The race to find a new leader of the federal Liberal Party has been slowly simmering over the summer in anticipation of delegate selection at the end of this month.
But with such a large field of candidates and media coverage that has tended to focus on foreign policy and environment issues, it can be difficult to know where the candidates stand on social and queer issues.
Since gay marriage played a central part of Liberals’ failed election strategy earlier this year, whoever is elected as the new Liberal leader in December will have to walk a delicate balance of progressive social policy without playing into the Conservatives’ divisive electoral strategy.
“A lot will depend what happens in the House of Commons this fall, and whether or not the government decides to back the issue of same-sex marriage,” interim leader Bill Graham told Xtra West at the Liberal National Caucus last month. The way the Liberal Party would address queer issues in an election “would depend obviously on who our new leader is.”
Xtra West asked each of the Liberal leadership candidates about issues of importance to the queer community.
Michael Ignatieff
MP Etobicoke-Lakeshore (Toronto), 2006-present
Academic, Author, TV Host
Our conversation with Ignatieff was cut short and despite repeated attempts, he did not return our calls or e-mails before press time.
Xtra West: How would the Liberals under your leadership respond to an attempt by the Conservative government to reopen the issue of gay marriage?
Michael Ignatieff: I think reopening gay marriage is a serious mistake. I think the issue is settled. I’m confident my party will vote to maintain human rights regardless of sexual orientation including the right to civil marriage.
Why you can trust Xtra
