December 2, 2006
Palais des congrés, Montreal
Chairs: Tanya Kappo (Liberal Aboriginal People's Commission) and MP Dominic LeBlanc (Beauséjour, N.B.)
What a difference three years made for the Liberal Party of Canada. In November 2003 the mantle of leadership – and the keys to the Prime Minister’s Office – passed from Jean Chrétien to long-time rival Paul Martin.
The Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives were in the process of merging and choosing a new leader. Confident Liberals (and even U2’s Bono) gathered in Toronto with talk of a 200-plus seat majority for Martin after the next election.
The 2004 vote left the Liberals with a minority. The 2006 election placed Stephen Harper and the new Conservative party in power, leading to Martin's resignation.
Ten months later, thousands of Liberal delegates met in Montreal. This time, there was no automatic coronation.
WATCH: Ken Rockburn behind the scenes in Montreal (Talk Politics)
THE CONTENDERS
Hopefuls had to pay a $50,000 entry fee and abide by a $3.4-million spending limit.
The race officially began on April 7. A number of high-profile names – Sheila Copps, John Manley, Frank McKenna, Allan Rock – declined to run. MPs Maurizio Bevilacqua, Carolyn Bennett, and Hedy Fry entered and then withdrew.
Nevertheless, the first ballot was filled with intriguing choices.
Michael Ignatieff, the star academic and writer who had returned to Canada after years in the international spotlight.
Bob Rae, the former New Democrat premier of Ontario who had left elected politics in 1996.
Gerard Kennedy, the Ontario cabinet minister.
Scott Brison, the former Tory–turned-public works minister under Martin.
Ken Dryden, the Hall of Fame goalie who had found equal success away from the rink.
Martha Hall Findlay, a Toronto lawyer, the first to enter, and the only woman in the race.
Veteran MP Joe Volpe, another dark-horse Toronto candidate.
And Stéphane Dion, the former environment and intergovernmental affairs minister who left academia for politics following the 1995 Quebec referendum.
Could Ignatieff or Rae attract enough support from the other camps after the opening ballots? Would a Dion, Dryden, or Kennedy knock off the frontrunners? Four ballots were needed to settle the matter.
THE CONVENTION
The process began in Montreal amid speculation about Ignatieff’s support after taking the pre-convention lead among selected delegates. Can he attract enough delegates from other camps to push through the later ballots?
THE VOTE
After the first ballot results are announced, Martha Hall Findlay gave her support to Dion, while Volpe moved to Rae. In sixth place, Brison released his delegates before joining Rae.
Delegates were now free from their first-ballot obligation and could for whomever they pleased. As second ballot voting continued, Dion and Kennedy shook hands and spoke reporters. The two were virtually tied for third on the first ballot, fuelling speculation of an agreement.
Rae supporter Ralph Goodale, meanwhile, was seen approaching Dryden.
The second ballot narrowed the gap between Ignatieff and Rae, with Dion remaining in third place.
Dryden joined Rae, Kennedy moved to Dion, and both released their delegates to do as they wish.
The crucial question was whether Ignatieff could become the second choice for enough delegates from other camps.
The third-ballot result revealed the answer: Dion jumped into first place with 122 more votes than Ignatieff. Rae was forced out but refused to endorse either remaining candidate.
Brison was the only defeated candidate in Rae’s corner who decided to support Ignatieff; the rest lined up behind Dion for the fourth and final round of voting.
Finally, with nearly 55 per cent of the convention behind him, Stéphane Dion became the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
