Former Harvard academic takes over reins of Canada's opposition

Dec 11, 2008, 0:29 GMT

Montreal - Former Harvard professor Michael Ignatieff took over the reins of Canada's opposition Wednesday with a stern warning for Prime Minister Stephen Harper - shape up or fail the grade.

Speaking in Ottawa after he was named interim leader of the Liberal Party, Ignatieff said he was ready to topple the minority Conservatives and enter into a governing coalition with the socialist New Democratic Party (NDP) if he didn't like Harper's budget, which is expected to be tabled when Parliament resumes on January 26.

'The prime minister must be in no doubt whatsoever and Canadians must be in doubt whatever that our party will vote a motion of non- confidence in this government if we do not get a budget that responds to the national interests of the country,' he said.

But Ignatieff, who has been cool to the idea of the coalition supported by the separatist Bloc Quebecois party, which seeks independence for Canada's French-speaking province of Quebec, has also left a tiny opening for Harper if the Conservatives agree to a compromise.

'The ball is in Mr Harper's court,' Ignatieff said.

Ignatieff, 61, received the unanimous support of the Liberal Party executive, members of parliament and senators, replacing Stephane Dion as the leader of the opposition.

Following the defeat in the October 14 parliamentary elections, Dion resigned effective May 2, remaining interim party leader to give the Liberals time to decide on a successor.

Next, a political crisis erupted after Harper miscalculated and tabled a provocative economic update that enraged and galvanized the opposition. Suddenly, Dion found himself as the compromise candidate to lead the centre-left coalition.

Facing a certain defeat in Parliament, Harper convinced Canada's head of state, Governor General Michaelle Jean, to suspend the House of Commons until January 26, 2009, and went on a no-holds-barred political offensive against the opposition.

Dion's bungled address to the nation - the tape of his speech was an hour late and the picture was out of focus - convinced the Liberals that they could not wait until May 2 to replace him.

Ignatieff, an accomplished author and journalist who has taught at Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard, emerged as the frontrunner. When his best friend and leadership rival, former Ontario premier Bob Rae, withdrew from the race Tuesday, the way was cleared for Ignatieff to be named interim leader of the Liberal Party.

Ignatieff is expected to be confirmed as permanent leader at the party's convention in Vancouver in early May.