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 Liberal Leader Micheal Ignatieff speaks during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ont., on Tuesday November 17, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick |
WINNIPEG - Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says he takes responsibility for the party being "knocked around" in recent weeks.
But he promised that better times are around the corner. "It's been a tough couple of months and we got knocked around pretty good," Ignatieff told some 300 party members Wednesday night.
"I take responsibility for what we're going through, and I think you know that I have made substantial changes so that we move forward rapidly."
"But have no doubt about my fighting spirit. I have no doubt of yours."
The Liberals have sagged in opinion polls since early September, when Ignatieff threatened to defeat the minority Conservative government. Last week, the party suffered a big blow in four byelections, finishing a distant third in each contest.
Ignatieff has tried to turn the tide by making sweeping changes to his inner circle. He brought in Peter Donolo, a former communications director for Jean Chretien, as his new chief of staff. He has also replaced his communications director, chief operating officer and others.
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Ignatieff also hopes to reverse his sliding fortunes by travelling the country. He visited New Brunswick last week, and plans to visit northern Manitoba and Whistler, British Columbia in the coming days.
Still, he cautioned, taking on the Conservatives is not easy.
"But let's also be realistic here. We always knew this was going to be a tough go. We're up against the most determined and ruthless ... political machine we've seen in Canada for a long time."
Ignatieff also accused the Conservatives of launching an endless series of attack ads - the latest being taxpayer-funded pamphlets that accuse the Liberals of waffling on support for Israel.
"They are sending this into riding with Jewish communities ... and they are making outrageous allegations about the party," Ignatieff told reporters. "There has been a consensus since 1948 across party lines to support the state of Israel."
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said the pamphlets simply present a factual account of the Liberal record on issues of interest to Canada's Jewish community.
In 2006, Ignatieff accused Israel of committing a war crime by bombing an area of Lebanon.