A few days ago, I had an unsettling realization: Michael Ignatieff may be the best candidate to lead the Liberal Party.
Like many, I’m uncomfortable with Iggy’s views on Iraq, torture, and, perhaps most of all, the recognition of Quebec as a “nation”. But, the central issue of this leadership campaign should be federalism — the division of power between the federal and provincial governments. This issue comes before the economy because without clearly defined responsibilities, Canada’s governments won’t be able to respond effectively to the recession. And, on that score, Ignatieff seems to be the only candidate ready to abandon the old “Ottawa-knows-best” mentality that has hampered the political and policy success of the Party for too long.
