Millions of Canadians were not born in this country and hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) have likely cast a ballot in an election in another country. Nothing wrong with that. But the Ignatieff campaign had two different answers when asked if the Liberal leader — a born-in-Canada Canadian citizen — had voted in another country.
On Sunday, my colleague Brian Lilley asked the Ignatieff campaign if he had voted in an election in another country.
Ignatieff spokesman Michel Liboiron replied: “Mr. Ignatieff is and always has been a Canadian citizen, period. He has never held any other citizenship and as such, has never voted in a foreign election.”
Lilly asked because:
- In a 1998 book, Ignatieff says he voted Labour in 1997 to oust the ruling Conservatives. “Why did I vote Labour? I wanted the rascals out,” Ignatieff said in Identity and Politics: A Discussion with Michael Ignatieff and Sean Neeson.
- Lilley reported that, according to online records, Ignatieff was registered to vote in Britain as recently as 2002.
- In 2004, Ignatieff told the Glasgow Herald: “I am an American Democrat. I will vote for Kerry in November.”
Apparently Liboiron misspoke because on Monday, Ignatieff himself said:
Q: You say you’ve never voted in a foreign election. But you said something different in 1998 and 2004. So which one is true?
Ignatieff: I’m a Canadian citizen. I’ve never been the citizen of another country. I’ve never voted – can’t vote in the United States. But I’m a Commonwealth citizen, so I have voted in a British election. But you know, I’m also someone who didn’t go to a foreign audience and call this country a second call failed socialist state in front of a Republican audience. You know, I’m a proud Canadian. I’m a proud Canadian. And I’ve lived overseas – ya. And wherever I’ve been, I’ve always supported progressive policies. So, you know, in 2004, I thought that John Kerry was a better idea than George W. Bush. And only a Conservative would think that George W. Bush was a better choice for the United States. But I can’t vote in the United States. Never did.
Q: How many Canadian elections did you vote in when you were living overseas.
Ignatieff: I voted in a couple. Can’t remember, happy to tell you. But I voted in Canadian elections since I was able to vote.
It actually makes me feel disgusted ” I voted in a couple”. I also wonder how many times while he was living so close by, in the States for all those years that he even set foot on our soil, and why did he never once bring his wife to Canada until he came back to be crowned our leader. And just where is his family? The media is handling him with kid gloves, if PM Harper had this kind of baggage the media would have a field day. I want my leader to really love Canada, and for his family to be Canadian.
Its Ok to be abroad and even vote in Britain, but its NOT OK to not vote in Canadiasn elections and then to come back after 30 years having voted for a couple of Canadian elections(were they before he left Canada), and ask to become The Canadian PRime Minister.
“Ignatieff: I voted in a couple. Can’t remember, happy to tell you. But I voted in Canadian elections since I was able to vote.”
I don't know, that sounds kind of dodgy to me. He says he voted in a couple (two/three?) but he voted in Canadian elections ever since he's been eligible to vote (18)? So which is it?
Doesn't he believe that voting is one of the most important responsibilities of citizens? Wouldn't one remember which elections one voted or did not vote in? And “he's happy to tell you” he doesn't remember?
And why did he say “I will vote for Kerry in November”? He didn't say “I would vote for Kerry if I could” he used “will” which denotes willingness or intention, not conditionality.
Ignatieff did not answer the question fully. There are still some doubts.
It's perfectly okay to do that. He is a Canadian Citizen who worked abroad and returned home to enter politics. It's oaky for an electorate to decide yeay or nay as well.
So if I, an immigrant who recently chose to become a Canadian citizen and was accepted, wanted to run for office and was successful would that be unacceptable in your eyes. After all I was outside the country for 35 years. And would it be totally unacceptable for me to lead any party I was a member of?
Talk about making stuff up as you go along. It's time the right wing learned about the system of governance here. Us immigrants had to pass an exam on it, maybe the home grown citizens should do likewise.
Here's the Glasgow Herald piece, near as I can tell. It's a review of one his books.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/tough-choices-in-war-on-terror-1.77587
I've contacted the Herald to see if I can get an email address and name for the author of the piece.
He lived mainly in Britain from 1978 to 2000 when he went to Harvard (the detailed facts are in this puff piece). The idea that he spent most of his adult life in the US is just plain wrong.
Mark
Ottawa
According to Elections Canada
http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=vot&dir=faq&document=faqreg&lang=e#a6
3. Canadian citizens temporarily residing outside Canada
Canadians who will be 18 years of age or older on polling day and are temporarily residing outside Canada may vote by special ballot in an election or referendum. They must have resided in Canada at any time before applying for registration, have been residing outside Canada for less than five consecutive years immediately before making the application and intend to resume residence in Canada.
The five-year limit does not apply to:
•electors who are employed outside Canada in federal or provincial public administration or people living with them
•electors who are employed outside Canada by an international organization of which Canada is a member and to which Canada contributes, or people living with them
•electors living with members of the Canadian Forces outside Canada or with civilians who are teachers or members of the administrative support staff for a Canadian Forces school
So not quite sure how Ignatieff has been able to vote in even “a couple” of elections.
I'm ok with that. Its a lot better than being a lying sleazebag.
Why on earth should it matter if Ignatieff has voted in some English elections, which he would be permitted to do under English law? Or even if he had voted in the U.S., which he couldn't do under U.S. law?
The only issue should be whether he sufficiently understands the issues confronting Canada, and that Canada has his full alleigence. Voting in another country, which is simply exercising a democratic right to have some say in who makes policy in the place you are living, in no way throws into question his alleigence or loyalty to Canada. C'mon people, think it through.
You want someone like IGNATIEFF who is asking for another election spending money we don't have on campainging on a stupid election ? He spent most of his life in the states ,whats he know about us? I suggest to all voting Canadians ,lets end these forever elections and give HARPER A MAJORITY gouv.