Liberal caucus meets for first time since federal election, Ignatieff says goodbye

OTTAWA, Ont. – It was a final goodbye for ex-Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and many other former MPs during a caucus meeting on Wednesday, the first meeting since the Grits’ devastating defeat last week where they lost the title of official opposition.

As Ignatieff passed his former colleagues, who had little joy in their faces, the atmosphere was tense. Many were emotional, and several other former MPs broke down into tears as they said goodbye.

“I just wanted to express my enormous gratitude to all the people we met as we went along the road. Their kindness, their civility, their sense of humour,” Ignatieff said to the crowd of both former and current MPs. He said little to reporters as he left the building.

Several of his colleagues reflected on Ignatieff’s days in Parliament, and said they plan to keep in touch with him and follow his private life.

Only current MPs attended the second half of Wednesday’s meeting, which got down to the nitty gritty. With the theme being ‘change’, MPs spoke of rebuilding the Liberal brand and choosing an interim leader. MP Carolyn Bennett spoke about the party’s structure, explaining that the top down approach has been unsuccessful, and the party president needs to go.

“It is of huge concern,” she told 680News. “Did Michael Ignatieff take the fall all by himself, and it is not reasonable that we don’t go forward with somebody who can actually really engage the grass roots.”

Failed Brampton-Springdale MP Ruby Dhalla agreed, telling 680 it “cannot be top down. It must be bottoms up, and I hope that’s what happens moving forward.”

Some MPs said they should be cleaning house at the party level, starting with the president, and everyone agreed that the party needs to reconnect with regular members.

Earlier, the party’s national board approved rules, which would block high profile Members of Parliament from becoming acting leader – MPs like Papineau’s Justin Trudeau, Toronto-Centre’s Bob Rae and Wascana’s Ralph Goodale.

Many say they would like to see Rae become interim leader, including MP Denis Coderre.

“I think that if we want to have efficiency right now, that we need Bob Rae as an interim leader,” he told 680News.

However, he is keeping mum about his intentions since that would cut him off from full leadership.

He only told reporters that his plans are “to spend some time listening to my colleagues and then make a decision.”

The final statement about the leadership was issued yesterday, and said the party will not choose an interim leader for quite some time, while the vote for a permanent leader may not take place for another two years.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Press obtained the final plan, which reportedly appeared to be aimed at Rae, insinuating he would not be chosen as the interim leader.

The final statement also said that the interim leader must sign and solemnly swear – as originally proposed – to reject any intention of seeking permanent leadership and not to chase any talks surrounding a possible merger with Jack Layton’s New Democrats.

The party’s constitution states a party-wide membership vote to elect a new leader must be held within five months of  Ignatieff’s resignation.

The May 2 federal election saw the Liberals come out with only 34 seats, their worst showing ever.