CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Thu. May. 26 2011 8:05 AM ET
The Liberal party's overwhelming defeat in the federal election was a devastating and historic loss, but one that represents an "exciting" opportunity to rebuild, said the party's new interim leader, Bob Rae.
Rae was selected as interim leader on Wednesday, taking the helm for a period projected to be between 18 months and two years.
He takes over from former leader Michael Ignatieff -- Rae's former college roommate -- who failed to win his seat in the election and quickly resigned from his post.
Rae said the party has major challenges ahead of it after the number of elected Liberal MPs was reduced to 34, dropping the party to third place behind the NDP and Conservatives.
However, he put a positive spin on the situation, saying great losses can result in great advances.
"I think it's actually going to be quite an exciting experience for people because these great defeats -- and this one certainly was a very tough defeat for the party -- it really is an opportunity to go back to the basics and recommit to some very important values for Canadians that are going to be tested in the coming days with Mr. Harper's majority," Rae said.
Many had looked to Rae as a potential successor to Ignatieff. However, by taking on the interim leader role Rae has ruled himself ineligible for the job.
Rae, who has twice run unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Liberal party, said he weighed his options with his family before deciding the interim leadership role was a good fit.
"Look, this is a job I can do," Rae told CTV's Canada AM.
"I know I can make a contribution, this is the job for now and it's a job the party said they want to last 18 months or two years, so let's get at it and not worry about all the chatter about the leadership contest, there's no leadership contest now."
Rae pointed out that while the Conservatives achieved a majority in the election, the party only received about 40 per cent of the vote and "there's still a lot of people that don't agree with Mr. Harper and his agenda."
That being said, he admitted that it was clear in the final days of the election campaign that the wind had gone out of the Liberals' sails and a "historic moment" was approaching.
"The tide was definitely going out very fast. I think we could all feel it in the last several days of the campaign...it was clear that people had decided we weren't there for them this time."
In the wake of the loss, Rae said, the party will focus on reconnecting at a local level on issues such as health care, social justice and the economy in order to restore faith in the party.
"These are issues people need to talk about," Rae said. "They need to have a real sense the Liberal party is very alive, very healthy and absolutely willing to commit to work with Canadians on the challenges we'll face in the future."
Party fundraising will also be a major challenge for Rae after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced Wednesday the June budget will eliminate per-vote subsidies for political parties -- a major source of income.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Politics/20110526/interim-leader-bob-rae-110526/
Date: Thu. May. 26 2011 8:05 AM ET
The Liberal party's overwhelming defeat in the federal election was a devastating and historic loss, but one that represents an "exciting" opportunity to rebuild, said the party's new interim leader, Bob Rae.
Rae was selected as interim leader on Wednesday, taking the helm for a period projected to be between 18 months and two years.
He takes over from former leader Michael Ignatieff -- Rae's former college roommate -- who failed to win his seat in the election and quickly resigned from his post.
Rae said the party has major challenges ahead of it after the number of elected Liberal MPs was reduced to 34, dropping the party to third place behind the NDP and Conservatives.
However, he put a positive spin on the situation, saying great losses can result in great advances.
"I think it's actually going to be quite an exciting experience for people because these great defeats -- and this one certainly was a very tough defeat for the party -- it really is an opportunity to go back to the basics and recommit to some very important values for Canadians that are going to be tested in the coming days with Mr. Harper's majority," Rae said.
Many had looked to Rae as a potential successor to Ignatieff. However, by taking on the interim leader role Rae has ruled himself ineligible for the job.
Rae, who has twice run unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Liberal party, said he weighed his options with his family before deciding the interim leadership role was a good fit.
"Look, this is a job I can do," Rae told CTV's Canada AM.
"I know I can make a contribution, this is the job for now and it's a job the party said they want to last 18 months or two years, so let's get at it and not worry about all the chatter about the leadership contest, there's no leadership contest now."
Rae pointed out that while the Conservatives achieved a majority in the election, the party only received about 40 per cent of the vote and "there's still a lot of people that don't agree with Mr. Harper and his agenda."
That being said, he admitted that it was clear in the final days of the election campaign that the wind had gone out of the Liberals' sails and a "historic moment" was approaching.
"The tide was definitely going out very fast. I think we could all feel it in the last several days of the campaign...it was clear that people had decided we weren't there for them this time."
In the wake of the loss, Rae said, the party will focus on reconnecting at a local level on issues such as health care, social justice and the economy in order to restore faith in the party.
"These are issues people need to talk about," Rae said. "They need to have a real sense the Liberal party is very alive, very healthy and absolutely willing to commit to work with Canadians on the challenges we'll face in the future."
Party fundraising will also be a major challenge for Rae after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced Wednesday the June budget will eliminate per-vote subsidies for political parties -- a major source of income.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Politics/20110526/interim-leader-bob-rae-110526/
