With the 2008 election results in the books, there can't be much doubt that left-wing Canadians need to take a close look at how best to advance their values. But for those still under the impression that the Libs offer any meaningful chance of doing so, there's a fairly instructive set of choices on tap within the party which claims to be the default option for progressives.
So far, the leading candidates to succeed Stephane Dion as the next Lib leader include:
- an Iraq war supporter and torture apologist who wants to define the Libs as a "party of the centre" rather than working with anybody to his left;
- Stephen Harper's choice for "bipartisan" cover to extend Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan, who criticized as too left-wing a platform which underfunded areas like First Nations development and child care in favour of massive corporate tax cuts; and
- a bank executive who only plans to run if he's on the receiving end of "lobbying from some of Canada's most senior businessmen".
Based on that starting point, it looks like the Libs are sending a strong message to progressive voters that they can count on being ignored even more than usual under a new leader. Which should offer an ideal wake-up call that it's time for left-wing Libs to turn to a party which will actually make sure their voice is heard.
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