Michael Ignatieff: an intellectual powerhouse in plain folks clothing
The author, Carrie Saxifrage, talks with the Liberal leader, Michael Ignatieff
The Town Hall at Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver opened with an aw-shucks biographical film portraying Michael Ignatieff as a populist political outsider connected to concerns of small businesses and families. The Liberal Party leader suggested that his work as a writer was very similar to running a small business and his experiences during his grandmother’s and mother’s deaths from Alzheimer’s brought home the need for Canadians to stick together.
“No one should have to go through that alone,” he said. Ignatieff’s presence on stage was similarly compassionate, engaged and folksy.
Never mind that he is a world respected intellectual and political philosopher who has taught at the University of Toronto, Oxford, Harvard and the London School of Economics. Never mind that he studied with and wrote the biography of Isaiah Berlin, one of the 20th century’s most prominent political thinkers who brought rigorous analysis to liberal ideals. He apparently doesn’t want to put Canadians to the test that Americans often and famously fail, confusing intellectual power with elitism. Those who consider decades of analysis of political philosophy, international relations and nation building a more important qualification for Prime Minister than devotion to family need not worry. Ignatieff has both.
Ignatieff’s opening speech embodied liberal values – civil rights and liberties, the social safety net, religious tolerance and freedom, and free markets. Growing up, his family put a high value on “a society grounded in equality of opportunity with world class public goods funded out of general taxation, like reliable health care, pensions and post secondary education.” For Ignatieff, equality of opportunity in a society based on diversity of language, age and race has enabled and defined Canada’s success and the Harper government has significantly eroded these opportunities for the last five years.
Public Services
Many of the audience’s questions included criticisms of public services. Pensioners were concerned about whether the government would cover pensions following corporate bankruptcies such as Nortel; other elders wondered why the government didn’t facilitate low pharmaceutical prices through bulk purchases; one gentleman described difficulties coping with the discontinuance of disability pay at age 65 for his Alzheimer’s afflicted wife. Ignatieff listened carefully and assured the questioners that a Liberal government would expand the Canada Pension Plan, facilitate lower cost pharmaceuticals and pay for home care of loved ones.
A secondary school student asked how all this would be paid for. Ignatieff disparaged Harper’s proposed reduction of the corporate tax rate from 18% to 16%, stating the rate is already competitive with other jurisdictions and the cut will deprive the budget of money needed for public goods. He affirmed his commitment to reduce the debt which is “chewing through the budget” and the responsibility to pay it down to prevent the burden from falling on other generations.
In response to a university student concerned with the price, security and bandwidth of Canadian internet, Ignatieff endorsed an internet expansion similar to Australia’s in which the federal government ensures and, if necessary, funds access to rural and remote areas as a way to enhance economic opportunity.
A second student asked about the Liberal’s commitment to education. Ignatieff noted this is a primarily a matter of provincial jurisdiction, then stated that he would reinstate the early childhood education programs that were scrapped by the conservatives. He emphasized the importance of foreign and indigenous languages, and reducing student debt loads. “If you make the grades,” he asserted, “we provide the education.” He embraced non-university post secondary education, advocated for adult literacy programs and the importance of student time abroad.
- 1
- |
- 2
- next ›
- last page »
More in Politics
(44) Comments
this article is either the most pandering thing I've ever ready, or you were at a different event than I was.
The answers were so full of generic platitudes and at least half the questions were asked by obvious party loyalists who had been planted. (The cute redhead in the brown boots who asked the second or third question from stage right was there with Ric Peterson, and party insider.)
Of course I wouldn't expect a critical viewpoint from, you know, a reporter in this day and age.
It would just take too long to critique this puff-piece. Eithe the candidate or the writer is simply unaware of the structure of this country and the seperation of powers, or just doesn't care.
We get silly snips jumbled in with mixed metaphores like this, "In contrast, the Harper government has given us the petrodollar, an economic dead end in a world that is both racing for safe energy sources and crumbling at the edges from climate chaos. He turned his back on Canada’s history of independent foreign policy, becoming the United State’s “us too” man. The conservative promise of economic growth that floats all boats has not borne fruit."
Mikey: "Ignatieff said the oilsands provide a great benefit for the entire country and will continue to do so in the future.
"We're going to be in a hydrocarbon future for a long time," said Ignatieff.
Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Alberta+driving+heart+economy+Ignatieff+says/3177324/story.html#ixzz1B40lrFn3It's worth remembering too that it was Ignatieff who supported the US Iraq invasion and war and Stephen Harper NEVER said "we too". That alone is a gigantic difference!One can only suppose that this is simply pablum lite-reading for the quick looker that usually only looks at the pictures. Basically propaganda. Throw out a 'lite' glowing overview. Gloss over the usual litany of soft promises that are impractical or downright platitudes. Ignore any inconsistencies and highlight any cuddly bits. 'What they need is just a puff-piece that would pass for a half-page campaign-like blurb'.
There goes Eric, again! He's that cartoon and picture loving CRAP party flack that trolls websites in his mother's basement in Ottawa getting minimum wage from the CRAP party. I trult feel sorry for you, brother. I'm sure you'll benefit from Iggy's education policies!!
Teddy, there's not really a need to be petulant and snarky about it. Any political article published anywhere on the Internet Tubes is going to be commented on by party hacks.
Incidentally, Ignatieff said last night that when he "thought about Tuscon, he thought one thing: gun control." Ahem. We have quite a bit of control in Canada already. Tuscon's events have nothing to do with the legislative reality of guns in Canada.
I'd like to see handguns banned, mind you. Make possession a criminal act for anybody who's not law enforcement or military. I just think it's awfully cheap of Ignatieff to try to score political points from an event in a foreign country with an entirely different legislative environment.
"Darcy McGee" - the first Canadian to fall from an bullet in a political assisination.
Using that name is a sick joke, my friend.
Iggy said gun control because he's obviously happy we have strict gun control, here.
If you need any more cartoons to explain things to you, you might want to ask your friend, Eric the Picture and Cartoon Boy. Im sure he has a lot in your repitoire to help you out.
By the way "DARCY", Rick Peterson is a CONSERVATIVE, not a liberal nor a party insider.
Two voices are better than one, particularly when hoping to clearly understand the real position of a political party when it's candidates are on the campaign hunt for votes. This is a species that is well known for saying one thing to a typical West Coast Lululemon-like crowd and another to an industrial-grade crowd in an aerospace manufacturing facility in eastern Canada.
Uber-brain gifted Mikey Ignatieff drops into Mountain Equipment Co-op-Land and says, as we learn paraphrased in the above article, "The $21 billion cost of an F-35 would be better spent on Search and Rescue, Coast Guard services, ice breakers, drones, and the Canadian Rangers." (the Rangers are, incidentally, an entirely volunteer group comprised of local northern residents).
Meanwhile, almost simultaneously, back in the manufacturing heart of Canada former astronaught and Liberal MP says something quite different. Why? Well, it's a slightly different crown he's preaching to.
"Mr. Garneau said his party would maximize the maintenance work conducted in Canada, and likely seek a fighter jet with twin engines instead of the one-engine F-35 to conduct patrols in isolated regions of the North.
“All things being equal,” he said, “two engines are better than one.”
(Globe and Mail, January 14, 2011)
The people will believe what they want to believe. Out in bucolic West Vancouver they will believe that the Liberals and Canada are about to be governed by a new and improved leader that actually has a brain and thinks just as they do. He's talking about Search and Rescue, Rangers, he must be a back-country hiker too. What a guy! My god he's like, one of those awesome profs that are, like suave and say, like, all those wonderful things in such an elegant and articulate way!
Back in the aerospace facility the employees that repair and overhaul and manufacture parts and systems for these new aircraft will hear that if their man, the astronaught and his leader are elected, that Canada will not have a little aeroplane with just one engine but a bigger aircraft with two. Two is good, two means twice as much maintenance work. Doublemint for everyone! I'll vote for him!
Everyone goes home happy and watches tv. 90% of them/us never hear both sides of this clearly insincere or perhaps blantantly manipulated campaign baloney. The stealthy political campaigner knows very well that those they meet on the trail are usually already the converted, so they can say anything. They also know that when it comes to voters there is always more than one way to skin a cat and they do practice what they preach.
That's the problem with you Quebec and eastern "Conservatives" who believe that we are "typical West Coast Lululemon-like crowd", you think you have a monopoly on all wisdom. You don't. But when it comes to getting a new hockey rink, you'll cry like a baby if you don't.
Give it a break, Cut and Paste BOY!
Don't believe everything your politician tells you. Ever! Basement? Ottawa? This morning I'm actually thinking of having a Savary Scramble down at the Savary Island Pie café.
I'll be wearing my shorts today. There's a light westerly and it looks like the clouds are breaking up a bit. It's almost Spring-like.
We're just going to grab a muffin at Delaney's. I think theirs are the best! Big, fresh and crumbly. Heck, I need a knife and fork otherwise they go everywhere. Then we'll walk along the sea-wall up to the Beach House at Dundarave for lunch. If the sun comes out they might open the patio. What a great location!
Give us your last name, there Eric from Ottawa. I'm in Squamish, but I'll gladly come to meet you in Dundarave this afternoon with my camera. I've I'm wrong, I'll buy you coffee and lunch and will publicly apologise to you. Deal?
I'm still waiting there, Ottawa Cartoon and Cut and Paste Boy.
I can look at the weather channel too. I'm sure you're not wearing shorts in -10 degree cold over there. But I hear you're having a nice warm coffee at Planet Coffee in the Byward market.
Goofball!
Do all you C.R.A.P. neo=cons think we're all a dumb as you are!
Teddy:
Why would you think I was using the name? He's a relative and my parents named me in tribute.
Jumping to conclusions is a sign of an uneducated mind.
It is a very sad day for humanity and intellectuals around the world when one refers to Ignatieff as a "world respected intellectual and political philosopher" who has taught at the University of Toronto and Oxford. Were the UofT and Oxford really that desperate?
Ignatieff is a man who stands for whatever appears to be of interest to the news media on any given day. My understanding is that in this day and age we have individuals that convey that information on a regular basis, and they are called journalists.
If Michael was the product, and Ignatieff the brand, it would have been pulled off the shelves years ago.
Mr. Ignatieff, I am sure you are a decent man...and so please do your self respect a favour, give up politics. You are the only one that's interested in....well, you. Perhaps write another book and find an audience who is remotely interested in anything you have to say. Calling it as it is.
Anderson W.
Ya right, Darcy. And my parents did the same.
What's that about, Anderson? Too nbad Iggy's 17 books haven't sold in 64 countries and in 22 languages.
Tell me another story.
The only thing that isn't selling is your ignorance.
Who wrote this the Liberals. This so one sided and full of B.S. that it was harldy worth reading. So far he has been unimpressive and has not shown any type of platform or idea of his own. Powerhouse NO Outhouse yes.
Woo hoo, eric, where are you? Why haven't you gotten back to me about our coffee at Delaney's. Can't afford the bus ticket from Ottawa on that minimum wage you earn in the neo-con war room?
Who are these kids that turn a perfectly good article into a juvenile exchange not worthy of a six year old? No wonder the Hoouse of Commons is filled with Harper's trained seals. The Human-Walking-Talking-Points Brigade aren't worth close what we spend on them.
Hey, Mr. John Weston - I'm bored. Time to take off your little red mittens and bring us another clown act!!
My intention was to give a straight up compilation of what Ignatieff said so the piece is primarily based on my notes during the Town Hall. I get tired of reporting that ignores the original content of the event. Readers can judge Ignatieff’s sincerity and cynicism for themselves. The disingenuousness of his “common man” approach is personal opinion.
I’m interested in Ignatieff due to a New Yorker profile by Adam Gopnik which I read in September, 2009. I reviewed the article’s abstract for this piece and reiterated its characterization of Canada as a model social democracy because, relative to the USA, I think this is true. I feel very fortunate to live here. I used Wikipedia for basic information. The comment that Harper has an “us too” foreign policy is not a unique one (See http://www.thestar.com/article/874976--siddiqui-world-passes-judgment-on-harper-s-foreign-policy; http://www.jameslaxer.com/2006/07/stephen-harpers-foreign-policy.html). Reasonable minds may differ.
That said, the petrodollar comment (seehttp://www.dailyfx.com/story/bio1/Canadian_Dollar_Correlation_to_Crude_1242071711926.html) reflects my largest concern in federal politics. Ignatieff seems likely to take Canada toward safe energy solutions as quickly as Canadian citizens are willing to go and his statement we will remain dependent on fossil fuel for awhile could just be pragmatic.
Harper’s treatment of Bill C-311 indicates that, for him, the oil and gas industry trumps elected officials. His characterization of the bill as “irresponsible” seemed cynical given that we have no choice but to move purposefully in the direction of limiting green house gasses if we want to preserve economic and world stability for younger generations. Oil and gas leave the economy dependent on an industry that is losing its international social license and eroding Canada’s international reputation. If you think “a world crumbling at the edges” is an ill chosen image, please chalk that up to my learning curve and check out the type of information that inspired it. For example, ABC’s coverage at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atr16CR6Lus&feature=player_embedded
Finally, thevancouverobserver.com is an inclusive platform. If you can deepen the discussion, it must be time to write an article! In any event, thanks for the interesting reading.
> Ignatieff seems likely to take Canada toward safe energy
> solutions as quickly as Canadian citizens are willing to go
What are you basing that on? The man has no legislative record. He has no demonstrated history of getting anything done. There's absolutely zero evidence that he's going to even care about this once he's elected, and there's no evidence that he's the type of politician that will keep his promises (if such a type still exists in this day and age.)
In fact, Ignatieff has demonstrated a tendency to modify his story to suit his personal short term political needs. When he was confronted with respect to his article in defense/support of torture as a valid tool of war, he waffled and then backed down from a fairly well considered view.
Ignatieff was an interesting guy before he became a politician. Now he's just a politician.
Carrie, You a friend of Binder, er, Cartoon and Cut and Paste Boy? If not, you should team up. Maybe between the both you of you'll find legitimate work at a Dairy Queen or something where your broad skiills wwill be put to better use. Certainly better that working out of that cave the cons have you in trolling websites for the war room over there at minimum wage. But then again, you cons are all good with slave wages and working in sweat shops, so never mind.
Hey Darcy, Trivia question: Who was by far the ugliest poet-politician amongst those close to the father's of confederation?
A: Yep, you guessed it - your namesake, DARCY McGEE!
I'm sure that's why your parents gave you that name. Just took one look at your face and they were immediately inspired to name you Darcy.
I feel sorry for your parents, though. But I'm sure your pet rock is at least proud of you. You both enjoy the same IQ
Guys - If you don't like this website, why don't you go back to a place where you'd be a lot more comfortable and feel at home - The National Enquirer. For Picture Boy, eric - or even his friend, suuaaan - there are plenty of nice pictures and cartoons that they can cut and paste.
Another piece of advocacy journalism. Never mind the typical bromides and platitudes offered by this faux Canadian. What has he done in his time as leader of the official opposition? He has moved his party to the left and is trying to outflank Layton because he knows Harper has the centre covered. National Daycare is provincial jurisdiction for example and the likelihood of him getting the provinces to agree is remote. Sure they will take the money, promise the world and we still won't have a "national" daycare plan.
Then he is advocating homecare. That is provincial jurisdiction as well. Giving someone a $100 per month and/or 6 mos EI is not really solving the issue. As for the provinces see above.
Trying to reverse the corporate tax cuts is pie in the sky. It simply isn't going to happen. Business will be up in arms, we could see job layoffs and no further creation of jobs.
It all sounds like a utopian society but Canadians should remember we had 13 years of do nothing Liberal government where all these problems were there and nothing happened.
So Ignatieff should cut the crap and tell the truth instead of the usual b.s. which comes from Liberal mouths.
Earn FREE yes 1931$ Per week Proven way, its true i earned from here
Http://bit.ly/earnfreezh
I earned 1893$ this week and i have been paid for last week earnings
of 1931$ and i am happy about it
i am Emma Jones i am housewife staying in house now i can buy anything
i need with the amount i earn by spending few hours a week which is
really a blessing to me and my family
if you are facing financial struggles and want financial freedom like
me then its for you. best of luck.
When I read that Iggy was touted as an intellectual powerhouse I spewed my morning coffee and cannot stop laughing.
... and Michael Ignatieff was now in Winnipeg. Slipping out of his Birkenstocks in the balmy West Vancouver warmth of +9C, he re-shod himself in mukluks as he sustained an almost 30 degree cold shock in the -20C Manitoba weather. On the stage at this town hall meeting he repeated the Home Care plan and now we have some clarity.
"The Family Care Tax benefit would pay lower-and middle-class income family caregivers, no matter their employment circumstances but with family incomes of less than $106,000, a tax-free monthly payment worth up to $1,350 per year."
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/ignatieff-unveils-1-b-plan-to-ca...
I wonder if this little elaboration detail came up in lovely West Vancouver where the average household income in 2006, according to Statistics Canada was $151,071 per year and since then GDP has increased by $500 million in 2009, with another 3.3% to October 2010. It seems certain that the household income has also increased, rendering void the statement in the article that, "The conservative promise of economic growth that floats all boats has not borne fruit.". Au contraire! Also, positioning virtually all of the good citizens of West Vancouver ineligible for Ignatieff's Family Care benefits.
Just for Teddy: Yesterday I decided to work so I missed your offer. By the way, at first you said lunch at the Beach House in Dundarave but later you said coffee at Delaney's, which is down in Ambleside. Anyway, the sun never really poked through and by 3 o'clock it started raining around South Granville. Anyway, perhaps another time in Squamish. Everyone meets at the Starbucks but the home made sandwiches at the Sunflower Bakery Café are much better. You know, the one with the yellow walls inside.
As for oil Carrie, the Alberta oil sands may well be not only 'ethical oil' but also clean oil. It's estimated that the Alberta industry generates around 5% of Canada's GHGs. An internationa study just released by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) states that refinery flaring is a large contributor to worldwide GHG. There is virtually no flaring in Canada. A map in the study shows that in contrast there is substantial flairing in the Middle East and Russia. Another plus for Canada is that, according to the study, old oil facilities are far more likely to employ technology that releases gasses and pollutants. Canada's facilities are relatively new or, in Alberta and Saskatchewan's case under construction and therefore better for the planet.
One other thing Carrie, you say, "Harper’s lack of support for the Canada Health Act". Do you have any evidence of this? I have heard nothing other than support from Harper for the act and for Health Care in general. Under the constitution Health Care is, of course, a provincial responsibility but the federal government can inforce the Canada Health Act. Since the Chaoulli case in Québec and the Supreme Court ruling how would Ignatieff handle it? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaoulli_v._Quebec_%28Attorney_General%29) The Court has ruled on a question that refers to the Charter of Rights. There would have to be a new law introduced to roll back any ruling and that would also have to be in the constitution. Ask Ignatieff if he intends to open up the constitution to make this change which you seem to be saying is necessary. Do you think a change is needed to the constitution? Are you counting on the Liberals campaigning on this?
Since
Wow. People say there's been a decline in political discourse in this country. You wouldn't know it from this comment thread, would you?