GuillaumeDecember 07, 2009 16:48 EST

Great article, Graham decidedly takes sides in the Liberal tribal wars but nevertheless gets the narrative right. But what's with the weird part about Québécois girls and loup-garous? Maybe it's meant to be a Freudian window on English Canada's psyche? It is incredibly disturbing and not based on actual facts.

JJDecember 07, 2009 20:05 EST

Fantastic assessment. Especially the deconstructionist part. Spot-on.

1mouseDecember 07, 2009 21:39 EST

Hee-hee, this article should have been written long ago, at the time when Canadians all across the land watched, listened, watched, listened, became utterly confused and then en masse said to selves - This guy is not a politician, nice enough guy and all, but no way is he a politician.

TommDecember 08, 2009 21:22 EST

Great and inciteful piece.

First thing I've read that puts a package together on why, when, and how with respect to Michael Ignatieff.

A couple small complaints, if I may. The first is the obvious fawning nature of the piece. The borne and bred Liberal point of view that cloys like too much after shave "...a low bar indeed...".

The second is the well described piece about Liberal history and how it conforms to the national balance between Quebec and Ontario. The build up clearly implies a "bigger" Canada is about to be described, but the entire piece never returns to this, instead appearing to accept and acknowledge that the Canadian hinterlands are still beyond Liberal understanding.

If the Liberal Party of Canada is to emerge from its funk, it somehow must find the rest of the nation. This just isn't possible when party insiders woo blue blood academics from Harvard to lead us.

CanuckDecember 10, 2009 14:27 EST

Insightful article. For a man that's an intellectual, Ignatieff has done nothing except make one error after another. His personality lacks depth—he moves from one cause to another without a Canadian well to draw from. Unfortunately, he'll not make a good Prime Minister should the electorate get so fed up with Harper that they decide to try him out. My prediction, he'll never be up to the job because his why's change.

canuckDecember 10, 2009 14:37 EST

My opinion is that Michael Ignatieff lacks a deep taproot.

r4 dsDecember 10, 2009 15:41 EST

"Unfortunately, he'll not make a good Prime Minister"

I think he will be, according to this information.

AnonymousDecember 10, 2009 23:17 EST

My God, I had no idea that Montreal native Ron Graham hated Toronto so much.

Mr. Graham's sputtering resentment of those evil Torontonians trying to get their hands on the country would make more sense if Montrealers (and one Shawiniganite) hadn't occupied 24 Sussex so much since 1968.

RJADecember 13, 2009 16:29 EST

Frankly I don't believe Micheal Ignatieff actually is Canadian - why would anyone who was spend so much time and effort trying to convince everyone that they are? Apart from that he gets my vote.

RLucasDecember 24, 2009 18:46 EST

Voilà un article fascinant, beau travail. Si Ignatieff n'est pas le premier ministre que souhaitent les Canadiens, la question est, est-ce qu'il devrait l'être? Son expérience personnelle, nous la rêvons tous un peu, alors serions-nous les hypocrites? Peut-être nous reviendra-t-il de vacances avec une « vision » cette fois, histoire que nous ayons plus de matière à juger; nouvelle équipe, même leader, voilà une expérience qui devrait mener à des conclusions signifiantes.

L. RhéaumeDecember 25, 2009 12:46 EST

You may be a great shipbuilder but if you want to see your ship survive in the stormy seas, you must master the simple art of shiphandling and navigation!

amiracleJanuary 03, 2010 01:39 EST

the so-called "urban legend" is attributed to Margaret Laurence, not Atwood.

E. HouleJanuary 16, 2010 18:15 EST

Informative article, but its tone is pretty cynical.

And enough with the Toronto-bashing, already! The Bay Street elite that some people evoke—-or exaggerate—-may attempt to impose their own interests on the country, but are they any more guilty than, say, Calgary oil execs, or more than one province's government for that matter? Or is it just easier for Canadians to whine about Torontonians' isolated self-love so they can ignore their own?

AnonymousJanuary 24, 2010 19:25 EST

great article

AnonymousJanuary 31, 2010 14:57 EST

fantastic article very good read thanks