from interim-leader Bill Graham I had speculated about Dion's leadership abilities and said he wasn't the best fit for the Liberal Party. That was then, and it is even more clear today. It's too early to start thinking about possible contenders for the Liberal leadership besides obvious choices Dion, Rae, and Ignatieff so I won't begin to contemplate it until at least a little further down the road.
It's obvious the Liberals need to do something, what that is... yet to be determined. Stephen Harper is wasting no time at all with his new mandate already announcing a new economic plan for Canada including some big moves and for now the Liberals are going to have to let him run with it because they are in no position to be making demands.
- DCM
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