Dion's leadership would be beefed up by byelection wins: Prof. Docherty

THE HILL TIMES - Monday, Jan. 14, 2008
Politics, pg. 15
By Meghan Moloney

Stephane Dion’s position as leader of the Liberal Party could be reinforced if his party regains all four vacant seats in the byelections scheduled for March, but he would need to clearly redefine his party’s mandate to win back public support, says David Docherty, associate professor of political science at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Prof. Docherty said in an interview that four byelection wins would probably not be a vindication of Mr. Dion’s leadership, but it would reduce the criticism being leveled against him.

“It certainly stops some of the critics in their tracks, in the sense that, if he were to lose two of [the seats], it would give his critics in the party all the ammunition they need to say, Hold on a second,” Mr. Docherty said. “If he wins all four, it’ll keep them quiet, I would think, until the next election.”

Prof. Docherty added that a win of four seats with candidates such as former leadership candidates Bob Rae and Martha Hall Findlay would also send party workers into the next election on a high note, which he says is important. “That helps solidify leader support as much as anything, whether it’s the leader that carries them to victory or not.”

But a strong showing in the byelections would not fix all of Mr. Dion’s problems. He would still face a lack of unity within his own party.

Ned Franks, professor emeritus of political science at Queen’s University, told The Hill Times last week that Dion’s leadership would only be solidified if it was also qualified by a clear assertion of what the party stands for—-a definition the Liberals are currently lacking. Prof. Docherty agreed with Prof. Franks, adding that Mr. Dion needs to give Canadians a clear alternative to the Conservatives’ policies.

“Part of the problem is when [the Liberals] continually abstain and punt on government motions, no one knows what they stand for,” Prof. Docherty said. “[Mr. Dion] has to be able to give Canadians a different vision than what Harper is showing right now, on a whole host of fronts, whether it’s Afghanistan, whether it’s the environment, whether it’s how to deal with cities, whether it’s the nuclear reactor issue, all those kinds of things."