A New Chapter in the Liberal Leadership Crisis

March 27, 2008

This week the ongoing Liberal leadership crisis entered a new stage.

After a spring of humiliating abstentions from the Liberal Caucus and a series of losses and underwhelming results in the last two rounds of by-elections, more and more Liberals are grumbling about the weak leadership of Stéphane Dion.

The latest signal of Liberal discontent came from the party’s Quebec wing, where frustrated grassroots members of that party are attempting to revoke Mr. Dion’s Liberal Party membership in order to force him to step down.

While Stéphane Dion may not be the first Canadian political leader to face a leadership challenge, he does have the unfortunate distinction of facing an organized attempt to expel him from the party he leads.

There continue to be signs that senior Liberals are jockeying to become Mr. Dion’s successor. At the local level, Liberal members remain demoralized and confused as they watch their leader and caucus abstain from one vote after another out of fear of going to the polls.

Canada faces many important issues in the months ahead. Despite having serious differences with the Liberal Party, the Conservative Government readily acknowledges that Canada stands to benefit from a strong, active Official Opposition that is ready to participate and be counted in future public debates.

Stéphane Dion has abdicated that role to the leaders of the other parties. He remains a leader who is afraid to lead.

No wonder Liberals concerned about the future of their party are concluding that Stéphane Dion is not a leader and not worth the risk.