Michael Ignatieff with Liberal Candidates and Members of Parliament, photo: Georges Alexandar
The day started in downtown Oakville where hundreds of Oakville residents came out to greet and speak with Michael Ignatieff. Max Khan, our impressive Liberal candidate in Oakville, was the host of the gathering. Michael Ignatieff dazzled the crowd with a fiery speech about the role of government in a society and our responsibility towards each other as citizens. You could see the sparkle in the eyes of everyone who was there. As we were leaving, a woman approached Mr. Ignatieff and said to him that before today she was on the fence, but after hearing his speech and witnessing his passion she will be proudly voting Liberal in the next election.
Then on to the bus. Several MPs were on the tour today: John McCallum, Navdeep Bains, Yasmin Ratansi, Gerard Kennedy, and Bonnie Crombie. Former and future MP Karen Redman and candidate Max Khan were also on the bus, along with an energetic contingent of Young Liberals.
As the bus drove through Oakville, I could see people waving at the bus or stopping to take a second look.
On the bus, Michael Ignatieff gave a one-on-one interview with the Mississauga News that I happily arranged. I also had a chance to talk with Mr. Ignatieff on the latest issues in Mississauga and the various needs that our city has.
Next stop: The great city of Mississauga.
The Liberal Express’ next destination was MuslimFest, a cultural festival and one of the largest in Ontario.
Our bus was received by a large group of young volunteers chanting enthusiastically welcoming Mr. Ignatieff to Mississauga and MuslimFest. As Mr. Ignatieff got off the bus, I heard a young woman say “I just turned 18 this year and I will be voting for you.” Another young man rushed up and gave Michael Ignatieff a spontaneous and warm hug. Pictures were being taken from every angle and outstretched hands were anxious to shake his hand. It was a tremendous reception.
We started walking towards the festival. Mr. Ignatieff would stop and chat with every person who was there. Throughout our walk, Mr. Ignatieff spoke with a CEO of one of the largest fast-food chains in the country where he listened to the issues facing their business from loans to the cost of food ingredients. He talked with a manager of an aid and development organization and listened to the challenges facing their work due to the Conservatives’ foreign aid policies. He spoke with an entrepreneur in the financial markets; they discussed current regulations and market conditions. He met a senior couple who shared with him their perspective and reality. He engaged a grade 11 student and heard about her dreams and aspirations. He heard from a woman who said she can’t wait to see a Liberal government soon, instead of this current government. I could go on describing the various conversations that took place. The diversity of the conversations were as diverse as the Canadian landscape. It was refreshing.
What better way to learn about the dreams of Canadians than to engage them in honest and unscripted conversations?
Mr. Ignatieff then spoke to hundreds who gathered around the stage and listened to his every word. He reaffirmed his commitment to a better Canada where every citizen has the opportunity to reach their potential – a society that is only as strong as our least privileged. The crowd reacted enthusiastically to his words and the passion that came with them.
People were excited about his presence and didn’t want to let him go. The summer Liberal Express tour is changing politics and how politicians communicate with their constituents – for the better. The summer tour didn’t start without skeptics – but it only takes a few moments on the bus to realize how people are responding to Mr. Ignatieff’s genuine effort of outreach.
Don’t believe me? Come to one of the many events on the road and decide for yourself!
Omar Alghabra is an avid blogger and the Liberal Party of Canada’s candidate in Mississauga-Erindale. Follow him on Twitter at @OmarAlghabra.
