Yesterday I linked the National Post editorial on Constitutional reform. At the end of the post I mentioned that perhaps Micheal Ignatieff's position had raised Bob Rae's chances. Judging from Graeme Hamilton's column today I should include Stephane Dion on the list of those with enhanced chances.
...Stephane Dion, who took on Quebec separatists after the 1995 referendum as federal minister of intergovernmental affairs, said Mr. Ignatieff's proposal betrays a lack of experience
"I spent almost a decade of my life trying to convince Quebecers to get out of the constitutional obsession. The burden of proof is on the shoulders of the separatist leaders. It is for them to explain to us why we would be happier if we were not Canadian," Mr. Dion, a leadership candidate, said in an interview.
And now Mr. Ignatieff has come along suggesting Quebec is short-changed by the current arrangement
"To pretend that we need to deliver the big change that will make Canada acceptable is a mistake," Mr. Dion said. "This is the constitutional obsession. It's unfair for Canada."
Here, here.
Let me stray into the anecdotal for a moment though. I have a friend who is very much pro-Liberal and is pulling for Michael Ignatieff in this race. He won't support Bob Rae because of his term as Premier of Ontario and he does not want Stephane Dion because he senses that another Quebec leader brings with it another round of Quebec concessions. If he only knew that it is the Michael Ignatieff who wants the Constitional quagmire and Stephane Dion who wants the Chretien and/or Reform position. Not that it matters. He will most likely vote Liberal regardless of who becomes leader - perhaps only Joe Volpe could shake him from that position.
