LeBlanc bows out of Liberal leadership race

Local MP Dominic LeBlanc withdrew from the federal Liberal leadership contest earlier this week and tossed his support to lead contender Michael Ignatieff as the party scrambles to put a new leader in place before the House of Commons resumes late next month.
LeBlanc said his decision was one he felt was necessary if the Liberals are to present a credible choice to Canadians in this period of economic crisis and political uncertainty.
LeBlanc's announcement comes on the heels of a decision by Stephane Dion to step down as Liberal leader as soon as a replacement is chosen.
"I have reflected on this course of events and considered carefully the best way forward," he stated during a news conference in Ottawa on Monday. "I have thought hard about how to best serve the party and the public interest."
LeBlanc, in his prepared statement, said he believes the Liberal party owes itself and Canadians a new leader - a permanent leader who is able to make the necessary decisions and needed judgments leading to the budget vote and beyond.
"And because I believe the party must move urgently, I find myself unprepared to stand as an obstacle to achieving that consensus," he said.
Although LeBlanc had announced last month his intention to seek the party's top spot and his campaign had attracted the support of many, he said he would be less than honest if he was to say he was currently the "consensus choice" of the Liberals to lead the party.
The Beausejour MP, son of former Governor General Romeo LeBlanc, said he believes Ignatieff is the right man for the job at the moment.
"At this testing time, when a leader is needed now, not later, when the Liberal Party must agree on a new direction, when the country requires a principled and publicly interested alternative to Stephen Harper, I believe Michael Ignatieff is the best person possible to lead our party and our country forward."
LeBlanc called for the party to speed up the leadership selection process, so as to put a new leader in place swiftly.
"Canada is faced with an uncommon economic crisis," he said. "The public have found Stephen Harper wanting. They are looking for an alternative. The Liberal Party must stand tall against that measure. We must provide new leadership; with a new energy, and a new sense of purpose."
LeBlanc also said he recognizes that Canadians have yet to be persuaded that a Liberal-NDP coalition represents a superior option to Harper's response to an economic stimulation plan, but believes they remain open to the alternative.
"The message I have heard from people in my riding and ridings across the country is loud and clear. They want us to put their jobs first. They want us to focus on steering the country through the economic storm that confronts us all. They want something better," he said.
During the month of January, he said, difficult judgments will confront all the MPs and difficult choices will need to be made, concluding with a confidence vote on the critical budget Jan. 26, "a vote that could see one government defeated and another government formed."
Local MLA Mike Olscamp also weighed in on the going-ons in Ottawa, saying he believes that all the leaders have shown disrespect towards their electorate.
"They've forgotten who's sent them there," said Olscamp.
The Tantramar Tory MLA said Stephen Harper has to realize he is leading with a minority, not a majority government, and needs to come to a compromise with the other parties.
"Harper has to change his ways; he needs to be more sensitive."
He also pointed out, however, that the opposition's proposed coalition, which he terms as a "strange marriage," is being perceived as a power grab by the Liberals and NDP, and even the Bloc, who seemed to all be waiting for the first opportunity to remove Harper from power.
"They need to all work through this together," said Olscamp. "In times of difficulties, you need to compromise and lead by example."