Another Liberal Blunder, 3 Days to Elections

His candidacy has deeply divided the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore and the anger over Michael Ignatieff has resulted in yet another blow for the Liberals with just four days to go until election day. The president of the riding's Federal Liberal Association, Ron Chyczij, says he can "no longer in good conscience" support the Harvard professor and handed in his resignation on Friday. He also endorsed the two rival candidates - Liam McHugh-Russell of the NDP and John Capobianco of the Conservatives."They both have a clearer vision of what is important to the residents of this riding," he said in a written statement."I urge voters to cast their ballot strategically in this election to ensure that Michael Ignatieff, the touted heir apparent to Paul Martin, gets a time out to reconsider his future political ambitions in this country."Many claim the Liberals parachuted Ignatieff into the riding to replace MP Jean Augustine, pushing aside two local Liberals who were hoping to represent the riding in the House of Commons and he didn't receive a warm welcome by local residents who shouted jeers at his nomination meeting on Nov. 30. Chyczij said he decided to make the bold move after an all-candidates meeting where Ignatieff denied claims that he supports the use of torture, which is an allegation that's followed him throughout the campaign. In December, NDP member Marilyn Churley charged that Ignatieff condones the use of torture and pointed out an article he penned entitled "Lesser Evils" that ran in the New York Times in 2004. In the piece, he wrote about certain torture methods that could be condoned for getting information from terrorists, including sleep deprivation, but later noted that other methods such as starvation or the involuntary use of drugs or serums, cross the line.