Liberal Leader Ignatieff visiting Truro Thursday in support of Burrows

TRURO - Liberal candidate Jim Burrows' election bid is getting a show of support from the party's head honcho.
Leader Michael Ignatieff is coming to Colchester County to campaign with his party's candidate Thursday afternoon.
Burrows is one of five candidates running to fill the vacant Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley seat in the Nov. 9 byelection. Burrows was in a rural part of the riding yesterday and could not be reached for comment.
While a detailed schedule will not be released until today, officials confirmed yesterday there would be a meet and greet at the Truro fire hall from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Ignatieff was elected in 2006 as the MP for the Ontario riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. The former director at Harvard University became the party's leader in December 2008.
He is the fourth federal leader to campaign in this riding since the writ was dropped. NDP Jack Layton was in town last week campaigning with Mark Austin while Green Leader Elizabeth May has campaigned in Cumberland County with Jason Blanch. Christian Heritage Party candidate Jim Hnatiuk is his party's leader.
Many people are wondering if Prime Minister Stephen Harper may campaign with Conservative candidate Scott Armstrong.
"The prime minister doesn't attend any byelections. He's busy managing the economy," Armstrong said.
But the Conservatives have had Defence Minister Peter MacKay and West Nova MP Greg Kerr campaigning in the riding and Armstrong said more MPs would be accompanying him during the campaign.

jmalloy@trurodaily.com

Heck Ler: - January 18th, 2010 at 10:13:15

This may be the only time the local liberal candidate, even if elected. will ever hear or see his leader IGGY, Do you think he'll ever get a chance to talk to Harper?

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Jim: - January 18th, 2010 at 10:13:06

Notice the negative comments spread by the Conservatives who are embarassed that their leader will not visit this area.

Stephen Harper has called Atlantic Canada a culture of defeat and we need to show him that we are NOT. We are WORTH respecting and we are WORTH visiting. This is absolutely ridiculous.

It is about time that a leader visited this area. We are worth visiting and Mr. Ignatieff and the Liberal party know this.

Dale: - January 18th, 2010 at 10:12:52

A leader?????? NOT!!!!! Over rated for his position. Hopefull and desperate at most!! Stay out at Jim's farm and enjoy the view, chances are you'll never be back!

Sam: - January 18th, 2010 at 09:56:19

I can't see this as being a good thing. One thing I've had to do in the last few years is separate my opinions of the person leading all the parties from their policies. Many others I have spoken to have had to do the same.

Just because Mr. Ignatieff is taking the time to parachute into Truro [much as he parachuted into Canada in 2006 after a 30+ year absence] means nothing to me one way or another. All party leaders should support all their party's local candidates so this has no meaning.

I won't let this PR stunt or the lack of the Conservatives pulling such stunts sway my vote. I'll focus on the real issues and vote accordingly no matter who visits us before Nov 9.

Doug: - January 18th, 2010 at 09:53:14

The Prime Minister doesn't attend any byelections, he's busy managing the economy? Under the Liberals, we had massive amounts of debt reduction, under the Conservatives, we have had massive amounts added to our debt! It's time the PM stops working so hard before we are completely bankrupt!!!

Jim: - January 18th, 2010 at 09:50:41

That is just a bunch of Conservatives voting haha. We all know that. Jim Burrows is NOT Mr. Ignatieff. And many people want Burrows.

Moriarty: - January 18th, 2010 at 09:47:33

....The big story in this, and the other 3 byelections going on right now, is that the Liberal Party is going to finish 3rd or worse in all 4 of them.

The TDN should consider asking Iggy about that.

Alex: - January 18th, 2010 at 09:42:05

What a crock.... Mr. Harper doesn't do byelections ...

That's the lamest excuse out there.

I'm sure the Conservative are crossing their fingers that Harper doesn't show up here, because he'd kill their campaign stone dead.

Good for Mr. Ignatieff for showing he cares about his candidates and Canadians and that he isn't afraid to visit any part of this country!

Party leaders visiting ridings during any election is what their suppose to do and be proud to do it!

Chris: - January 18th, 2010 at 09:37:38

Jim Burrows wants to be elected so he can go to Ottawa to vote with Ignatieff and Bob Rae for a $300 Million Election that no one wants. I think the people's view of this is well expressed in the results of todays Readers Poll which says that 85% of our residents think he is doing a Poor job. That says it all.