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Michael Grant Ignatieff ( ; born May 12, 1947) is a former Canadian politician who was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Leader of the Official Opposition from 2008 until 2011. Known for his work as a historian, author, university professor and diplomat, Ignatieff held senior academic posts at the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Harvard University and the University of Toronto before entering politics in 2006. In the 2006 federal election, Ignatieff was elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. That same year, he ran for the leadership of the Liberal Party, ultimately losing to Stéphane Dion on the fourth and final ballot. He served as the party's deputy leader under Dion, and held his seat in the 2008 federal election. On November 14, 2008, Ignatieff announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Liberal Party to succeed Dion. On December 10, he was formally declared the interim leader in a caucus meeting; his succession as leader was ratified at the party's May 2009 convention. In the 2011 federal election, Ignatieff lost his own seat and led the Liberal Party to the worst showing in its history, reducing the party to 34 seats while placing a distant third behind the Conservatives and NDP, and thus losing its position as the Official Opposition. On May 3, 2011, Ignatieff announced in a press conference that he would resign as leader of the Liberal Party, pending the selection of an interim leader, which became effective May 25, 2011. Following his electoral defeat, Ignatieff accepted a position as senior resident with the University of Toronto's Massey College, where he will teach courses in law and political science for the Munk School of Global Affairs and the School of Public Policy and Governance. The one year posting commences July 1, 2011. |
