UCCLA, Media Release (27 November 2005) - Toronto
After prolonged speculation about whether and where he would run, Michael Ignatieff appears to have found himself a safe haven in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. The Executive of the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Federal Liberal Riding Association learned late on Friday, November 25, 2006 that their Member of Parliament, Jean Augustine, has resigned her seat and that Ignatieff is to be parachuted in as the sole, uncontested candidate in a surprise nomination meeting scheduled for 30 November 2005 The speed with which the nomination meeting was called and the abridgement of all timelines suggests that the Liberal Party is discouraging all other contenders. Despite the abridgement of time, and the difficult nomination filing requirements, two candidates were in fact able to prepare and submit the required forms, including police and credit checks, as well as the required 30 signatures in support of their nominations. The two candidates delivered their nomination documents to Liberal Party headquarters in Toronto, only to find that the office was locked before the 5:00 p.m. filing deadline. Liberal party staffers could be seen through the second storey windows but they refused to answer repeated knocking on the doors and phone calls to the office. The two potential candidates are more than qualified to seek the nomination. Marc Shwec, a bilingual (English/French) engineer and MBA, has been active in community and volunteer work. Ron Chyczij, also an MBA, is the president of the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Riding Association and is active in many community and volunteer projects. Mr. Ignatieff, who had ample notice of Ms. Augustine’s resignation likely faced no obstacles in filing his nomination papers. The intended coronation of Mr. Ignatieff, a virulent Ukrainophobe, is offensive to the numerous Ukrainian Canadian residents of the riding, many of whom have been members of the riding association for many years and form more than one half of the membership of the riding association. To Mr. Ignatieff, Ukrainians conjour up images of “embroidered peasant shirts, the nasal whine of ethnic instruments, phoney Cossacks in cloaks and boots.” These views are unacceptable to all right-minded Canadians. A protest by members of the Etobicoke Lakeshore Riding Association along with other Ukrainian Canadian community members will be held in front of the Liberal Party headquarters at 4 St. Mary’s Street tomorrow – SUNDAY Nov. 27, 2005 from 2-3 pm. (2 blocks south of Bloor, at the corner of Yonge St.) For further information contact: Myroslava Oleksiuk, Membership Secretary Etobicoke Lakeshore Federal Liberal Riding Association (416) 259-3202
Comments