Ignatieff meets fellow Liberals in Mono Mills
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

Federal Liberal leadership candidate Michael Ignatieff was in Mono Mills on Saturday to listen to local concerns and explain why he wants to be the next prime minister of Canada.

One of the candidates for the federal Liberal leadership told a Mono Mills audience Saturday he believes he will do very well when the party convention is held in December.

Michael Ignatieff, the member of Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, held an open forum with fellow Liberals at the Victoria Parks Community Centre and explained why he wants to become the prime minister of Canada. He also answered their questions on national issues.

The world-renowned scholar, writer and journalist said they don't love being Liberals just because it's a great party.

"It's a national institution," he said. "We're nation builders. We've been much more than a political party."

He added their presence at this meeting shows how interested they are in improving life for Canadians.

"Across the country there are people who meet and gather because they want to make this a better country," he said.

He noted the "place of dreams" is quite real. He said in Canada everybody has a chance for a good education, and society has made a pact with citizens so they can live secure.

"We want people to feel the protective hand of Canadian citizenship," he said.

It's the spine of citizenship that holds people together, and the Liberal party wants to continue extending the benefits of citizenship, he said.

"That's what Liberalism is," he remarked.

Ignatieff explained he comes from a family of "crazy Russians" on one side and "crazy Scots Canadians" on the other. Born and raised in Toronto, he's been a lifelong Liberal. During the 1965 election, he knocked on doors for then prime minister Lester Pearson. In 1968, he attended the Liberal leadership convention as a delegate for Pierre Trudeau.

He studied at the University of Toronto and received a doctor of philosophy at Harvard University. He began his career as a teacher at the University of British Columbia.

He's also spent much time working as a journalist and political commentator He began as a staff writer for The Globe and Mail and later became a commentator for TVO, the CBC and the BBC. He's written 16 fiction and non-fiction books which have been translated into 12 languages, and won many awards both at home and internationally. He's received seven honorary degrees for his writing, distinguished teaching career and contribution to public discourse.

He's also written extensively about the challenges facing Canada in the 21st century. At the Liberal Party of Canada's biennial policy

convention in March 2005, he stressed the importance of remaining true to the cherished Liberal values of "generosity, unity, sovereignty, justice and the courage to choose, the will to govern." He was elected the MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore in January 2006.

He said there's two reasons why he wants to lead the federal Liberal party.

Firstly, he's always believed the Liberal party has been the greatest force for social progress. It means pensions, universal health care and investment in education, he explained.

"We want to close the gaps of inequality," he said.

He added they need to do more for the environment and they need to meet the global climate challenge. The federal government also has to set emission standards.

Secondly, he wants to solve the undiscussed national unity problem some call the urban-rural divide.

"It's a national problem," he said.

He wants to see a farm policy and national food policy. This involves a decent income for farmers and more food on the table for people from Canadian producers.

Ignatieff also wants Canada to be a leader on the world stage. He said Canadians are capable of great leadership internationally.

"That's the kind of leader I want to be," he said.

During the question period, he was asked what kind of team leader he will be.

Ignatieff replied he has support from slightly more than one-third of the Liberal caucus, and a lot of hardboiled politicians believe he can beat Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"I'm a team builder, but I know how to give orders," he said. "I am a uniter."

He was also asked how he will unshackle MPs.

Ignatieff responded a good team leader needs to create a stream of input. He would like to give MPs the authority they need.

"We've got some great MPs in the House of Commons on our side," he said.