Dion calls for party unity in wake of Que. criticism

Steven Pinkus, the Liberals' Quebec wing vice-president for the anglophone community, has gone public with his belief that if the Liberals fight a spring election, the results "wouldn't be pretty."

He also told CTV Newsnet's Mike Duffy Live on Tuesday that Dion has allowed the party to lose good potential candidates because he has been too slow to act on their nominations.

Liza Frulla, a former Liberal cabinet minister who lost her Montreal seat in 2006 and supported Michael Ignatieff in the Liberal leadership race, blasted Dion in an interview with The Globe and Mail.

"He has no instinct," she said. "At a certain point, people feel it if there is something wrong, even if they don't know exactly what it is. But he, poor St�phane, doesn't feel it."

Dion is firing back and calling for the party to stop bickering and unite.

"Some people are very concerned because they don't want to lose," he said. "I'm telling them, 'Work together as a team with order and we will win.'"

In Fredericton, Dion told supporters that Liberals would do a much better job of debt reduction and environmental protection than the Conservatives. With Parliament on break this week, Dion is out trying to rally the troops in advance of a possible federal election.

Dion said the Liberals would:

Say no to bulk exports of Canadian water;
Cut poverty rates by one-third and child poverty by one-half; and
Make university financially accessible to all Canadians.

But in Quebec, where the Liberals scheduled a pricey fundraiser in Montreal Tuesday night, Pinkus said the party needs to address serious issues, particularly when it comes to communications and selecting good candidates to run in the next election. He told Mike Duffy Live that he has offered several lists of strong candidates, but has received little feedback.

"Unfortunately, no matter how good the candidates that we were putting forward, they always seem to think somebody better is going to be right around the corner," Pinkus said.

"A lot of these candidates were left to twist in the wind and have since moved on, and that's a very frustrating thing for me."

Tim Woolstencroft of The Strategic Counsel told CTV.ca that the Conservatives have seen their numbers weaken in Quebec in recent polls. In February, the Strategic Counsel conducted a poll on leadership. Here's how the top four compare in Quebec (Canadian figure in brackets) on the question of who people trust most to be prime minister:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Conservatives - 28 per cent (43 per cent)
Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Quebecois - 19 per cent (n/a)
Jack Layton, NDP - 18 per cent (12 per cent)
Stephane Dion - 16 per cent (15 per cent)

"Harper -- an anglophone raised in Leaside (in Toronto), now holding a seat from Alberta -- is leading Dion in Quebec. That's extraordinary," Woolstencroft said.

Overall, "the Liberals continue to under-perform in the province of Quebec," he said.

The current standings in Quebec, out of 75 seats, are:

Bloc Quebecois - 48
Conservatives - 11
Liberals - 11
NDP - 1
Independent - 2
Vacant - 2

The Bloc remains the most popular party in Quebec, with 41 per cent support. Among opposition parties, the Liberals are running ahead of the Conservatives by a four-point margin (24 per cent to 20 per cent). The NDP are at six per cent digits, while the Greens are at 11 per cent.

The Liberals' strength relative to other opposition parties comes from its base in anglophone Montreal. Outside Montreal, the Liberals and Tories are tied, he said, adding that Conservative numbers have weakened in Quebec recently.

In addition to its internal problems, the party still has trouble connecting with the wider Quebec public, he said, adding the Liberals really should be at 30 per cent support.

But CTV's Roger Smith told Canada AM that despite all the griping that's been going on since the stinging loss of Outremont in last fall's byelection, there is no "Dump Dion" movement.

That doesn't mean there aren't real problems, he said.

Smith said Frulla told him in an interview Tuesday morning that there are 30 to 40 ridings lacking a nominated Liberal.

Former astronaut Marc Garneau threatened to quit the Liberals last fall because he felt he wasn't part of Dion's team, but has since relented and will run for the party. However, former MP Nick Discepola is also having problems getting his candidacy approved, according to The Globe.

Comments are now closed for this story

Rob
said

I think Dion is wonderful. He�s helping us not vote on many importasnt issues, I truly appreciate that!

hollinm
said

Mr. Dion is the author of his own problems. He has been promoted beyond his level of competence. This man was a failed environment minister and an interprovincial cabinet minister who wrote letters to the Separatists telling them they were bad people. There was no evidence he had the abilities to be a national leader. He was in fourth place in the leadership and he won only because Ignatieff and Rae outsmarted themselves and Dion came up the middle. Dion has had a year to prove he has the ability to be the leader and has failed miserably on all accounts.
If you watched him on the CTV clips today he had trouble getting the words out of his mouth.
The Liberals will suffer a significant humiliation in the next election when Canadians are asked to compare Dion and Harper as leaders.

regor, Hamilton
said

Dion is toast and everyone knows it. This man is only driven to get his name on the list of Canadian Prime Ministers. He has no new practical ideas on which to build a platform. Block bulk water sales to the U.S...wow what a brainwave. What a sad candidate for the office of Prime Minister. You may not like all the policies of P.M. Harper but he is undeniably a strong and decisive leader. Of course when you look at the current aspirants to Dion's throne like Rae (Chairman Mao) and Ignatieff (Socrates) it becomes apparent why the Liberal Party is stuck with him.

James T.
said

Dion is finally acting like the leader of the Liberal party. It only took a year!

And Dan, bulk exports of Canadian water is a HUGE issue. Please do some research.

Affordable education and decreasing child poverty rates are also achievable goals.

Taxes should not go up if the resources are only managed better. Flaherty/Harper have spent the most $$ in each in the last two budgets than any previous government at any previous time in Canada's history. Inflation included. It's a fact.

Rodney Kobsar
said

Liberal leader, now that's an oxymoron!

Mike
said

Give me a smart, progressive leader who's perceived as 'dithering' but ultimately makes the Right-On correct decisions to a so-called strong, autocratic right-winger who 'always' makes the wrong decisions. Harper could lower my taxes to zero and I still wouldn't vote for him. Liberals all the way!

DGK
said

It's long overdue, but I sincerely think that the the Liberal party's time has fully come for them to slip away...away !! Who in their right mind would ever vote for such a corupt party? Get them gone once and for always

DGK

Peter Adams
said

Dion said the Liberals would:

Say no to bulk exports of Canadian water;
Cut poverty rates by one-third and child poverty by one-half; and
Make university financially accessible to all Canadians.

Can anyone explain why anyone in their right mind would believe anything Dion says? Wasn't he a key part of both the Martin and Chretien governments and yet with all the time they had, they achieved none of the above.

Sounds like Stephane will say anything to get elected. I am sure Mr. Harper is sleeping soundly at night now Stephane is at the helm.

James T. Laing
said

Dion is weak. If he wasn't, he would have never thrown in with elizabeth may in "The Deal." He has zero credibility in The West.

Brian
said

It's great to see how Canada is coming together (other than the lieberals) under the leadership of Harper.

Our country is stronger, the unemployment rate is the lowest its been, and more importantly the employment rate is the highest in history.

Harper's approval rating is very high simply because he is a leader. I don't need to bash Dion, even the libs know he is not a leader.

Spencer
said

DEBT REDUCTION from a LIBERAL let me read on....
Sorry, that was debt reduction for students in universities spending too many dollars on bottled water.
Dump DION as leader, why ruin all the fun.

If we are lucky He will single handedly take the Liberal party to a new low.

K in Toronto
said

K in Toronto

Just to clarify some comments already made...
As a minister, Dion had demonstrated expertise not only with the environment but also with intergovernmental affairs at a most crucial point in Canada's history. Also, in his writings, he makes a strong case for diversity and tolerance as guiding principles. The people at the Liberal convention made the right choice. Rae is not a good leader, but he will make a great contribution as a cabinet minister. Ignatieff is too much like Harper to be taken seriously as a Liberal leader. All this squawking about leadership is happening also within the Conservative party. There's Harper and no-one else except those with muzzles on; anyone else gets driven out. If Harper needs something crucial decided, he has to recruit someone from the Liberals to help him out; the Conservatives don't have a strong group. The Liberals are a team of strong people and they just got stronger by winning most of the recent by-elections.

bunny!
said

How can you grow up in this continent, participate in global business and speak English so poorly? Clearly he cannot become the Prime Minister of Canada without an excellent command of both languages. I might like him, if I could understand him.

Steve
said

Stephane Dion has his hands full. He has assumed the leadership at a time when Canadians have done what they do best...vote the old guys out. Paul Martin did a masterful job orchestrating that. PM Stephen Harper is slowly, very slowly, gaining respect...the big story is the Green Party...they are stealing votes from the Liberals and the NDP. There is not enough room left on the left for three parties so the Liberals have an uphill battle. The fact Dion has no vision and few leadership skills is a Conservative dream. All they have to do is keep introducing solid but simple policy improvements as they move towards an eventual majority. Within five years the Liberals will be a small, rump, political party. Good riddance to the Liberals and thank you Stephane.

Ian
said

I don't know what all the fuss is. No matter how bad things look for Dion and the Liberals, the voters of Ontario can always be counted on to prop up the party.

Ian
said

"The Liberals really should be at 30 per cent support."

I'm sure the people of Quebec appreciate being told by a pollster just how much they "should" support the Liberal party. The Liberals have not won a plurality of seats in that province for almost 30 years now. Since they lost their status as the default federalist alternative thanks to the rise of the Conservatives, many Quebecers have clearly figured out that the Liberals have nothing else to offer them.

After Quebec was made to look like a fool in the sponsorship scandal, perpetrated on them by Liberals, the Liberals should count themselves lucky they have any supporters left in that province.

Damian
said

I cannot help but laugh at the constant cries about the Harper government and the evils it has done (and thus how it needs to be taken down).
For the first time in my history of Canadian politics we have a government which doesn't base its policies on the wishes of the latte sipping intelligentia from downtown Toronto, and this means the sky is about to fall? Get a grip people. Calling Harper ultra right, or neo-con simply betrays your ignorance of what those terms mean. Debate and argue individual policy issues, but crying outrage at "the government" is meaningless here. Long live Stefan as the Lib leader!

RS
said

A friend of mine who is staying in Canada told me the other day that he doesn't know why everybody has historically gone crazy for the Liberals in this country. He was alive to remember the Chretien days and now sees this joke of a leader in Dion and can't seem to figure out the nation's obsession with Liberals. He's right, Dion and his party are complete jokes. Has anybody here ever heard Dion speak? You can't understand the guy which is really going to hurt him in the english language debate should he even make it to one. Can't wait for their demise!

Dan Marleau
said

In my opinion, it is only a matter of time that if Canadians haven't seen Harper's true colours they certianly will. After this point, people will realize that Stephane Dion is the most honest and trustworthy leader that Canada needs.

Jack Layton has his own self-interest before that of Canada (ie: Killing the Kelowna Accord and Universal Childcare), and while Gilles Duceppe is a very competent politician he doesnt have much support outside of Quebec.

Stephane Dion is the real alternative to the secrecy of Steve Harper and the Conservatives. All of the Conservative byelection candidates complained of being muzzeled, is Harper really the guy that we want running our country?

KD
said

Keep up the good work Mr. Dion, those of us who don't want to live in a socialist welfare state thank you for destroying the liberal party and allowing the conservatives to fix all of its mistakes.

Eric
said

Ahaha, to all the liberals posting here. Pity party at my place! I've got games all lined up and everything... I think I have a copy of "Trivial PursuitS" around here somewhere... a perfect game for the current Liberal party and their 'boo hoo, Harper's so mean for pointing out our inadequacies and chronic inconsistences' strategy.

Cry me a river. Harper's still ahead in the polls consistantly, so stop pretending that Canada's desperate to remove Harper. YOU'RE desperate to remove Harper, have the nerve to at least state your opinion rather than hiding behind a mass generalization.

Hidden in an Igloo
said

Make way for Bob Rae??!!

Are you serious, does no one recall Bob Rae days!!

I've seen his leadership, no thanx.

joan scheiwiller
said

I will never vote for another Prime Minister who has his roots in Quebec. That ungrateful province has been propped up by tax paying Canadians for my whole life . I want more money for my own retirement.Until they make their lang. laws equal to the rest of Canada and disband the federal representatives who are really traitors to Canada ....... no more lions share for them.

GTH
said

Thank you Don J and Scott. Yes, it appears that "gentlemen" are few, and far between in these dark days. As "bullies" rule. Says a lot about the country. A people get the government they deserve. And Mr. Dion doesn't deserve us. Nice guys finish last, so I guess that leaves???!!

Gary Wilson
said

Liberals had their chance with Ignatieff. Can't understand how they couldn't go with him as leader. But that opportunity is now gone and so is the chance for governing any time soon.

justin from ontario
said

I am a liberal but i believe we need to give the NDP a chance at the top spot. Mr. Layton is the only party leader out of the bunch that stands out. He is the only leader with the guts to stand up to the Conservatives. He stands by his convictions and never sways. Right Wingers say what you want, but at least Mr. Layton doesnt have to use childish threats, bullying and insults to get his message across.

Dave in Surrey
said

To the Conservatives posting as Liberals... Give it up, no one believes you... Only when people see thier leader as a messiah does one have 100% support, like the Conservatives see Harper...

Proud CPC Supporter
said

Long live Stephane Dion as leader of the OPPOSITION.

allan
said

In-fighting is what liberals do best. Just look at the Democratic race in the U.S.
Liberals cannot think for themselves and cannot make decisions, so in-fighting is a natural consequence.

Richard D
said

Don J

For the most part, what you are saying is correct. Just one thing needs correction, though: Dion is not the only party leader to be immediately attacked by a sitting PM. Stockwell Day was mercilessly savaged by Jean Chretien from day (no pun intended) one until Day was no longer the Alliance leader.

That being said, though, Dion is facing a lot of criticism and attacks (whether fairly or not) from within his own party. If his standing with Canadians, especially Quebecers, doesn't improve soon, the knives will come out.

I don't want to see what happened to the old Conservative party happen to the Liberals. We had enough of one-party rule in this country. We don't need more of it.

Victor
said

Dion is rallying the troops ?

Why doesn't he put his leadership to a confidence voteand then he can at least see if people will want him to lead.

Anyhow, the Liberals need to win back alot of votes and right now their current leader is looking too puzzled. Rankly, he is flip flopping all the time that I don't believe what he says anymore. Afterall, a week later he won't even have his party vote for allthe screaming they were doing.

JD in Alberta
said

I think Dion would do tons for debt reduction, poverty and
Making university financially accessible to all Canadians. To federal Liberals, "All Canadians" means Quebec and Ontario.

So Dion's method to solve these issues,would be to plunder and pillage Alberta for our oil and gas revenue.

Then once those problems are solved,Dion can solve the eviromental issue by imposing higher taxes and ridiculously strict enviromental controls on the oil companies to make it impossible for them to continue.

This man scares me a hell of a lot more than Trudeau. Like Trudeau he cannot see beyond himself, Quebec and Ontario,for the good of all the country.

Dion, like all Liberals past and present, when they look out west all they see is their cash cow.

CR
said

I don't quite understand the following statement from Mr. Woolstencroft, the pollster:

"In addition to its internal problems, the party still has trouble connecting with the wider Quebec public, he said, adding the Liberals really should be at 30 per cent support."

Where does he get his information as to where any party "should be" in terms of polling numbers? To me, this statement is very presumptive.

Katt
said

For once I like the plan. Especially the water and education. Being 26 years old with only a high school diploma sucks but I did not have the choice. Everyone should be able to go to college and university. The water, lumber and Hydro should remain in CANADA!!!!

Vince M.
said

Don J and others.

The reason Dion is a poor leader is because he is a very poor communicator and has absolutely no charisma.

I matters not if he is brilliant. If he cannot inspire others to follow he cannot be a leader.

Jim McB
said

Dion is but the lamb. The Liberal party is what Quebeckers are rejecting. They have no meaningful policy, they waiver on every issue and cower from every threat of election. There strategy is simply to fling mud at the present government and other opposition parties hoping some of it will stick. It hasn't, and every day the party is looking more foolish.

Dion will have to take charge soon or all is lost. His caucus is slipping more into the left wing quagmire that is the area of the NDP. The NDP will never form a government and neither will the Liberals if they stay in that part of the spectrum.

As a party they can't admit that electing Dion and his weak platform was a mistake. They have to take him out and start again to rebuild. The looming election in October 2009 does not give them enough time to do that so they have only one strategy available. Pick some inconsequential issue, like water, force an election on, hope that the party can get at least a few seats and then rebuild. Quebec is just the leading edge of the troubles for this party and the decent leader they are about to sacrafice.

CM
said

When I read this article it sounds to me like Mr. Dion is out of touch even with his own party and most definately NOT firmly in control, that's astounding. Like him or not he is their elected leader and they should rally to support his agenda. If he ever were to become PM how the heck would he run a government if today he can't even run his own party and they do not embrace him fully after a year at the helm?

Also in regards to people wanting Bob Rae to be the leader, bring that on ASAP I say. I am a proud Conservative and am astounded why anyone would want Mr. Rae to be the leader and a potential PM after what he did to Ontario as Premier. His track record speaks volumes for the damage he'd do to Canada.

raj
said

I cannot understand Mr Dion most of the time. I know, I know he has to work on his English. But for me, he just doesn't have what it takes to lead Canada.I dont see him going around the world with many others.I am not that wild about Harper, but I think he does his job well, very well.

Wes
said

The Liberals had a hard choice for leader; an American republican who supported the Iraq war (Iggy), an NDP'er (Bob Rae) and Dion. This is the result of the Liberal sense of entitlement. They are getting back what they put in.

Devon K.
said

"He's a scholar, an intellect, a thinker - and for this, he is seen as not having leadership qualities?" -Scott

No I disagree there. Dion isn't seen as having leadership qualities because he hasn't shown any. Take his election as Liberal Party leader in Dec 2006. What were his first words? We need to have an election to get rid of the Tories and put the Liberals back into power as soon as possible. I'm paraphrasing of course. Did he follow through on that? Nope.

He had all of 2007 to define himself. What did he do? He waffled on various issues, never took a firm stand on any thing, and tried to play Mr. Green. Well we all know the record he and the Liberal Party had with Kyoto after they signed on and then finally ratified - they did nothing.

Now we come to 2008 and he's got a real shot at showing leadership when it counts. He had three opportunities to show that he and the Liberal Party would stand for something: the Crime Bill, the Budget, and Afganistan. In all three cases the Liberals either abstained, refused to even participate and walked out, or didn't even bother to show up. When they didn't even bother to show up for their own confidence motion on the budget that was a fine example of mismanagement by Mr. Dion.

The question pundits ask on a daily basis is what does the Big Red Machine stand for today? Right now the only answer is - winning elections.

Now I'm a Tory and I love Mr. Dion. I hope he leads the Liberal Party through a few elections. He's the gift that keeps on giving!

Vince M.
said

FreakAlert:

Trudeau may have defined Canada and national identity for you but in the West he was pure poison.

I will never forget my friends in the oil patch who committed suicide after Trudeau and the NEP effectively robbed them of everything they owned and everything they aspired to be.

Tht's Trudeau's legacy out West.

fat tony
said

I would never vote for a candidate to become prime minister if that person held dual citizenship, no matter who they were.

John
said

The conservative movement in Canada went through tremendous soul searching - from the fall of the PC's, to the creation of the Reform party, to the evolution of the Canadian Alliance, to the merger to create the new Conservative party, to moderating their platform, to winning government in 2006.

The Liberals have lost touch with Canadians because they haven't gone through this soul searching process in years.

Ray
said

who said the tories are ahead in PQ... look again.

next thing, dion hasn't been given his chance at an election as a leader, so until then people need to relax. dion is not what's hurting the party, it's all those executives who think they were elected leader.

Kevin in Van
said

First, Dion was not the choice of his own party, he was parachuted in at the last minute by the two leading leadership candidates to prevent an all out war amungst liberals. Obviously this has not worked.
Secondly, Dion is destined to lose any election he leads the party in, he has wavered on too many issues refusing to even vote for or against government legislation which is terribly weak and not the stuff a good leader is made of.
Thirdly, His main claim to be a champion of the environment does not hold up to scrutiny. He was the environment minister for many years and the liberals did absolutly nothing during his tenure.
Lastly, The Conservatives could easily get Dion removed as leader by simply calling byelections in the 2 vacant Quebec seats where the Liberals would be beaten and his leadership would then be challenged the reason they don't...He is the best hope for the Conservatives to win a majority government.

Steve
said

Don J, when a person is elected leader of a party, it is always a challenge to rally the support of those who voted for other delegates. Instead of showing strong leadership and rising to that challenge, Dion has allowed those divisions to remain and grow louder.

The only leading Dion has done is to lead his MPs out of the house on critical votes. Yes, Harper has created "a government that needs to be taken down", but Dion has been unwilling and unable to step forward and do just that. Don't blame Canadians for Dion's inability to show true leadership skills and garner enough support from his MPs and the Canadian public to be in a position to defeat the Conservatives.

Trent
said

How is it that many Liberal members and supporters have been so negative to Dion. Give the man credit he had the courage to step up to the plate and accept the popular vote for the leadership of a once dominent political party that is in shambles. Even if Dion was a better political figure he would be in the same position he is currently, nothing will change for the party until they get their internal problems sorted out. Maybe the Liberals should take their reorganization one step further as the Cons had done and split the party as it seems like there are two definate seperate sides.

Scott
said

Don J, your words are well chosen, and VERY true.

I think it's sad that the reason Dion is not seen as a leader is because he's not an attacker. He's not a mean-spirited bully. He's a scholar, an intellect, a thinker - and for this, he is seen as not having leadership qualities?

J. Fletcher
said

I'm will not be voting Liberal in the next election, and it is mainly because of the negative situation they have created for themselves. Instead of supporting their new leader and making a real effort to represent the values and ideals of Canadians, they have done nothing but fight each other, grasping for the power they all crave. A stupid strategy indeed. Meanwhile, where is business being conducted on behalf of Canadians? Nowhere to be seen except for Harper's secret and mean-spirited agenda that the Liberals continue to pass. Harper really has nothing meaningful to contribute and seems fixated on bullying, secrecy, and power, instead of on the needs of ordinary Canadians. Those Liberals who have spent the past year or so undermining Mr. Dion can thank themselves for their loss in the next election. I don't know who I'm voting for, but,unless they can pull off a miracle, it won't be them and I certainly won't vote for a party led by Bob Rae - I used to live in Ontario.

Dan
said

"Say no to bulk exports of Canadian water"

Is this an issue?

"Cut poverty rates by one-third and child poverty by one-half"

Just like they did last time right? They nevr did delivery this last time.

"Make university financially accessible to all Canadians."

Sounds like taxes are going up!

Paul out West
said

Mr. Dion is a decent man and I trust him more than Harper without question; however, Mr. Dion does not have leadership abilities and does not connect with the electorate. He should gracefully step aside.

We need a new face in Ottawa to lead the Liberal Party someone none of us may not even know yet; someone energetic, charismatic, knowledgeable, compassionate, and who connects with the people.

FreakAlert
said

I can't help but reflect how P.E Trudeau defined Canada for me, and the positive impression and inspiration that made unto many Canadians towards national unity and identity. It just saddens me to see how Canada seems so divided these days.

Davey Legasse
said

Look, these guys know exactly what is going on, we've seen it all before and we'll see it all again. Mr. Dion will throw himself on his own sword in the next election, he'll announce his retirement 2 months after that and there'll be another leadership process...Mr. Dion is no more and no less the Kim Campbell of the Liberal party (at least she got a notation in the history books as being PM, however brief that was).

I guess it is a sad commentary that having "an anglophone raised in Leaside (in Toronto), now holding a seat from Alberta -- is leading Dion in Quebec." is considered extraordinary.

Don J
said

What I would like to see is the rest of the party supporting the leader they elected. I would like to see Iggy and Rae comment here too.

It's pretty disgusting the Liberals elected someone as leader only to leave him hanging out to dry. No one has stood up for Dion since he got the position. He's the only party leader in Canadian history to be immediately and constantly attacked by the sitting PM immediately upon election and constantly since. He has to deal with Quebec Liberals still holding a grudge who would rather air their dirty laundry publicly than privately. He has to deal with this dissention alone and doesn't have his other MPs speaking on his behalf at all. He's criticized more for not taking down Harper than Harper is for creating a government that needs to be taken down.

And then after all of that, there are the comments like those above, Canadians writing idiotic mean little poems, hitting below the belt, complaining and gossiping and accusing and complaining.

I wouldn't want to be in Dion's shoes. This guy's had an unfair ride and it's more OUR fault than his - this mob mentality against him of ranting and mocking and jeering is what gives Harper more power and diminishes anything Dion could accomplish.

It's pretty sick to see Canadians act like vultures like this.

Garion Riva
said

I have nothing against Mr. Dion personally. He would make a great Minister of the Environment, especially since one of the few things he has proven is his commitment to that cause.

But I'm sorry, he just doesn't doesn't portray to me the image of a true national leader.

Not one of them do with the exception of (Goddess for give me) of Harper. I dislike his politics severely, but he does give an image of a strong leader.

Liberal from Ottawa
said

Stephane Dion should act like a statesman and think beyond self interest. He should not have won in the first place... OK, we have given him a chance...but he is not performing well as a leader. Until when should we Liberals suffer under this Conservative nightmare! Please Mr Dion, give way to Bob Rae.

JFJ
said

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

N
said

I'm afraid for Stephane Dion, these rumours and ramblings will never end as long as he is leader. If he can prove them wrong, good for him, but I really don't see it coming anytime soon. When your own province, which prides itself in its language and heritage puts you last out of the 4 political parties, no matter how you see it, it's not good news. Mr. Pinkus there has it right, if there is an election, it will be ugly for the Liberals.

A.B.C.
said

Stephane Dion may be a great thinker, a respected professor and a capable minister but he is not the stuff PMs are made of. It is time that he act in the best interest of his party and step aside. Otherwise we are headed straight for a Conservative majority (God help us all)

darren
said

Stephane Dion has done wonderful things for the conservative party. Please keep him as the liberal leader, or bring in Bob Rae so we can get a majority gov't.

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