I've been in contact with Ignatieff's campaign team in Alberta over the past few weeks.  There has been what is for me an uncomfortable attempt to change the Ignatieff leadership camapign team into a sort of a permanent election readiness team for the province.

It's official.As the National Executive notes, the convention will go on as planned.  We are just in the weird situation where due to forces outside of our control, the Liberal Party was called upon to unite around a leader faster than our leadership selection process would have allowed.  But because of Bob Rae and Dominic LeBlanc's selfless actions, the Liberal Party has been able to do that and respect the rules of its constitution at the same time.

At least one group seems to be talking about this whole mess in terms that are consistent with the constitution of the party.  The National Executive.  As required, they are going to consult with caucus (and as not required but a nice touch, virtually everyone else), and appoint an "interim" leader.  The existing leadership process will continue as per normal.

Michael Ignatieff has sent a letter out to supporters with the title "Winning Leadership the Right Way" saying, in part:

Honestly, don't these people know I have an exam tomorrow morning?OK, so the deal now (updated here)is that Rae and Iggy are both on board with a fast leadership process, and LeBlanc is going to drop out, and Dion is going to resign on Wednesday (again).

Remember how I was getting involved in a leadership race that would pick the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada?  Turns out, now this race could also pick the next Prime Minister.If you're suddenly, inexplicably more interested, here's the link. :)

OK, here's the updated situation.  Stephen Harper has backed off on eliminating the cash-per-vote political funding, but has proposed to de-index it (which means it wouldn't increase to keep up with inflation).  On the proposal to ban public sector strikes for a few years he has pulled back completely.  On the (lack of) fiscal stimulous, he has pushed the budget a few weeks early, and is hinting that there will be help for the auto industry.

So I got in touch with Ali Jonzon, who (if I remember correctly) was Michael's national youth campaign chair last leadership.  I first met Ali working on Paul Martin's leadership bid back in 2004.  She passed my name along to the person organizing Michael's Northern Alberta campaign.  So now, I'm running Michael's campaign in Edmonton-Sherwood Park.