I hope that we rally behind our local Conservative candidate John Capobianco here, against the US import the Liberals parachuted in.

This riding seriously needs to jump on board John Capobianco’s ship. Unlike Ignatieff, who hasn’t even lived in Canada over the last 30 years enough to probably care about the NHL strike, John has grown up in our riding, lives here, and works here. His family is darling, and he has seemed to be working his tail off over the last two elections to bring some repayment to the Liberals. Why would E-L voters reward the Libs a)for corruption, and b)for completely circumventing a democratic process to put up a candiadate the residents actually wanted. Liberals will just reward him no doubt though, and nothing will change. Unless John is given a chance, so let’s help him.

I certainly think that Ignatieff’s candidacy is a serious problem for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, but the values of Harper and the Conservatives worry me. I think of myself as a progressive-minded Liberal but this time around Liam McHugh-Russell, the NDP candidate, is really the only local choice I can count on.

Michael Ignatieff has what it takes to go a long way in the Liberal Party of Canada.
He launched his political career with a rigged nomination, less than credible stories about his required residency in this country and a strange and disputed statement about wanting to return to Harvard if not elected. The Liberal Party deserves him, Etobicoke-Lakeshore does not.

it’s sad that Etobicoke-Lakeshore has been taken for granted, and Ignatieff was just ‘given’ the riding. It makes me worry about a potential Conservative win, though Ignatieff will still not get my vote.

Enough of the intelectual-elitists, pinkoes, big- brothers who know what is good for the little people. I am going to predict that Ignatieff is defeated and we are never going to hear from him again. Truly we do not deserve a man of his intelect. I am voting for Harper.

It is time for a change. Paul Martin will say anything, do anything to stay in power. He has been profoundly and completely disappointing.

Vote Conservative.

If ever there was a riding which gives people a chance to prove democracy works it’s E-L. Surely a win by a parachuted party annointed ex-patriate who will return to his cushy job in Boston if he doesn’t get his way with the locals will be proof that party apparatchniks are right to hold the people in contempt. For once let’s not allow the commissars to make monkeys out of us.

This is the riding to watch for proof whether the Liberals will get away with their usual manipulation of the electoral process.

fools.

don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. the liberals have given you something worthwhile. it is any ridings priveledge to have a man of ignatieff’s convictions and values going to work for them.

the liberals have not scrwed you. they have honored you.

Ignatieff’s convictions and values??? He was one of Bush’s biggest supporters for the Iraq War (ya, that war the Libs are using in their ads to attack Harper), he favor’s “mild” torture of prisoners of war,he hasn’t lived in Canada for over twenty years, other people who wanted to run for the Liberal nomination in the riding (people who actually live in it) found the doors locked and the time changed for getting in their papers. Ignatieff couldn’t care less about the people of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. To the Liberals he was to be their next philosopher-king/Trudeau. Well kings are not elected and the Liberal backroom boys parachuted him into this riding thinking that the ordinary little people would gladly obey their marching orders and vote the king in. Convictions? The only convictions Ignatieff has, or should have, are convictions for trying to rig his own election.

The voters of the E-L riding have an interesting decision to make. Sounds to me like instead of looking at the person who could best vent their issues in Ottawa, they are looking at the process. Wake up people and smell the coffee. Ignatieff will be an integral part of our country and its policy in the years to come. He will be a catalyst in the restoration of integrity in governance.
I have seen your candidates in action at last Thursday night’s debate. I’d have to say that although Mr. Capobianco is working hard, Mr. Ignatieff and Mr. McHugh-Russell out-performed him immensely in that debate. So too will they if one is given the opportunity in Ottawa. Ignatieff will not be resigned to the backbenches that Mr. Capobainco is destined for. Elect someone that will hold power in Ottawa.

I urge the voters form E-L to back or not back someone on the issues, not the process. Elect Michael Ignatieff on January 23rd!

The issue in this election is the process. Paul Martin vowed to end the democartic deficit and Ignatieff’s less than democratic coronation as candidate for this riding is exactly why the Liberals are going to be swept from office on the 23rd. Ignatieff’s wants to be part of an easy route to power and has quickly become a symbol of the lack of integrity the Liberal Party currenly has. Again, the issue is the process!

The conservative platform this time around worries me. With all of the issues facing our marginalized communities in this riding and the fact that there are NO COMMUNITY CENTRES for young people to do positive, productive things and stay out of trouble, if the conservatives win, this riding will go downhill. My vote is most definately going to Liam this election.

Good luck, Liam. Show Ignatieff that progressive Canadians won’t stand for it!

PEOPLE: May be, just may be, the senior Liberals and backroom operators know better than us. He is from Harvard. Must be more intelligent than us retards. Let’s bow to him with humility!

Mr. Curran,

I have no idea where Mr. Capobianco would sit if elected, but I seriously doubt Prime Minister Harper will appoint Mr. Ignatieff to the front bench where he can wield power.

I never thought I’d endorse a Conservative, but I find the views of Mr. Michael “Torture-Lite” Ignatieff to be so abhorrent, it would be a disgrace to Parliament to have him anywhere near the place. Given Mr. Martin’s pro-Bush, pro-war agenda, I can see why he’d want Ignatieff by his side.

The polls don’t indicate much of a chance for the NDP candidate, but perhaps we’ll get lucky. Maybe this riding will buck the regional polls; perhaps all the disgusted Liberal supporters will heed Jack’s call and vote NDP.

We can only hope.

The NDP was clearly against the War in Iraq. It may be hard to swallow but NDP voters voting for the Conservative will help send the pro-Bush war hawk and champion of “mild” torture back to the land of stars and stripes.

In this riding a vote for the NDP is a vote for a pro-American sympathiser. The only chance we have in sending Ignatieff back to the US is voting for our neighbour, John Capobianco. John will likely by a cabinet minister in the next government. Lets get someone in Ottawa working for Etobicoke-Lakeshore for a change.

My wife’s Ukranian and I know she is not the only one in this riding. I certainly hope Ukranians who were deprived of the opportunity to put forth their own candidate in this riding do not vote liberal.

Attention Liberals, liberals and everyone in our riding who pays more than just lip-service to progressive social policies. Voting for anyone other than Liam McHugh-Russell and the NDP is a vote for the foreign policies of both Stockwell Day and the Bush Administration. The NDP is going to win BIG in Toronto! That can and should include Etobicoke Lakeshore. I used to be a member of Liberal party (and may be again) but THIS time I’m voting for Liam, Jack and the NDP! Keep hammering!

richard… harper supported the war so did pm pm. all i know is i’m voting for the next leader of the liberal party. go ig!

As kindly as i can put this…
Do any of you actually know the rules of the liberal party in selecting a candidate.

One candidate had his nomination in on time..the others, buoyed by outsiders tried to shove their nomination papers into the association in violation of the rules and were disallowed. had they been in on time, there would have been a vote and MI would still be the candidate.

Any of you ever work anywhere else? Does that make you less dedicated to the place you call home? Besides, any suggestion that he is not really Canadian are about as absurd as the Tory view that immigrants to Canada aren’t really Canadian. Every new Canadian I have ever met (a huge number by the way), liberal, tory, or otherwise reflects Canadian Values often better than we do because they never take it for granted. They reflect on the prosperity and the opportunity they have, they understand that it can always be better, and they support the basic vision of Canada; equality and freedom - on every level. How many of you can say that about yourselves with a straight face?

Ignatieff is a fabulous thoughtful and considerate Canadian who will bring international experience and rational approaches to representing our community and making Canada better for everyone. He will be a great addition to the team, which is a great place to look if your still undecided, at the two teams…remember that if they win they ALL get to play.

I’m not saying who I’m voting for!

There hasn’t been an elected Liberal in this riding for years, since the Conservatives were last in power there have been two parachutes used in this riding, Augustine’s and now Ignatieff’s red white and blue parachute. In this instance, the complete disregard for the nomination rules is shocking. We say this is a free country, yet the Liberal party, a party that governed for such a long time, does not even follow the rules they created for the suckers they take annual dues from.

I am tired of the Liberals thinking that they own the vote in Toronto and can do what they want to shove in more members of their back room old boys club and solidify their power structure in Ottawa.

If Ignatieff can’t follow the rules at the riding level, how will he represent Etobicoke-Lakeshore in Ottawa? The controversy surrounding his name has done wonders for his publicity, however as you will see from the predictions (above), the lawn signs in Etobicoke Lakeshore, and the general mood of the people.

As far as I am concerned, Michael Ignatieff did not HONESTLY earn the right to run for the Liberal party in Etobicoke Lakeshore. I think that all voters in Etobicoke Lakeshore should think about that fact and 1.) send Ignatieff back to Boston, and 2.) send a message to the good old boys that their sense of entitlement and bully tactics will not wash in Etobicoke Lakeshore.

One final vote, NDP supporters, please see the strategic voting link on this page… put your vote where it counts.

To all my fellow NDP’ers, stay the course and hold the line. Let McHugh-Russel direct us on our victory to Ottawa. Strategic voting is like religion, it’s for the weak and feeble.

The voters of E_L have a responsibility to begin to correct the Democratic Deficit starting first in their constituency.When a political party that has preached that it will correct the DD and then screws the constituency by telling them who their candidate will be needs to be reminded that the voters have the last say. To all those in E_L who are of Ukrainian heritage, Hold your nose and vote to send Martin and Igi to Hell.The Liberals told you what they think of your rights as Canadian citizens who want to participate in the democratic process when the took the steps they did to drop Igi on you and took away the right of two potential candidates seeking the nomination.
John Capobianco will be your best chance to have your MP on the government side of the House.
VOTE John CAPOBIANCO on January 23.

My guess as to which elected Tory MP will sully Harper’s name first: Capobianco. Fortunately there are not too many others on the CPC ticket like him. Some harmless deadwood here and there but not too many other bad candidates on the CPC Ticket.

David,

what are you basing this on? Other than obvious partisan bias?

the choice here is smiple for the sake of Toronto we need to get Capobianco elected, he’s the closest shot the Conservatives are going to have here and the Torys are going to form government. With Capobianco we get the only Toronto Cab-Min. That’s a lot of power he can then use to help this area, which the government will let him do in the interest of getting him re-elected.

Capobianco = Cabinet
Iggy = Opposition back bencher more conserned with leaderhip bids than helping the riding.

seems simple to me

To use a line:

It’s the Community Stupid

Gregory may know the rules of the Liberal party as to the process for selection of or nomination of candidate. But he is in denial as to the fact that the rules were flagrantly abused and manipulated to get Igi nominated in E_L.

What a shame if Ignatieff were to lose. The fact that someone has lived in other parts of the world is not a drawback from my point of view; he is bringing his experience with him. And anyone who has carefully listened to any of his speeches or read any of his works will realize he is exactly what we need more of in our over heated parliament. A thoughtful, honest man with the courage to say what he thinks. His father was one of the finest diplomats Canada has ever produced and and he could make a great parliamentarian. He was aware of the liberal problems when he decided to run; this is because he believes in democracy not because he is a philosopher king. Etobicoke-Lakeshore is a competitive riding, he could have dropped into a soft liberal riding in the Atlantic provinces or Don Valley or somewhere. And what’s this talk about voting for “our” candidate. We are all Canadians regardless of our ethnic background and they are all “our” candidates. Ignatieff can restore the soul of the liberal party and free it from its culture of corruption by giving it real ideas and a purpose.

I agree with Beaker in that if ‘Capi’ wins and Harper wins, ‘Capi’ will be in the cabinet. Check eleswhere. Sometimes I complement the Toroes. Sometimes I don’t.
‘Capi’ has a reputation for sleaziness but if he behaves himself and does not act in an corrupt manner all will be well.
I am no admirer of Ignatieff and his elitism. It would be good to see him beaten.

It is important to check on the facts of this nomination. Ignatieff only got his papers in on time because he was tipped off days before anyone else know Augustine was choosing to go with her pension.

Several people who wanted to run for nomination, including Bruce Davis, didn’t even find out until days after the deadline had passed. In FACT, the Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario branch) sent out notices of a nomination meeting postmarked less than 48 hours (8:21PM November 28, 2005) before the meeting’s start time (6:00PM November 30, 2005), some received it days AFTER the meeting.

The two others who did get their papers in on time, despite LPCO stooges hiding behind closed doors during regular office hours leading up to the deadline, were shut out by technicalities in the process.

There are several technicalities which can be raised that would make Ignatieff’s “appointment” null and void, but the good old boys in the Liberal Party overlooked these, especially since he is their chosen one.

Michael Ignatieff needs to be defeated. He is not a Canadian but an Amercican. If you are scared to vote conservative, tell yourself that Michael Ignatieff is even worse. He supports the war in Irak and certain forms of torture. He doesn’t relate to the common man. He is unaware of problems facing the working people because he is an aristocrat. Teaching at Harvard does not make someone realize the problems of students facing high tuition fees. Living in the United States disconnects someone from Canada. Michael Ignatieff is disconnected.

Harper is already questioning the legitimacy of judges in this country. This is a text-book Republican party tactic. Divide and conquer. To the NDP supporters in this riding, PLEASE don’t let the Conservatives in. Please vote Liberal and let’s bring back a Liberal/NDP minority government.

Harper is simply stating the obvious. Over last 12 years Chretien and Martin have appointed judges who have clear liberal/leftist leanings. This is the truth. It’s an honest appraisal by Harper. Harper will appoint judges who have a leaning to the right. Why do Liberals get all flustered by this; it’s simply the nature of politics. Twelve years from now I’m sure the Liberals will probably say the same thing about a decade of Harper appointments.

There are few Liberals that I would support this election, but Michael Ignatieff is one of them. It seems clear we will have a Conservative government, and a Conservative minority may well be a good thing for Canada at this point. The Liberals need a time out to clean up their act and to rethink their policies. This is a good reason to vote for Ignatieff. He is one of the most credible and capable people that Canada has produced and has the depth of experience, thought and compassion that we need in the House with a Harper led government. In most other ridings I would be in the anyone but the Liberals camp, but here I think that Canada needs people like Ignatieff in Parliament.

Why am I not surprised? Many traditional Liberals will not vote for Mr.Ignatieff and those, like Steven who would support few Liberals, seem quite seduced by the “right-thinking” celebrity.

Now it’s my turn. We need to know that many, many human rights activists, such as Conor Gearty from the London School of Economics and Canada’s own former Minister of Foreign Affairs (and Liberal), Lloyd Axworthy have profoundly disagreed with Mr. Ignatieff’s wobbly positions on the illegal war in Iraq and “permissible forms of duress” (called torture by everyone else except the local Liberal candidate). Many experienced, credible, compassionate and thoughtful activists have tried to warn us about Mr. Ignatieff. We need to also remember how our local Liberal candidate blissfully ignored the democratic process to get the nomination (he lamely contends that at least it was “legal”). He is more a darling of the “right” than Etobicoke Lakeshore. Let’s not be seduced.

News just broke that the president of the Liberal riding association in Etobicoke-Lakeshore has thrown his support behind Capobianco. He said he could not in good faith support the non-democratic process of parachuting Ignatieff into the riding. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the last couple of days in the riding.

I’ve known John for 18 years and you could not find a nicer, kinder,gentler man than him. We all used to attend St. Leo’s on Royal York and now I see him up at Our Lady of Sorrows with his family. E-L needs you badly John-it’s been sadly neglected by the previous MP. Good luck on the 23rd. Don’t let the Liberals back, it will just be more of nothing for us!!

I have a great respect for the liberal party workers. They are the real unsong heroes in every election. With the resignation of the liberal party riding president today, is the last straw that broke camel-Ignatieff’s back. Ignatieff’s dream to move in to 24 Sussex drive are now in ashes. Ignatieff shall return to Boston and commence writing his 17th box,–no-doubt a best seller– explaining to Americans why the silly voters of this riding did not vote for him.

Well to all the far left thinking the secret agenda comes from Tory Blue; it obviously comes from the left and the Liberals.
For all the smearing and fearmongering of a Bush agenda from Harper; we see the real warmonger comes from within the Liberal ranks who does not understand our values of E-L.
Liberals think they know Canadian values. All they know is the value of $$ in their own pockets.
I don’t care who anyone votes for as long as it isn’t RED!

Seriously. If everyone has a right to their opinions, I have a right to mine.

Canada – you’re not really going to elect a Conservative majority on Monday, are you? That’s a joke, right? I know you have a great sense of humor, and certainly a well-developed sense of irony, but this is no longer funny. Maybe it’s a new form of Canadian irony — reverse irony! OK, now I get it. First, you have the courage to stand against the war in Iraq — and then you elect a prime minister who’s for it. You declare gay people have equal rights — and then you elect a man who says they don’t. You give your native peoples their own autonomy and their own territory — and then you vote for a man who wants to cut aid to these poorest of your citizens. Wow, that is intense! Only Canadians could pull off a hat trick of humor like that. My hat’s off to you.

These are no ordinary times, and as you go to the polls on Monday, you do so while a man running the nation to the south of you is hoping you can lend him a hand by picking Stephen Harper because he’s a man who shares his world view. Do you want to help George Bush by turning Canada into his latest conquest? Is that how you want millions of us down here to see you from now on? The next notch in the cowboy belt? C’mon, where’s your Canadian pride?

Send the parachute candidate packing and send a message to Martin that he can no longer get away with playing God with the electoral process.

For all the liberal bashing on this ridding the conservatives are doing the same thing in Ottawa-Orleans. So they are being just as hypocritical.

As noted by someone above, the riding association president for the Liberals has resigned and thrown his support behind Capobianco.

The truth is starting to come out…

November 17 - the day that Marc Shwec’s membership application was accepted by the Liberal party.

November 22, 2005 - the deadline to sign up for the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Federal Liberal Riding Association and be eligible to vote in the nomination meeting (which was replced by an annointment of Ignatieff).

November 23 - the date that Ignatieff’s
“membership” application was “accepted” by the liberal party.

Shwec’s nomination papers were not accepted, Ignatieff’s were. The fee-paying members of Etobicoke-Lakeshore’s Federal Liberal Riding Association did not get an opportunity to exercise their democratic right(the right they paid for with their membership dues) to select their candidate.

Will they all be getting refunded their dues?

Enough Said…

Etobicoke Liberal riding president throws support to Tory
Jan. 20, 2006. 03:44 PM
ROB FERGUSON
QUEEN’S PARK BUREAU
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con…2154&t=TS_Home

In a last-minute blow to high-profile Liberal candidate Michael Ignatieff, the president of the party’s riding association in Etobicoke-Lakeshore swung his support today to Conservative rival John Capobianco in Monday’s federal election.
The controversial process by which Ignatieff was acclaimed the candidate over local hopefuls ruled ineligible by the party was a major factor in the decision, said Ron Chyczij, who had hoped to contest the nomination himself.

“I can no longer in good conscience support the Liberal candidate in this riding,” he said in a statement released this afternoon.

“After the nomination fiasco, I’ve purposely waited on the sidelines to see if Michael Ignatieff can in some way redeem himself as a credible Liberal candidate in this riding . . . this has not happened.”

I have said elsewhere, that I withdraw my pick of ‘Capi’ as the first CPC to get into trouble. I am hoping that he is smart enough to know that the CPC will be under more scrutiny than the Liberals ever were. The media will even make headlines out of non stories.
It is Paddy Brown of Barrie who I predict will land the Tories in trouble first but the damage should be contained as Paddy won’t be in Cabinet whereas Capi would be.

Although I will be voting NDP in my home riding, which is a 2-way battle between the Liberals and NDP, I would vote for Capobianco if I lived in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. I believe that Ignatieff, with his support for the U.S. war in Iraq and the use of torture, is even more worrisome for those of us who believe in human rights than many of the Conservative candidates. Ignatieff also typifies the arrogance that we have come to associate with the Liberal Party. If the Conservatives win just one riding in Toronto, let it be Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

It’s a tight race - but Etobicoke-Lakeshore is the most likely seat to go Conservative in 416. Ignatieff is so detested that people on the left are voting strategically for Capobianco, who helped author the Common Sense Revolution. Not to mention I think some people realize given this riding’s closeness, voting for Capobianco may be smart so 416 can have at least one seat in government (and probably Cabinet). Furthermore Capobianco has got a lot of the Ukrainian vote that normally goes Liberal, plus a lot of left-leaning Liberals may vote NDP in protest. I say Capobianco wins a narrow victory.

I don’t live in this riding, but I went to University with Liam - he is a passionate and dedicated individual who would serve your community well. Ignatieff has delusions of grandeur, and if elected would work simply to serve his own interests, not yours. If you are a traditional Liberal voter who does not approve of Ignatieff, I believe you’d find a strong fellowship with Liam McHugh-Russel, more so than you would with the CPC candidate. Above all, get out and Vote, Canada!

The conservatives need this riding for their majority

parachute candidates rarely do well, suspicion and back room mongering usually do not sit well with an increasingly astute constituency. This said Iggy should continue to pursue an elected position, we need more like him

I really think that all the Liberals rants and attacks is just window dressing to cover their own stench of corruption. It’s the old football ploy for going on attack if you have no defence. Guess what guys, this election day is about guns, gaffes, goodale and gomery. Get your respective heads out of American TV shows like the new Geena Davis show and the West Wing. Na na nana hey hey eh good bye!

I take no joy in this outcome. I had been critical of Capobianco but he lived in the area and had been campaigning for the past year. Ignatieff is an arrogant arse. I have met some of the Ignatieff clan who were classy people in the true sence of the word. Lord Iggy does not fall into this category. What does it say about people in Etobicoke-Lakeshore that they behave like obedient serfs? At least the serfs in Russia rebelled once in awhile.

I am so disgusted by the result of the election. Ignatieff, The Scourge of Carpathia and Terror of Maldovia can add to his resume of nicknames Scourge of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. The Electorate are so foolish, the Liberals could run Paul Bernardo himself and still achieve a victory with an overwhelming majority.

I am new to this country from Russia. The Ignatieff family is also the scourge and terror of Russia and the rest of the civilized world.