Michael Ignatieff greets supporters in Baddeck. Photo : Greg Kolz
Reports of the end of the Liberal Express have been greatly exaggerated.
Seven weeks, 142 stops, 10 provinces, 2 territories, and nearly 40,000 kilometres after the tour began at the Calgary Stampede, we’re not quite finished. Northern Ontario and the Northwest Territories: Lock up your baked goods.
(Side note: yesterday, I figured out why I’ve been eating so many Timbits this summer. It’s because they are the progressive centre of the Canadian donut. Think about it.)
Yesterday was an important milestone for the Liberal Express, as Michael Ignatieff, Zsuzsanna Zsohar, and a bus-load of MPs and Senators arrived at the Liberal Party’s National Caucus summer retreat, in Baddeck, Cape Breton.
When Michael Ignatieff arrived, 350 people were waiting for him, in a packed hall on the shores of Bras d’Or, and spilling out into the street. In the crowd was a Cape Breton—and Canadian—legend: Allan J. MacEachen. Later on, in his speech, Michael Ignatieff singled him out for recognition, prompting what was probably the most heartfelt standing ovation I’ve seen all summer. But then, history and emotion are what you expect when you come to this province.
Liberal MPs Anthony Rota and Mark Eyking got the crowd fired up. Then the lights dimmed for an adrenaline-pumping slideshow—with music by Cape Bretoner Ashley MacIsaac—recapping what Liberals did on our summer holidays.
Oh, look! Here it is!
- Ignatieff: summer tour ‘changed me’
- In Nova Scotia, on board the Liberal Express with Michael Ignatieff
- Ignatieff’s summer tour unified Liberals, say Grit MPs
- Prêts à l’action
- Michael Ignatieff galvanise ses troupes
- Baddeck retreat: Grits regroup
- Summer of growth for Liberal party: MPs
- La tournée estivale d’Ignatieff a porté fruit, disent les libéraux
- Ignatieff’s old-fashioned bus tour to continue into fall
- Liberals in Cape Breton to work on policy
The Headlines
When Michael Ignatieff took the stage, his speech blew the doors off the place. Which was helpful, because we all went outside for hot dogs when he was finished.
You all know I’m biased, so I’ll leave the task of reviewing the speech to the pros. You might have seen some of these headlines (at right) in your local newspaper—or, if you’re me, in your Twitter inbox-thing.
Today, Tuesday, the Liberal caucus is meeting here in Baddeck. Then Michael Ignatieff heads back to Ottawa, irons a few shirts, and soon thereafter jets off to Yellowknife.
I, meanwhile, will be preparing mentally for a much-delayed reunion, between myself and the treadmill. The nightmares have started already.
- A.G.
Adam Goldenberg, Michael Ignatieff’s speechwriter, will be blogging from the Liberal Express (almost) all summer. For up-to-the-minute reports from the bus, follow him on Twitter. Email him at adam@email.liberal.ca.
