Updated: 05/09/11
About Michael Ignatieff:
Michael Ignatieff first became a member of parliament in the 2006 federal election. An intellectual and academic, he had spent much of his adult life outside Canada before returning in 2005. Although Michael Ignatieff had studied, written and taught about human rights, democracy, security and international affairs, his political views often seemed theoretical.
Michael Ignatieff took his first run at the Liberal Party leadership in 2006, but was defeated by Stéphane Dion. Two years later, he replaced Dion as Liberal Party leader.
The 2011 federal election was Michael Ignatieff's first national campaign as a party leader. He spent the summer of 2010 on the Liberal Express Tour, going across the country by bus, talking and listening to Canadians. It gave him the experience to be relaxed, engaging and positive in the 2011 campaign, but it wasn't enough. The Liberal party was reduced to third place in the House of Commons. A long run of Conservative attack ads and an NDP surge contributed heavily to the Liberal losses, but Michael Ignatieff just didn't connect with voting Canadians. He resigned as Liberal Party leader the day after the election.
Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada:
2009 to 2011
Birth:
May 12, 1947 in Toronto, Ontario. From the age of six weeks, his family moved following his father's diplomatic career. At the age of 11, Michael Ignatieff returned to Toronto as a boarder at Upper Canada College.
Education:
- BA in history - University of Toronto
- Oxford University
- PhD in history - Harvard University
Professional Career of Michael Ignatieff:
- Michael Ignatieff has taught at Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, the University of California, the University of London and the London School of Economics.
- Over his career, Michael Ignatieff has been a commentator, critic and broadcaster for TVO, the CBC and the BBC.
- Michael Ignatieff is the author of 17 non-fiction and fiction books.
Political Party:
Riding (Electoral District):
Etobicoke-Lakeshore
Political Career of Michael Ignatieff:
- Michael Ignatieff was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2006 federal election.
- He ran in the Liberal leadership race to replace Paul Martin in late 2006, but came in second to Stéphane Dion.
- He was appointed Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party by Stéphane Dion.
- Michael Ignatieff was re-elected in Etobicoke Lakeshore in the 2008 federal election.
- In November 2008, Michael Ignatieff announced he would be a candidate for the Liberal leadership race to replace Stéphane Dion.
- In December 2008, with the possibility of another federal election arising suddenly, the two other leadership canadidates, Bob Rae and Dominic LeBlanc, withdrew from the leadership race. Michael Ignatieff was named interim leader of the Liberal Party.
- Michael Ignatieff's position as leader of the Liberal Party was ratified at the Liberal convention held in May 2009.
- In the 2011 federal election, the Liberals were reduced to third place in the House of Commons, winning just 34 seats, down from 77. Michael Ignatieff lost his own seat, and he resigned as Liberal leader the next day.
- Shortly after the election, Michael Ignatieff accepted a position at Massey College, an interdisciplinary graduate college affiliated with the University of Toronto.
