Is Stephane Dion A Lame Duck Leader?

Posted October 15, 2008 12:00 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

Despite his protestations to the contrary, Stephane Dion is a man running out of time. His Liberals lost significant ground in Tuesday’s election and suffered the worst defeat in their storied history – one that traces all the way back to the country’s founding in 1867.

Voters clearly rejected his Green Shift plan, his lack of facility with English and his inability to communicate his ideas.

“He focused too much on the environmental issue at exactly the wrong time,” said Harold Chorney , a professor of political science at Concordia University.

“It’s a big issue, it’s a very important issue but we also have a very critical problem with the economy.”

Dion has been in charge of the party since pulling off a surprise win in the leadership race in December 2006. As he closes in on the two-year-mark at the helm, the party is preparing to take a closer look at the choice they made at their convention that fateful weekend.

A review is scheduled for May in Vancouver, although some extremely disgruntled party members are already muttering they’re not willing to wait that long. If Dion survives until the spring, he will have been the Grit boss for 2 years and 5 months.

That would be the second shortest tenure in history for a non-interim leader – Paul Martin only stayed for 2 years and 3 months – and a sign of how quickly the party’s fortunes have changed.

The longest serving Liberal was Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who helmed the party’s fortunes for an incredible 31 year, 8 month reign – and only left because he died.

William Lyon MacKenzie King occupied the post for 29 straight years.

How history will judge Stephane Dion is for the future. How his party does the same thing is just around the corner.

We now know how the majority of voters felt about his performance during the election campaign, but when asked whether he would step down following a loss during the days leading up to the vote, he would only say he is no quitter.

Similarly, his concession speech in Montreal Tuesday night came with no hint of resignation. Ultimately, however, it may not be up to him.

Here’s a look at who else has headed the party and how long they made it before being kicked out, quitting or fading into retirement.

Liberal Leaders Since 1867

Date: July 1, 1867
Leader: George Brown
Served: 2 months, 19 days (interim)

Date: September 1867
Leader: Vacant
Served: 2 years

Date: 1869
Leader: Edward Blake
Served: 2 years (interim)

Date: 1871
Leader: Vacant
Served: 2 years

Date: March 1873
Leader: Alexander Mackenzie
Served: 7 years, 1 day

Date: April 1880
Leader: Edward Blake
Served: 7 years, 1 day

Date: June 1887
Leader: Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Served: 31 years, 8 months

Date: Feb. 17, 1919
Leader: Daniel George Brown
Served: 2 months, 19 days (interim)

Date: Aug. 1919
Leader: William Lyon Mackenzie King
Served: 29 years