A rchive Date
[ 07-09-2005 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Canada ]
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[http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Taube_Michael/2005/09/07/1204894.html
The last thing we need is another Trudeau
By MICHAEL TAUBE
Wed, September 7, 2005
Is Michael Ignatieff the second coming of Pierre Elliot Trudeau? Let's hope not : one Trudeau in power was more than enough, thanks.
Yet that's exactly what some Liberals hope the 58-year-old, Toronto-educated academic and author can do for them.
Ignatieff, who held a chair in human rights at the prestigious Harvard University, but recently returned to the University of Toronto, has no political experience - although his father George was Canada's ambassador at the United Nations.
But ever since he spoke at the federal Liberal convention in March, Ignatieff has become the next big thing in Canadian Liberal politics. His return to Toronto has sparked a draft-like campaign of newspaper articles, even though he denies any interest in becoming a politician.
What's his appeal?
* Ignatieff is an intellectual. I'm all for intellectuals becoming politicians. But the problem is many tend to be left-leaning. In the academic world, polls show university professors are overwhelmingly left-wing. Also, keep in mind that Trudeau was regarded as an intellectual.
* Ignatieff is a strong federalist who is ready to tackle the sticky issue of Quebec separatism. In a recent speech, he warned of a coming constitutional crisis in Quebec in which "we might all find ourselves unwilling participants in an experiment unprecedented in the annals of political history: Not the break-up of a failed state, but the dissolution of a mighty, successful and admired G-8 country." That's a pretty fiery statement that lays the blame squarely on Quebec separatists. And you know how the separatist movement would react to it. Hence, Ignatieff would not necessarily solve a constitutional crisis. Rather, he could ignite one.
* Ignatieff is generally supportive of the war on terrorism. He would be a rational voice as compared to the anti-war Liberals who opposed a Canadian role in Iraq in 2003. Then again, there could be an anti-Ignatieff backlash among Liberals. Remember, many Liberals take issue with U.S. President George Bush's war against terrorism. So why would they back a person who generally supports it?
* Ignatieff repudiates anti-Americanism. As he said at the Liberal convention: "Liberals have always said no to anti-Americanism. Leave that to the NDP. Anti-Americanism is an electoral ghetto. Leave them to wither inside it." While that's great to hear, there's actually a strong anti-American streak among Liberals that dates back to Trudeau, and was recently over-utilized by Jean Chretien. And since a significant number of Liberals hold repugnant views about the U.S., they aren't going to support a leadership candidate who is pro-American.
So, while it's true Ignatieff has some good qualities, he certainly doesn't fit the current Liberal profile. Besides having no political experience, he has no support base or war chest to speak of and the Canadian public barely knows a thing about him. Liberal strategists so far seem to be basing their opinions about him purely on a hunch.
Yet, Ignatieff's name as Paul Martin's future replacement is already being mentioned in the same breath as former deputy PM John Manley, former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna, and former Ontario NDP premier Bob Rae. Weird.
On a personal note, I hope Ignatieff does become the next Liberal leader. Why? I was too young to cast a vote against Trudeau. But I'd relish the opportunity to cast a vote against Trudeau Redux.
Taube is a Toronto-based public affairs analyst and commentator. You can e-mail him at miketaube@yahoo.com
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