Tis the season of open(ness) house.

This past week has been a "feel good about your (liberal)self" week . I only say that as a follow up to my last post from a couple of weeks ago. Our newly elected Mayor wants to be a delegate at the Vancouver Conference at the end of April. How does he do that? It's as easy as going online; renewing his membership; and BTW start a monthly donation to the Victory fund. Get the parents & kids involved as well.

These encounters at the heavily laden tables with rich tasting morsels at every Seasonal Open House has been rich in political discussions with conversations ranging all over the radar screen about Leaders. From a once staunch Progressive Conservative telling me that he was never a reformer always a conservative, stated simply "Stephen Harpers Canada is not MY Canada". This begs the question I never asked... so when are you going to be rid of Harper and bring in a Leader who shares your vision of Canada?

All this positive feed back now that Michael Ignatieff is my leader. Yes, it does feel good, very good indeed.

This riding association is in the process of taking on life that has been missing for close to 4 years. A very welcome turn of events.There is an AGM coming up in mid January where I expect an organization to rise up.

Confidence.

In just hours after Michael Ignatieff was made Interim Leader for the Liberal Party of Canada I've been approached by locals with their congratulatory comments.A City Councilor was so pleased he stopped me in the Lobby of the Community Theater to let me know, his words can be summed up 'At last the Liberals have a leader who can take on that bully of a Prime Minister'.

The following morning we are out shopping and just milling around looking at stuff when a voice calls out to me, 'hey Dove' ! when are we having a party to celebrate our new leader? what can I say. Everyone has been avoiding political discussions with me for so long this turn of events really has me baffled.

There really is an excitement that has not been around for several years. In fact both of the people had been members in 2004 like so many others they let their membership slip away, the past week of events has awoken the importance of Canada's parliamentary system which in turn has enlightened people to the reality of a minority government.

There is a confidence in the Liberal Party that bodes well for our new Leader, a confidence because Michael Ignatieff is that Leader.

Harper's Hatred is his weakness.

On October 14 the Canadian voters did not give this man the mandate of a majority government which he disparately wanted. In spite of all the barrage of fear mongering we received in our mail boxes during the 6 months preceding and throughout the writ period, he fell short in the eyes of the voters. Canada would not be in this grave situation today if Harper had extended his hand instead of taking a stick and poking, to provocation the Opposition who coalesced because of a real lack of leadership and statesmanship from the Prime Minister. Canadians elected another minority government with the hopes of that government really working for the greater good of all. Sadly that will never happen. The opposition understands that and they have (within our parliamentary democracy) agreed in a very focused and public way to work for Canada. Whether; or not this proposition is found acceptable by our Governor General, only time will tell.