Masthead graphic based on a painting by Gudrun Thriemer.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Chantal Hébert, "Liberals ponder merits of a shift left," Toronto Star, January 12, 2009.

The most fundamental question Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff will have to address as he ponders whether coalition-building with the NDP is still worth pursuing is whether the key to the future electoral success of his party lies in moving it further to the left.

[...]

For his entire tenure as leader, Dion pushed the envelope of a greater integration of the country's progressive forces. He tested an electoral coalition with the Greens and Elizabeth May. He endorsed left-leaning signature policies. He brought the Liberals under the umbrella of a progressive parliamentary coalition.

Those efforts resulted in Conservative gains at every step of the way. While Dion led his party to a historical low in the popular vote, Harper took over some key Liberal real estate in the October election. The subsequent crafting of the Liberal/NDP coalition propelled the Conservatives into majority territory in the polls for the first time since they came to power in 2006.

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