Stéphane Dion
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{{Infobox Officeholder
| honorific-prefix = <small>[[The Honourable]] [[Doctor]]<br>
| name = Stéphane Maurice Dion<br>
| honorific-suffix = <small>[[Queen's Privy Council for Canada|PC]] [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] [[Master of Arts|MA]] [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]]
| image = Stephane dion rally head.jpg
| imagesize = 186px
| smallimage =
| caption = Dion at the [[Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention, 2006|2006 Liberal Party leadership convention]]
| order = [[Leader of the Opposition (Canada)|Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition]]
| term_start = [[December 6]], [[2006]]
| predecessor = [[Bill Graham]] (interim)
| order2 = 11th [[Liberal Party of Canada|Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada]]
| term_start2 = [[December 2]], [[2006]]
| predecessor2 = Bill Graham (interim)
| constituency_MP3 = [[Saint-Laurent–Cartierville|Saint-Laurent–Cartierville]]
| term_start3 = [[March 25]], [[1996]]
| predecessor3 = [[Shirley Maheu]]
| office4 = [[Minister of the Environment (Canada)|Minister of the Environment]]
| term_start4 = [[July 20]], [[2004]]
| term_end4 = [[February 6]], [[2006]]
| predecessor4 = [[David Anderson (Canadian politician)|David Anderson]]
| successor4 = [[Rona Ambrose]]
| office5 = [[President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada|President of the Canadian Privy Council]]
| term_start5 = [[March 25]], [[1996]]
| term_end5 = [[December 11]], [[2003]]
| predecessor5 = [[Marcel Massé]]
| successor5 = [[Denis Coderre]]
| office6 = [[Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]]
| term_start6 = [[March 25]], [[1996]]
| term_end6 = [[December 11]], [[2003]]
| predecessor6 = [[Marcel Massé]]
| successor6 = [[Pierre Pettigrew]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|9|28}}
| birth_place = [[Quebec City]], [[Quebec]], [[Canada]]
| party = [[Liberal Party of Canada]]
| spouse = Janine Krieber
| children = Jeanne
| residence =
| alma_mater = [[Université Laval]]
| occupation =
| profession = [[Author]]<br>[[professor]] of [[political science]]
| religion = [[Roman Catholic]] ([[Secular]])
| signature =
| website = [http://www.liberal.ca/ Liberal.ca]
| footnotes =
}}
'''Stéphane Maurice Dion''' <small>[[Queen's Privy Council for Canada|PC]]<!-- This means Privy Councillor, not Progressive Conservative; do ''not'' change it to "Liberal"! --> [[Member of Parliament|MP]]</small> (born [[September 28]], [[1955]], in [[Quebec City]], [[Quebec]]) is the leader of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]] and [[Leader of the Opposition (Canada)|Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition]] in the [[Canadian House of Commons]]. Since [[1996]], he has been the [[Member of Parliament]] for the riding of [[Saint-Laurent–Cartierville]] in [[Montreal]].
Dion is a former [[academia|academic]] who served as a [[Cabinet of Canada|cabinet minister]] under [[Jean Chrétien]] and [[Paul Martin]]. Like all former Cabinet ministers, he is a member of the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada]], and has the right to the style "[[The Honourable]]" and the postnominal "PC" for life.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical alphabetical list since 1867| work=Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada |publisher=Privy Council Office |author=Government of Canada |format=.htm |date=August 24, 2006 |accessdate=2006-12-04 |url=http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/default.asp?Language=E&Page=informationresources&Sub=PrivyCouncilMembers&doc=PCMembersHistList-A-E_e.htm}}</ref>
==Life before politics==
Stéphane Dion is the second of five children born to [[Quebec]] academic [[Léon Dion]], a noted [[Quebec federalist ideology|federalist]], and to Denyse Dion, a real-estate agent born in [[Paris]], [[France]]. Dion was raised in a modest home on Liegeois Boulevard in the [[Sainte-Foy—Sillery|Sillery]] district of [[Quebec City]]. While growing up, he remembers being taunted for his family's secularism in a society which was then predominantly Catholic.<ref name="straight">{{Cite news
| url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060901.wdion/BNStory/National/?pageRequested=all
| title=Straight shooter looks to lead
| author=Ha, Tu Thanh
| publisher=The Globe and Mail
| date=September 6, 2006
| accessdate=2006-12-03}}</ref>
He studied political science at [[Université Laval]] in the department co-founded by his father.<ref name="Dion contre Dion">{{cite news
| url = http://www.ledevoir.com/2006/12/09/124521.html
| first = Antoine
| last = Robitaille
| title = Dion contre Dion
| date = December 9, 2006
| accessdate=2006-12-16
| publisher = Le Devoir
}}</ref>, and this was also where he met his future wife, Janine Krieber, a fellow-student in the same program. He obtained [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] and [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|MA]] degrees in 1977 and 1979 respectively (his master's thesis presented an analysis of the evolution of [[Parti Québécois]] electoral strategies<ref name="DionThesis">{{cite book
| last=Dion
| first=Stéphane
| authorlink=Stéphane Dion
| title=La dimension temporelle de l'action partisane : l'étude d'un cas : le débat au sein du Parti Québécois sur les modalités d'accession à l'indépendance.
| origyear=1979
| origmonth=January
| url=http://botex.collectionscanada.ca/botexReader.php?key=1547873&view=1
| format=print only
| publisher=Université Laval (Thèse, M.A.)
| language=French
| pages=132
}}</ref>), after which he and Janine departed together for France.
Dion was involved with the [[Quebec sovereignty movement|sovereignty movement]], first as a teenager attending a Jesuit college in Quebec City,<ref name="prize">{{cite news
| url = http://vancouver.indymedia.org/?q=node/2064
| format=link not available
| first = Linda
| last = Diebel
| title = Can Stéphane Dion reel in the prize?
| date = August 13, 2006
| accessdate=2006-09-04
| publisher = The Toronto Star
}}</ref>, and later as a university student campaigning for [[Parti Québécois]] candidate [[Louise Beaudoin]] in the 1976 election.<ref name="powercouple">{{cite news
| url = http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/politics/article.jsp?content=20070122_139705_139705
| format=link not available
| first =Benoit
| last =Aubin
| title = Ottawa's new power couple
| date = January 22, 2007
| accessdate=2007-02-04
| publisher = Macleans
}}</ref> Mr. Dion described his experience as follows:
{{quote|Because the party was there... I wanted to challenge my dad... the way to become an adult sometimes is to say the contrary to your father. Each evening, I would try out a new argument I had heard on the separatist network and my father was demolishing it... My father very quietly and very respectfully was refuting me, without insulting me.<ref name="prize"/>}}
Dion has said that his involvement as "an activist for the separatist cause" ended during a five-hour, rum-and-Coke fuelled discussion with a federalist household while he was going door-to-door for the PQ, but he did not openly commit to federalism until much later. At the time of the [[1980 Quebec referendum|1980 referendum]], his sentiments were neutral. In his own words, the 'no' victory left him "neither moved nor outraged. To tell the truth, I sensed no particular feeling." (''Moi, je ne me sentais ni ému ni révolté. À vrai dire, je n'éprouvais aucun sentiment particulier.'')<ref name="Quixote">{{cite news
| url = http://www.lactualite.com/article.jsp?content=20061202_204502_5092
| first =Michel
| last =Vastel
| title = Dion Quichotte mission impossible
| date = April 15, 1997
| accessdate=2006-12-16
| publisher = L'actualité
}} (en français seulement)</ref>
Dion spent four years in [[Paris]], living with Janine in the [[Montmartre]] district and studying public administration under the tutelage of noted sociologist [[Michel Crozier]]. Professor Denis St. Martin, a former colleague at the [[Université de Montréal]], later remarked: "... his vision of Canada was very influenced by his views on the politics and society of France – very Cartesian, very much about clarity....".<ref name="DionUnmasked">{{cite news
| url = http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=05e7577b-b571-4b19-a2b9-4b416c54bdb0&p=1
| first =Jeff
| last =Heinrich
| title =Stéphane Dion, unmasked
| date = December 9, 2006
| accessdate=2006-12-18
| publisher =The Gazette
}}</ref> After receiving a doctorate (''[[doctorat|doctorat d'état]]'') in [[sociology]] from the ''[[Paris Institute of Political Studies|Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris]]'' (commonly known as ''Sciences Po''), Dr. Dion worked briefly as a teaching assistant at the [[Université de Moncton]] in 1984 before moving on to the Université de Montréal to assume an assistant professor position. Dion taught at the Université de Montréal from 1984 to January 1996, specializing in the study of public administration and organizational analysis and theory, and was a guest scholar at the [[Brookings Institution]] in Washington, D.C. during a 1990–91 sabbatical leave.<ref name="1996Ministry">{{cite news
| url = http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/default.asp?Language=E&Page=archivechretien&Sub=NewsReleases&Doc=news_re19960125220_e.htm
| author=Privy Council Office
| title = Prime Minister announces new Ministry
| date =January 25, 1996
| accessdate=2006-12-18
| publisher =Government of Canada}}</ref>
After the failure of the [[Meech Lake Accord]] in 1990, Dion directed his intellectual inquiry towards an analysis of Quebec nationalism. His decisive conversion to federalism, as he later recounted to journalist Michel Vastel, occurred as he was preparing for a presentation in Washington:
{{quote|I was seated before my computer at 11 o'clock, and, at noon, I had a text that was so interesting that the Americans wanted to publish it. It was that day that I realized I was truly a federalist. (''Je me suis assis devant mon ordinateur à 11 h et, à midi, j'avais un texte tellement intéressant que les Américains ont voulu le publier. C'est ce jour-là que je me suis rendu compte que j'étais vraiment fédéraliste.'')<ref name="Quixote"/>}}
In this period, the sovereignty movement had begun to promote the idea that federalism was inefficient for Quebec due to the duplication and overlap between the two levels of government. An expert in public administration, Dion emerged as a key figure in publicly criticizing this line of argument. His appearances on ''Le Point'', a [[Télévision de Radio-Canada]] current affairs program, brought him to the attention of [[Aline Chrétien]], who in the days following the close referendum defeat urged her husband, Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]], to recruit him.<ref name="prize"/>
Between 1987 and 1995, Dion published a number of books and articles on political science, public administration and management.<ref name="DionBibliography">{{cite web
| url = http://www.parl.gc.ca/INFORMATION/ABOUT/PEOPLE/KEY/BIBLIO.ASP?LANGUAGE=E&PARAM=182
| format=link not available |author=Library of Parliament
| title = Dion, Stéphane: Selected Publications
| date =2006
| accessdate=2006-12-18
| publisher =Government of Canada
}}</ref> A collection of Dion's speeches and writings on Canadian unity was published under the title ''Straight Talk'' (''Le pari de la franchise'') in 1999.<ref name="StraightTalk">{{cite book
| last=Dion
| first=Stéphane
| authorlink=Stéphane Dion
| title=Straight Talk
| origyear=1999
| origmonth=November
| url=http://mqup.mcgill.ca/book.php?bookid=1342
| format=print
| publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press
| language=English (translated)
| pages=256
}}</ref> Dion was also a guest scholar at the ''Laboratoire d'économie publique de Paris'' from 1994 to 1995, a co-editor of the [[Canadian Journal of Political Science]] from 1990 to 1993, and a research fellow at the Canadian Centre for Management Development (now part of the [[Canada School of Public Service]]) from 1990 to 1991.<ref name="1996Ministry"/>
In April 1986, Stéphane Dion married Janine Krieber, and later the same year, they adopted their only child, Jeanne.<ref name="DionUnmasked"/> Janine Krieber, an "expert in strategic studies and counterterrorism issues,"<ref name="straight"/> now teaches political science and sociology at [[Royal Military College of Canada|Royal Military College]]'s [[ASU Saint-Jean]] campus in [[Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec|Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu]].
==Early political life==
In anticipation of [[by-election]]s in early 1996, Jean Chrétien appointed two new "[[star candidate]]s" from Quebec – Stéphane Dion and [[Pierre Pettigrew]] – to Cabinet. On [[January 25]], [[1996]], Dion was named [[Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]], Pettigrew was named [[Minister for International Cooperation (Canada)|Minister for International Cooperation]], and both were sworn into the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada]].
Chrétien felt safe in appointing Dion to Cabinet because Dion was slated to run in [[Saint-Laurent–Cartierville]], the second-safest Liberal riding in Quebec. In the [[March 25]] by-election, he was easily elected. This was not without precedent; in 1941, [[Mackenzie King]] had appointed [[Louis St. Laurent]] to Cabinet after nominating him to run in a safe Quebec riding. Dion won a full term in the [[Canadian federal election, 1997|general election of 1997]], and was reelected again in the [[Canadian federal election, 2000|2000]], [[Canadian federal election, 2004|2004]], and [[Canadian federal election 2006|2006 elections]].
Dion continued to serve as [[Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]] until the end of [[Jean Chrétien]]'s [[Ministry (collective executive)|ministry]] on December 12, 2003.
==Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (January 1996 - December 2003)==
===Clarity of referendum question===
In his responsibilities as Intergovernmental Affairs minister in the [[Jean Chrétien]] government, Dion was tasked with challenging the arguments of the [[Quebec sovereignty movement]] much more vigorously than in the pre-referendum period. The people of Quebec voted against the sovereignty option by a razor-thin margin (50.58% to 49.42%). Many federalists in Ottawa were caught off-guard by the results and believed that the referendum results would have no legal standing under Canadian law. The strongest complaints were on the presumed ambiguity of the 1995 question and the fact that Quebec had passed a law reserving the right for the National Assembly to declare independence unilaterally if constitutional negotiations with the Government of Canada failed.
===Supreme Court reference re Secession of Quebec ===
On [[September 30]], [[1996]], Dion submitted three questions to the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] constituting the Supreme Court [[Reference re Secession of Quebec]]:
#Under the Constitution of Canada, can the [[National Assembly of Quebec|National Assembly]], legislature, or government of Quebec effect the secession of Quebec from Canada unilaterally?
#Does international law give the National Assembly, legislature, or government of Quebec the right to effect the secession of Quebec from Canada unilaterally? In this regard, is there a right to self-determination under international law that would give the National Assembly, legislature or government of Quebec the right to effect the secession of Quebec from Canada unilaterally?
#In the event of a conflict between domestic and international law on the right of the National Assembly, legislature, or government of Quebec to effect the secession of Quebec from Canada unilaterally, which would take precedence in Canada?
As soon as these questions were made public, both parties of the National Assembly, the [[Bloc Québécois]] and numerous federalists denounced Ottawa's gesture. An ''[[Act respecting the exercise of the fundamental rights and prerogatives of the Québec people and the Québec State]]'' was passed in the [[National Assembly of Quebec]] by the [[Parti Québécois]] government two days after the ''Clarity Act'' had been introduced in the Canadian House of Commons.
On [[August 20]], [[1998]], the Supreme Court answered, concluding that Quebec does not have the right to secede unilaterally under Canadian or international law. However, the federal government would have to enter into negotiations with the Quebec government if Quebeckers expressed a clear will to secede. It confirmed that the Canadian Parliament had the power to determine whether or not a referendum question was clear enough to trigger such negotiations. The Canadian constitution would remain in effect until terms of secession were agreed to by all parties involved, and these terms would have to respect principles of democracy, minority and individual rights as outlined in the [[Canadian constitution]].<ref>{{cite paper |author=Supreme Court of Canada |publisher=Supreme Court of Canada |date=August 20, 1998 |url= http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/1998/1998rcs2-217/1998rcs2-217.html|title=Reference re Secession of Quebec |accessdate=2006-12-21}}</ref>
Both the government of Quebec and the government of Canada publicly stated that they were very pleased with the opinion of the Supreme Court, which stated both that Quebec could not legally separate [[unilateral]]ly from Canada and that the [[Canadian Parliament]] would have a 'political obligation' to enter into separation negotiations with Quebec in the event that a clear majority of its populace were to vote in favor of independence.
===The three letters===
The Supreme Court reference launched a public debate between Dion and members of the Parti Québécois government in open letters published in the press.<ref name="PCO">{{cite paper |author=Dion, Stéphane |publisher=Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs Canada |date=August 11, 1997 |url=http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/aia/default.asp?Language=E&Page=pressroom&Sub=OpenLetters&Doc=19970811_e.htm |title=Letter to Premier Lucien Bouchard Concerning his Position on a Unilateral Declaration of Independence |accessdate=2006-12-04}}</ref>.<ref name="letter2">{{cite paper |author=Dion, Stéphane |publisher=Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs Canada |date=November 19, 1997 |url=http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/aia/default.asp?Language=E&Page=pressroom&Sub=OpenLetters&Doc=19971119_e.htm |title=Letter to Mr. Jacques Brassard in Response to his Ministerial Statement on the Territorial Integrity of Quebec |accessdate=2006-12-04}}</ref><ref name="letter3">{{cite paper |author=Dion, Stéphane |publisher=Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs Canada |date=August 25, 1998 |url=http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/aia/default.asp?Language=E&Page=pressroom&Sub=OpenLetters&Doc=19980825_e.htm |title=Letter to Premier Lucien Bouchard on the Need to Respect the Supreme Court's Decision in its Entirety |accessdate=2006-12-04}}</ref> Following [[Lucien Bouchard]]'s open letter to the Premier of New Brunswick, [[Frank McKenna]], in 1997 defending the legality of a unilateral secession, Dion wrote the first of three open letters to leaders in the sovereignty movement. Dion challenged three assertions that Bouchard had made: that a unilateral declaration of independence is supported by international law; that a majority of "50% plus one" was a sufficient threshold for secession; and that international law would protect the territorial integrity of Quebec following a secession. Against the first assertion, Dion argued that the vast majority of international law experts "believe that the right to declare secession unilaterally does not belong to constituent entities of a democratic country such as Canada."<ref name="PCO" /> In regard to the simple majority argument, Dion argued that due to the momentous changes to Quebecers' lives that would result from secession, a simple majority that could disappear in the face of difficulties would be insufficient to ensure the political legitimacy of the sovereignist project. In regard to the territorial integrity of Quebec, Dion retorts that "there is neither a paragraph nor a line in international law that protects Quebec's territory but not Canada's. International experience demonstrates that the borders of the entity seeking independence can be called into question, sometimes for reasons based on democracy."<ref name="PCO" />
Dion's second open letter, to Quebec's intergovernmental affairs minister [[Jacques Brassard]], came on November 19, 1997. Dion expanded upon his earlier arguments against the territorial integrity of Quebec following secession by highlighting the inconsistency in the argument that Canada is divisible but Quebec is not. Secondly, Dion underscored that without recognition by the [[Government of Canada]] and when opposed by a strong minority of citizens, a [[unilateral declaration of independence]] faces much difficulty in gaining international recognition.<ref name="letter2" />.
In Dion's third open letter to Premier Lucien Bouchard came on August 25, 1998, shortly after the [[Reference re Secession of Quebec|Supreme Court ruling on Secession]] had been handed down. He criticized the Quebec premier for accepting some aspects of the ruling (such as the political obligation for the Government of Canada to negotiate secession following a clear expression of will from the people of Quebec) and not other sections of the ruling (such as the need for a clear majority on a clear question and the unconstitutionality of a unilateral declaration of independence). In regard to the ruling, Dion makes three claims: that the federal government has a role in the selection of the question and the level of support required for it to pass, that secession can only be achieved through negotiation rather than a "unilateral declaration of independence", and that the terms of negotiation could not be decided solely by the Government of Quebec.<ref name="letter3" />
=== First International Conference on Federalism ===
Dion organized and hosted the First International Conference on Federalism in [[Mont Tremblant]] in October 1999 to foster international support for the cause of [[federalism]] in Canada. Quebec sovereignist leaders were granted a prominent role in the conference and used their floor time to denounce Canadian federalism to an international audience to the great annoyance of their federalist host. But Dion's views got a big boost during the closing speech by United States President [[Bill Clinton]]. Clinton appeared to echo the [[Reference re Secession of Quebec|Supreme Court Reference]], warning that "when a people thinks it should be independent in order to have a meaningful political existence, serious questions should be asked.... Are minority rights as well as majority rights respected? How are we going to co-operate with our neighbours?". Clinton argued that federalism allows peoples seeking recognition of their identity a way to do so without isolating themselves in a nation-state. The speech laid to rest any doubts about the U.S. position on the legality and desirability of unilateral secession in Quebec.<ref>{{cite paper |author=Bruce Wallace |publisher=Maclean's Magazine |date=October 18,1999 |url= http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012024|title= Clinton Defends Canadian Federalism|accessdate=2006-12-21}}</ref>
===Clarity Act===
The Supreme Court reference and three letters formed the basis for the ''Clarity Act'' (Bill C-20) presented by Dion to the House of Commons on [[December 13]], [[1999]].<ref>{{cite web |title = Clarity Act|publisher=Government of Canada Privy Council Office | url= http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/aia/index.asp?lang=eng&page=federal&doc=constitution/clarityact/ClarityAct_e.htm| |accessdate=2008-02-17}}</ref> The legislation established the conditions under which the Government of Canada would enter into negotiations that might lead to secession following a vote by one of the provinces. It stipulated that in order to lead to separation negotiations, a referendum on independence in a given province would have to have "clearly" (according to the judgment of the [[Canadian House of Commons]]) framed its question to voters in terms of independence, and that the result would have to be a "clear majority" in favour, rather than a "50% plus one" majority. It was passed by the House on March 15, 2000
=== Reactions to Clarity Act ===
[[Image:DION SC.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"No, Mr Dion, it's not paranoia, people really do hate you!" (cartoon by [[Serge Chapleau]], 1997)]]
The ''Clarity Act'' was supported by the Liberals and Reform Party in Parliament. Most in the NDP supported it too, but leader Jack Layton was opposed. [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]], led by [[Joe Clark]], also opposed the Act. The Act was more bitterly denounced by all provincial parties in the Quebec National Assembly, the Bloc Québécois, and many Quebec federalists. Following its adoption by Parliament, an open letter supporting Quebec's right to [[self-determination]] was published and signed by numerous intellectuals from Quebec and other parts of Canada. [[William Johnson]], leader of Quebec's largest anglophone rights group, [[Alliance Quebec]] said the Act would prevent misinformation by sovereignists on the topic of secession.<ref>{{cite web| title = PQ takes clarity bill complaints to Ottawa | publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2000/02/24/clarity000224.html | date = 2000-11-11 | accessdate = 2008-02-18}}</ref>
Dion's vigorous opposition to Quebec sovereignist claims appears to have had the desired effect: Support for Sovereignty-Association plummeted to 24% in October 1999 after the Supreme Court reference.<ref>{{cite web | title = Introducing the Clarity Bill| url = http://archives.cbc.ca/IDCC-1-73-1891-12488/politics_economy/1995_referendum/ | publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation| media = video | date = 1999-12-14 | access date = 2008-02-19}}</ref> Jean Chrétien cites the act as one of his greatest achievements as Prime Minister. Attacks on the Act also were aimed at Dion personally in French-speaking Quebec under the perception that he had undermined fundamental democratic rights to self-determination. [[Serge Chapleau]], the caricaturist for ''[[La Presse (Canada)|La Presse]]'', began portraying Dion as a rat, while [[Parti Québécois]] leader [[Bernard Landry]] called Dion "the most hated politician in the history of Quebec" ("le politicien le plus détesté de l'histoire du Québec").<ref>{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Dutrisac |author=Robert Dutrisac |title=Le ton change face au fédéral |publisher=Le Devoir |date=January 24, 2001}}</ref>.
===Views on federalism===
Dion has often been described in Quebec as a [[Pierre Trudeau|Trudeau]] centralist due to his strong defense of [[Canadian federalism]] and forceful arguments against Quebec sovereignists. However, his position on federalism is far more nuanced. It would be most accurate to describe him as a federal autonomist. While Dion supports cooperation, flexibility, and interdependence in the Canadian federation, he unequivocally argues against jurisdictional intrusion by stating that "the Constitution must be respected. We must do away with the all-too-convenient excuse that a given governmental initiative responds to a need that is too urgent to be stymied by issues of 'jurisdiction.' Infringement of jurisdiction creates confusion which damages the quality of public policy." Dion's position on provincial rights is not only the result of respect for the [[Constitution of Canada]], but also a strategy to prevent the "joint decision trap" in which the capacity of a government's ability to act is restricted by the need for approval from the other constituent governments.
Dion has contested the political concentration on the division of powers between the federal and provincial governments, arguing that:
:"... [I]dentity, rather than the division of powers, that is at the source of our unity problem. Francophone Quebecers want the assurance that their language and culture can flourish with the support of other Canadians. They want to feel that their language and culture are seen by other Canadians as an important asset, rather than a burden. They want the assurance that they can be both Quebecers and Canadians, and that they don't have to choose between Quebec and Canada."<ref name="official">{{cite web |last =Dion |first =Stephane |title =My Praxis of Federalism |format =Notes for an address at the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario |format=link not available |date =May 28, 1998 |url =http://stephanedion.ca/?q=en/Issues-Canada-980528Praxis | accessdate =2006-12-16}}</ref>
In the same vein, Dion was the planner of the 1999 social union agreement, which, according to rabble.ca journalist Duncan Cameron, limited the national spending jurisdiction. [http://www.rabble.ca/politics.shtml?x=63799]
==Gomery Inquiry and 2004 election (January 2004–July 2004)==
Dion had a prominent role within the Chrétien administration at the time of the [[sponsorship scandal]], and his position as "National Unity" minister (an unofficial term for the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs) made him a figure of particular interest to the subsequent [[Gomery Commission|Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities]] (the [[Gomery Commission]]). He stated before the Gomery Commission that although in mid-2001 he was aware of the disproportionately large percentage of sponsorship funds going to Quebec, he was never directly involved in the administration of the program.<ref name="GomeryTestimony">{{Cite news|url=http://www.gomery.ca/documents/transcripts/en/2005/02/2005221370.pdf |format=link not available |format= not available |work=Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities |title=Volume 62 |pages=10897-10909 |author=Gomery, John H.|authorlink=John Gomery|date=January 25, 2005|accessdate=2006-12-03}}</ref> Indeed, Dion had been critical of the program while in cabinet, and openly doubted that it would do much to sway Quebecers from sovereignty.<ref>{{cite web | title = Stéphane Dion, inconspicuous achiever | publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/liberals/dion.html | quote = Dion testified he was aware of the unusually large amounts of money going to Quebec under the sponsorship program but he knew nothing about the way the program was administered and said he had been critical from the outset of the idea that it would do anything to sway the minds of Quebecers.| date = 2007-10 | accessdate = 2008-02-19 }}</ref>Along with most of the other ministers in the Chrétien cabinet, Dion was exonerated of all responsibility in the affair in the Phase I report of the [[Gomery Commission]]:
:"On the evidence there is no basis for attributing blame or responsibility to any other Minister of the Chrétien Cabinet [excepting Jean Chrétien and [[Alfonso Gagliano]]], since they, like all members of Parliament, were not informed of the initiatives being authorized by Mr. [Jean] [[Jean Pelletier|Pelletier]] and their funding from the Unity Reserve."<ref name="GomeryPhase1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.gomery.ca/en/phase1report/summary/ES_assigning%20responsibility_v01.pdf |format=link not available |format=not available |work=Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities |title=Phase I Report: Who is Responsible? |pages=77 |author=Gomery, John H.|authorlink=John Gomery|date=October 31, 2005|accessdate=2006-12-17}}</ref>
In early 2007, after winning the Liberal Party leadership, Dion suggested that [[Marc-Yvan Côté]]'s lifetime ban against rejoining the party may have been an excessive punishment for Côté's involvement in the scandal. He later clarified his remarks, saying that he would not take any steps to reinstate Côté's party membership and that such reinstatement would probably not occur. Dion has also defended Jean Pelletier, saying that the former Mayor of [[Quebec City]] had "served the country well for decades."<ref name="Sponsorship Forgiveness">{{Cite news|url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/01/24/3438868.html |work=CP |title=Dion could welcome back some sponsorship organizers |last=Bryden |first=Joan |date=January 24, 2007 |accessdate=2007-01-26}}</ref><ref name="Côté clarification">{{Cite news|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070125.LIBERALS25/TPStory/National |format=fee required |work=Globe and Mail |title=Dion backtracks on return of party exile |author=Campbell Clark and Jane Taber |date=January 25, 2007 |accessdate=2007-01-26}} </ref>
After [[Paul Martin]]'s assumption of the office of [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]], Dion was dropped from Cabinet as part of a general effort to dissociate the new Liberal government from the outgoing Chrétien administration. He was also criticized by [[Jean Lapierre]], Martin's new Quebec Lieutenant. Lapierre was a Quebec nationalist and founder of the [[Bloc Québécois]] and his views on intergovernmental relations differed significantly from Dion's. At one stage in the buildup to the 2004 election, Lapierre described Dion's Clarity Act as "useless", and although Manitoba Premier [[Gary Doer]] said the legislation was "extremely popular" in [[Western Canada]], Martin defended Lapierre by saying that the Act would make little difference under his administration. An unconfirmed CTV report in 2004 claimed that Martin's organizers were planning a nomination challenge in Dion's riding.<ref name="2004Election">{{Cite news |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20040216/doer_west_040215?s_name=&no_ads= |author=CTV News Staff |work=CTV News |title=Doer: PM's Quebec policy hinders Grits in West: Doer |date=February 16, 2004 |accessdate=2006-12-30}}</ref>
At the time of the [[Canadian federal election, 2004|June 2004 federal election]], Liberal support had dropped significantly, especially in Quebec where various members of the party had been implicated in the [[Sponsorship scandal]]. The Liberal campaign rebounded somewhat in its final days, but the Liberals were still reduced to a minority government due in part to their defeat in Quebec at the hands of the [[Bloc Québécois]].<ref name="2004Election">{{Cite news |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/mini/CTVNews/1088467012438_78?s_name=election2004 |author=CTV News Staff |work=CTV News |title=Duceppe: Bloc win a step towards sovereignty |date=June 29, 2004 |accessdate=2006-12-30}}</ref>.
With Quebec MPs in short supply, Paul Martin brought Dion in from the cold, returning him to the front benches on [[July 20]], [[2004]] as [[Minister of the Environment (Canada)|Minister of the Environment]].<ref name="2004Cabinet">{{Cite news |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040721.wsimpson21/BNStory/National/ |last=Simpson |first=Jeffrey |work=Globe and Mail |title=Not Exactly a Brave New Cabinet |date=July 21, 2004 |accessdate=2006-12-28}}</ref>
==Minister of the Environment (July 2004–February 2006)==
[[Image:Dion stephane051128.jpg|thumb|left|Stéphane Dion as the Minister of the Environment, hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2005 (COP11/MOP1)]]
Shortly after his appointment, a ''[[Globe and Mail]]'' article described Dion as being "bent on transforming the environment dossier from the traditional tree-hugger's last stand into a forward-thinking economic portfolio."<ref name="AnotherColour">{{cite news |url=http://www.sustreport.org/downloads/Dion_globe.doc |title=An Environment Minister of another colour |last=Mitchell |first=Alanna |format= MS Word doc from Michael Keating, Bingera Associates |publisher=sustreport.org |work=Globe and Mail |date=October 12, 2004 |accessdate=2007-01-02}}</ref> Dion championed a "new industrial revolution" focussed on "environmentally-sustainable technologies and products",<ref name="DionCalgarySpeech">{{cite web |url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/minister/speeches/2004/040910_s_e.htm |last=Dion |first=Stéphane |title=Environmental action for economic competitiveness: Will Canada lead the new Industrial Revolution? |date=September 10, 2004 |accessdate=2007-01-02 |publisher =Environment Canada}}</ref> and he sought to nurture a collaborative relationship with big business rather than a confrontational one.<ref name="RockyRide">{{Cite news |url=http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/politics/article.jsp?content=20050228_95665_95665 |title=Rocky ride for Dion? |last=Geddes |first=John |work=Macleans Magazine |date=February 22, 2005 |accessdate=2007-01-02}}</ref> His maiden speech before the Calgary Chamber of Commerce illustrates just how accommodating he was ready to be: "Calgary is one of Canada's most impressive economic engines.... Alberta could soon be the second-largest oil-exporting jurisdiction on Earth, behind Saudi Arabia. This is tremendous blessing for Canada."<ref name="DionCalgarySpeech" /> In October 2005, Dion nominated oil and gas executive Allan Amey to head up the government's $1-billion Clean Fund, the largest single element in Dion's Kyoto implementation strategy.<ref name="CleanFund">{{Cite news |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051014/kyoto_cleanfund_20051014/20051014?hub=SciTech |title=Former industry exec to head Clean Fund: report |last=Bueckert |first=Dennis |publisher=CTV.ca |work=Canadian Press |date=October 14, 2005 |accessdate=2007-01-02}}</ref>
Dion's ministry declined to protect Sakinaw and Cultus [[sockeye salmon]] under the [[Species at Risk Act]] because it "could cost the sockeye fishing industry $125 million in lost revenue by 2008,"<ref name="SARA1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/October2004/22/c3614.html?view=print |title=Minister of the Environment Makes Recommendations on Adding New Species to the Species at Risk Act |author=Environment Canada |work=Environment Canada |publisher=Canada News Wire |date=October 22, 2004 |accessdate=2007-01-04}}</ref>. This led to some criticism from environmentalists.<ref name="SARA2">{{Cite news |url=http://www.zoo.utoronto.ca/mgross/GlobeOct232004.pdf |title=Never before has the federal government consciously decided to let something go extinct |last=Mitchell |first=Alanna |format=.pdf |work=Globe and Mail |publisher=University of Toronto, Dept. of Zoology |date=October 23, 2004 |accessdate=2007-01-04}}</ref>
Dion earned high praise for his work chairing the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|U.N. Climate Change summit (COP 11/MOP 1)]] in Montreal in 2005.<ref name="DionPraised">{{Cite news |url=http://www.climateark.org/shared/reader/welcome.aspx?linkid=49364 |title=Canada: Dion praised for extending Kyoto accord |last=Heinrich |first=Jeff |work=Montreal Gazette |date=December 11, 2005 |accessdate=2007-01-06}}</ref> Later, when Dion's record as environment minister was under scrutiny in the closing days of the Liberal leadership campaign, former [[Sierra Club of Canada]] director and current leader of the [[Green Party of Canada]] [[Elizabeth May]] came to his defence, calling him a "very very good environment minister."<ref name="VeryVeryGoodMinister">{{Cite news |url=http://kingstongreens.ca/mainPages/News.asp?News_ID=409 |title=Online campaign asks Canadians to back Green Party inclusion in election debates |last=Galloway |first=Gloria |work=Globe and Mail |date=December 15, 2005 |accessdate=2007-01-06}}</ref>
The government did not make significant progress towards reducing Canada's greenhouse gas emissions during Dion's brief tenure in office.<ref name="DionDeboulonner">{{Cite news |url=http://www.ledevoir.com/2006/12/09/124464.html |title=Faut-il déboulonner la statue verte de Dion? |last=Francoeur |first=Louis-Gilles |work=Le Devoir |date=December 9, 2006 |accessdate=2007-01-02}}</ref> In April 2005, Dion unveiled his "Project Green" to combat climate change, but the program was immediately criticized by some environmental groups for being too timid and for lacking in meaningful regulations.<ref name="SuzukiReport">{{cite web |url=http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Campaigns_and_Programs/Climate_Change/News_Releases/newsclimatechange04130501.asp |author=David Suzuki Foundation |title=Canada’s climate change plan lacks teeth |date=April 13, 2005 |accessdate=2007-01-02 |publisher =David Suzuki Foundation}}</ref> Johanne Gélinas, Canada's environment commissioner, criticized the government's stewardship of marine areas and national parks, as well as its efforts to ensure the safety of drinking water.<ref name="Gelinas1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/255456/environment_commissioner_gives_government_failing_marks_over_policies/index.html |title=Environment Commissioner Gives Government Failing Marks Over Policies |author=Canadian Press |publisher=RedOrbit.com |work=Canadian Press |date=September 29, 2005 |accessdate=2007-01-02}}</ref><ref name="Gelinas2">{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/09/29/Watchdog_bites20050929.html |title=Watchdog says Ottawa not protecting environment |author=CBC News |publisher=CBC |date=September 29, 2005 |accessdate=2007-01-02}}</ref><ref name="ECHypocrisy">{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnsnews.com/viewforeignbureaus.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/200509/FOR20050930c.html |title=Canada's Pro-Kyoto Gov't Accused of Hypocrisy Over Environment |last=Williams |first=Howard |work=CNSNews |date=September 30, 2005 |accessdate=2007-01-03}}</ref><ref name="ECSlammed">{{Cite news |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/255549/official_report_slams_canada_over_environment/index.html |title=Official Report Slams Canada over Environment |last=Ljunggren |first=David |work=Reuters |publisher=redorbit.com |date=September 29, 2005 |accessdate=2007-01-03}}</ref>
In February 2006, after the Liberals had been defeated and the Conservatives had taken over the reins of government, Dion said that Canada would very likely not be able to reach its Kyoto targets. Nevertheless, he argued that this was missing the point:
:"Everyone is saying target, target. But ... it is to be more than to reach a target. It's to change the economy. It's to have resource productivity, energy efficiency when we know that energy will be the next crisis for the economy of the world.... All my ministries will be green. Maybe I'll make one department of industry and the environment -- a department of sustainability. That's not a commitment, but if you want to change the mind, you have to change structure...."<ref name="KyotoTargetsImpossible">{{Cite news |url=http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=b04fc1ea-e90f-4160-a571-499c6bbc64aa |title=Dion admits Liberals' Kyoto goal impossible |last=Ivison |first=John |work=National Post |date=July 1, 2006 |accessdate=2007-01-02}}</ref>
==Liberal Leadership candidate (April 2006-December 2006)==
{{seealso|Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention, 2006}}
{{seealso|2006 Liberal leadership bid by Stéphane Dion}}
[[Image:Dion 2006 Liberal leadership winner.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Dion, during his acceptance
speech. Behind him are MP Scott Brison, Ontario premier [[Dalton McGuinty]], MP Joe Volpe, Martha Hall Findlay, and MP Ken Dryden.]]
Stéphane Dion announced his candidacy on [[April 7]], the day of the official beginning of the Liberal leadership race.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060404.LIBERALS04/TPStory/?query=ignatieff |format=fee required |last=Clark |first=Campbell |coauthors=Karen Howlett |work=Globe and Mail |title=Ignatieff, Dion to launch bids this week |date=April 4, 2006 |accessdate=2006-12-04}}</ref> His leadership campaign was referred to as the three-pillar approach. This approach focused on social justice, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability, and a claim that a combination of these pillars would bring [[Canada]] into the 21st century.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sunday/dion.html |author=CBC News |work=CBC.ca |title=INTERVIEW: Stéphane Dion |format=television transcript |date=November 5, 2006 |accessdate=2006-12-16}}</ref>He said that his campaign would focus on [[sustainable development]] of the [[economy]] and creating a "hyper-educated" Canadian workforce in order to compete with [[China]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060217.LIBERALS17/TPStory/National |format=fee required |last=Clark |first=Campbell |work=Globe and Mail |title=Leadership contenders define issues |date=February 17, 2006 |accessdate=2006-12-04}}</ref>
Dion was a lower-key figure during most of the leadership race, with much of the media and political attention being centered on the race's two most high-profile candidates, [[Michael Ignatieff]] and former [[Ontario New Democratic Party]] premier [[Bob Rae]]. Federal [[New Democratic Party|NDP]] leader [[Jack Layton]] described Dion as "A man of principle and conviction and therefore almost certain not to be elected leader of the Liberal party."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jack Layton's keynote address to NDP convention | work=New Democratic Party of Canada|author=New Democratic Party |date=September 12, 2006 |accessdate=2007-01-02 |url=http://www.ndp.ca/page/4283}}</ref> For much of the campaign, front-runner Ignatieff had the strongest support in Dion's home province of Quebec. Dion's level of support was similar to that of former Ontario cabinet minister [[Gerard Kennedy]], both candidates being in a distant third/fourth place, though still significantly higher than the other four leadership contestants.
On [[December 2]], [[2006]] at the Liberal Party leadership convention, Dion finished third after the first ballot, garnering 17.8% of the delegates. After the second ballot, [[Gerard Kennedy]] threw his support behind Dion. Earlier, the two leadership contenders had allegedly struck a pact in which the first off the ballot would throw his support to the other. Pundits said that this surprise move had caught the Ignatieff and Rae strategists off guard. [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061202/liberal_balloting_061202/20061202?hub=TopStories] When the totals of the third ballot were released, Dion held a narrow lead with 37%, followed closely by [[Michael Ignatieff]] with 34.5%. [[Bob Rae]], with only 28.5%, freed his delegates, many of whom backed Dion, as did former leadership candidates [[Ken Dryden]] and [[Joe Volpe]]. On the fourth ballot, Dion captured 54.7% of votes cast and was declared the 11th leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
==As Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition (December 2006–present)==
[[Image:Baitan Nur Mosque Inauguration - Stephane Dion.jpg|right|thumb|[[Mirza Masroor Ahmad]] (left), leader of the [[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community]], with Stéphane Dion (right), who was one of multiple party leaders to attend the grand opening of [[Baitunnur]], the largest mosque in Canada on July 5, 2008]]
After Stéphane Dion was elected as the leader, the Liberal Party experienced a sudden surge in their poll numbers. The Conservatives regained their lead shortly thereafter, although the parties were again tied for support in the summer of 2007. (for polling specifics, see the "Opinion polls" section of the [[40th Canadian federal election]] article).
As rumours circulated of a possible election in early 2007, Dion bolstered the image of a Liberal Party renewed and healed of its internal divisions by appointing many of his former leadership rivals to key campaign positions. [[Michael Ignatieff]] was named deputy leader, [[Bob Rae]] and [[Scott Brison]] became platform development co-chairs, [[Gerard Kennedy]] was named special adviser for election readiness and renewal, [[Martha Hall Findlay]] was charged with platform outreach, and [[Ken Dryden]], who received special acknowledgement from Dion for being "the heart of our party", was tasked "to be everywhere".<ref name="Liberal Campaign Appointments">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2006/12/19/dion-platform.html |work=CBC News |title=Dion taps former rivals for election roles |author=CBC News |date=December 19, 2006|accessdate=2006-12-31}}</ref>
In early January 2007, Dion made a leadership decision in regards to [[Wajid Khan]], a Liberal MP who was serving as a Middle-East advisor to the Prime Minister. Dion thought it was inappropriate for a member of the Official Opposition to be serving the government so he told Khan to give up the position. Dion was confident that Khan would stay with the caucus and give up advising the Prime Minister,<ref name="Khan Won't Defect">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/01/05/dion-khan-070105.html |work=CBC |title=Liberal MP with Tory advisory role will not defect: Dion |author=CBC news |date=January 5, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-02}}</ref> but Khan chose to cross the floor, and join the Conservative caucus instead.<ref name="Khan Defects">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/01/05/khan-defect-070105.html |work=CBC |title=Ontario MP Khan leaves Liberals to join Tories |author=CBC news |date=January 5, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-02}}</ref>
On January 18, 2007, Dion unveiled the remainder of the Liberal opposition's [[shadow cabinet]] (see [[Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (Canada)]] for a complete list of appointments).<ref name="Shadow Cabinet">{{Cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=e8562350-ddf0-4d70-b302-d6f763c4df7f&k=84522 |work=National Post |title=Dion names mix of old and new to shadow cabinet |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Meagan |date=January 18, 2007 |accessdate=2007-01-18}}</ref> Shortly after Dion lead the Liberal caucus in its rejection of the 2007 Conservative budget, arguing that it failed Canadians on economic prosperity, social justice and environmental sustainability.<ref name="BudgetOpposed">{{Cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=bd1ec741-6b16-4359-8b06-4fff3889d30b |title=Oppositon leaders weigh in |author=National Post |date=March 20, 2007 |accessdate=2007-03-20}}</ref>
In response, the Conservatives would launch a series of attack ads aimed directly at Dion, attacking his leadership abilities and record as Environment Minister<ref>{{cite web| title =Tories launch attack ads aimed at Dion | publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date = 2007-01-29| url = http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/01/28/ads-dion.html}}</ref> Similar ads attacking Dion would appear in November over statements that Dion would prefer new spending on health care and social programs to cuts to the [[Goods and Services Tax (Canada)|Goods and Services Tax]] introduced by the Conservatives.<ref>{{cite web| title = New set of Tory ads take aim at Dion leadership| publisher = CTV.ca News |date = 2007-11-02 | url = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071102/tory_ads_071102?s_name=&no_ads=|}}</ref>
===Parliamentary Opposition===
{{POV-section|date=February 2008}}
On February 1, Dion tabled a motion challenging the Conservatives to reaffirm Canada's commitment to the [[Kyoto Protocol]], attempting to capitalized on a 2002 letter in which Prime Minister Harper described the Accord as a "socialist scheme" that is based on "tentative and contradictory scientific evidence" and designed to suck money out of rich countries.<ref name="ReaffirmKyoto">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/02/01/dion-kyoto.html |work=CBC |title=Dion calls on Tories to recommit to Kyoto |author=CBC News |date=February 1, 2007 |accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> Tory environment minister [[John Baird]] responded by blaming the Liberals for what he described as a "shameful record over 13 years of inaction on the environment,"<ref name="ReaffirmKyoto"/> while [[Stephen Harper]] said that his government would "stabilize emissions."<ref name="ClimateConsequences">{{Cite news|url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/02022007/3/canada-climate-report-predicts-major-consequences-canada.html |work=CBC |title=Climate report predicts major consequences for Canada |author=CBC News |date=February 2, 2007 |accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> Dion's non-binding motion passed on February 5.<ref name="ReaffirmKyotoVote">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/02/05/kyoto-vote.html |work=CBC |title=House motion passes supporting Kyoto |author=CBC News |date=February 5, 2007 |accessdate=2007-02-05}}</ref>
On February 27, Dion's Liberals, together with Bloc Québécois and NDP members of Parliament, voted down a Harper government proposal to extend two controversial provisions of the [[Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act|Anti-Terrorism Act]] for another three years. Dion argued that the measures – which allowed police to arrest and detain terror suspects for three days without a warrant and which allowed judges to force witnesses to testify in terror cases – "have done nothing to fight against terrorism" and "have not been helpful and have continued to create some risk for civil liberties."<ref name="TerrorVote">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/02/27/terror-vote.html |work=CBC |title=MPs vote against extending anti-terrorism measures |author=CBC News |date=February 27, 2007 |accessdate=2007-02-27}}</ref>
On April 12, 2007, Dion announced that the Liberals would not run a candidate against [[Green Party of Canada|Green Party]] leader [[Elizabeth May]] in the Nova Scotia riding of [[Central Nova]] (currently represented by Conservative [[Peter MacKay]]) in return for the [[Green Party of Canada|Green Party]] leader's agreement not to run a Green candidate in Dion's riding of [[Saint-Laurent—Cartierville]].<ref> {{cite news | author = CBC News | title = Liberals agree not to run candidate against Green leader | url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/04/12/dion-may.html | date = April 12, 2007 }}</ref> The deal was criticized by the Conservatives and the NDP ([[Jack Layton]] had rejected earlier attempts by May to cut a "backroom" deal with his party<ref name="Jack Layton on deal">{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndp.ca/page/5139 |work=NDP |title=Jack Layton on the Liberal – Green deal |author=NDP |date=April 13, 2007 |accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref><ref name="Elizabeth May on deal">{{Cite news|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070415/may_layton_070415/20070415?hub=Canada |work=CTV |title=May says Layton has refused to talk with Greens |author=CTV news staff |date=April 15, 2007 |accessdate=2007-04-15}}</ref>), and also by some within the Liberal Party.<ref name="Grit Green Fallout">{{Cite news|url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070413/national/grit_green_fallout_1 |work=news.yahoo.ca |title=Courageous or disastrous? Liberals mixed about Dion's pact with May |author=Canadian Press |date=April 13, 2007 |accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> Dion later gave reassurance that the controversial deal was "an exceptional circumstance where Liberal voters are invited to help her [May] to win against Peter MacKay."<ref name="No More Favours">{{Cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=a642d575-a284-4a6b-be50-61afadb5236e&k=47443 |work=Vancouver Province |title=No more favours for Greens, says Libs' Dion |last=Bailey |first=Ian |date=April 15, 2007 |accessdate=2007-04-15}}</ref>
On November 8, 2007, Dion released a policy plan, that he compared to the [[United Kingdom]]'s [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] under former Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]]. Dion mentioned that his party will tackle [[poverty in Canada]] in order to create a "greener", "richer" and "fairer" Canada. He set up targets to reduce general poverty by 30 percent and child poverty by 50 percent as well as helping working families with work rewards as well as increasing the Canada Child Tax benefit, increasing guaranteed revenues for seniors.<ref> {{cite news|author = Canwest News Services | title = Dion vows to reduce poverty|publisher= The Ottawa Citizen | url = http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=bdea6cde-3d0f-43e1-872d-8f6a35de3849&k=89901|date = November 9, 2007}}</ref> In an editorial in the ''[[National Post]]'', economist Alex MacMillan notes that the poverty targets Dion has set are based on a Statistics Canada measure that the statistical agency has stated is not a poverty measure ([[Poverty in Canada#Low-income cut-off (LICO)|LICO]]), and that by using what is in effect a relative income measure rather than an absolute poverty measure, Dion is essentially aiming to flatten the income distribution of Canadians.<ref name=DionMisuse> [http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=253895&p=1 Dion's misuse of poverty stats], Alex MacMillan, [[National Post]], 22 January 2008, URL accessed 27 January 2008</ref>{{lopsided}}
In 2008, as part of a measure for cutting greenhouse emissions, Dion called for a carbon price but did not called it a tax. He also praised a similar measure introduced and approved by the [[British Columbia]] government in the 2008 provincial budget as well as the province of Quebec that introduced a carbon-based tax which revenues will be used for green technologies. <ref name = CTVcarbon> {{cite news| author = CTV|title = Dion calls for a price on carbon, but not a tax | publisher = CTV.ca|url = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080314/dion_carbon_080314/20080314/, date = March 14, 2008}}</ref> Critics from other parties as well as some Liberal MPs said that the plan "is too confusing, expensive and politically risky". <ref name = "Carboncritic> {{cite news|author = CTV|title = Dion says Canadians willing to accept carbon tax|publisher= CTV.ca|url = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080515/Stephane_Dion_080515/20080515/|date = May 15, 2008}}</ref> Environmontal Minister John Baird told that the plan was "made on Bay Street" and is actually supported by big business and polluters". The plan received support from [[David Suzuki]] who've added that on CTV's Question Period that: "To oppose (the carbon tax plan), its just nonsense. It's certainly the way we got to go". <ref name = suzuki>{{cite news|author = CTV|title = Suzuki slams NDP, Tories, backs Dion's carbon tax|publisher = CTV.ca|url = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080518/carbontax_liberals_080518/20080518/|date = May 18, 2008}}</ref>
In June 2008, Dion told that in his plan, the carbon measure would generate up to $15 billion per year in revenues and will also include similar income tax cuts. The plan was criticized by Stephen Harper, who labeled it as "crazy" and said it would "screw" Canadians while making a comparison with the National Energy Program adopted in the 1980s. <ref name = harpercarbon>{{cite news|author = CTV|title = PM: Liberal carbon plan will 'screw' Canadians|publisher = CTV.ca|url =http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080620/dion_drummond_080620?s_name=&no_ads=|date = June 20, 2008}}</ref> <ref name = dioncarbon> {{cite news|author = CTV|title = Carbon tax about Canada's future: Dion|publisher = CTV.ca|url = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080622/dion_ct_080622/20080622?hub=TopStories|date = June 21, 2008}}</ref> Dion has rejected this criticism, and has challenged Harper to an "adult" debate on the proposal. While there were mixed reviews about the plan, [[Green Shift Inc.]] filed an $8.5 million lawsuit against the Liberals on July 9, 2008. The company had criticized the party for using their company name for the title of the plan and ordered a court injunction to stop using the name. Dion responded that the lawsuit was "deplorable" and added that the Liberals are not a commercial company and did not see any legal problems for using the name Green Shift.<ref> {{cite news|author=CTV.ca|title = Dion calls 'Green Shift' lawsuit 'deplorable'|publisher=CTV.ca|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080709/green_shift_080709/20080709?hub=Politics|date= July 10, 2008}}</ref>
===Internal discord===
The first federal [[by-elections]] contested by the Liberals under Dion's leadership took place on [[September 18]], [[2007]] in three Quebec ridings: [[Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean]], [[Outremont (electoral district)|Outremont]] and [[Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot]]. The party's candidates were defeated by large margins in all three races. The [[Outremont by-election, 2007|Outremont by-election]] was deemed a crucial test for Dion's leadership by some pundits, as it had been held by the Liberals almost uninterruptedly since 1935.<ref name="Outremont a test">{{Cite news|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070915.wbyelections15/BNStory/National |work=Globe & Mail |title=Outremont by-election a test for Dion |last=Campbell |first=Clark, Daniel Leblanc |date=September 15, 2007 |accessdate=2007-09-20}}</ref> Others said it was a "poor measure of where the parties really stand."<ref>{{cite news |title=Not the final verdict on Dion |publisher=Globe and Mail |date=September 19, 2007}}</ref>.Dion's handpicked candidate [[Jocelyn Coulon]] was defeated by the NDP's [[Thomas Mulcair]]. A Dion aide blamed the Outremont by-election on several factors, including poor organization, lack of communications, and lack of a clear policy on Quebec, while former MP [[Jean Lapierre]] suggested that it was due to Dion's 14% approval rating in the province. [http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j9IPSkyG31Kwu0R7YPJDgNdM-c3A] In addition, the Halifax Chronicle-Herald reported that unidentified "Dion loyalists" were accusing [[Michael Ignatieff]] supporters of undermining by-election efforts. Though Ignatieff phoned up Dion to deny the allegations, the ''[[Globe and Mail]]'' suggested that the report had a negative impact on the Liberals' morale, citing the NDP's widening lead after the article's release. [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070919.wbyticktock19/BNStory/Front] [http://www.thestar.com/Unassigned/article/259218] [http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=1d6cea03-674f-463b-a674-3c8afce3c4fc&k=91630] Undaunted, Dion declared: "From this defeat, we can learn something and work together as a united party.."<ref name="Quebec by-elections">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2007/09/17/qc-byelections0917.html |work=CBC |title=Liberals shut out in Quebec byelections |author=CBC News |date=September 17, 2007 |accessdate=2007-09-17}}</ref>
On [[September 23]], [[2007]], [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]] national director Jamie Carroll sparked controversy when, during discussions about whether francophone Quebecers should be hired in order to appeal to francophone voters, he commented: "Do we also have to hire people from the Chinese community to represent the Chinese community?" Carroll argued that the comment was taken out of context, but it nevertheless raised the hackles of many Liberals in Quebec, prompting calls from MPs [[Pablo Rodriguez]] and [[Liza Frulla]] for Carroll to be fired. Stéphane Dion affirmed Carroll's version of events and rejected calls for Carroll's dismissal.<ref name="Dion defends Carroll">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/09/28/carroll-dion.html |work=CBC |title=Dion rejects calls for removal of party's director |author=CBC news |date=September 28, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-03}}</ref> On October 10, a [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] press release announced Carroll's resignation and commended him for his "loyalty to our leader and to our party".<ref name="Carroll resigns">{{Cite news|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071010/liberal_carroll_071010/20071010 |work=CTV |title=Carroll resigns as Liberal party's national director |author=CTV news |date=October 10, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref>
[[Marcel Proulx]] resigned as Dion's [[Quebec lieutenant]] hours before the Harper government's throne speech, taking the fall for the three by-election losses. Dion first approached Montreal MPs [[Denis Coderre]] and [[Pablo Rodriguez]] to succeed Proulx, but they declined. That evening he named Senator [[Céline Hervieux-Payette]] to the vacant post.[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2007/10/16/proulx-out.html?ref=rss] While the Party was divided on whether or not the government should be toppled on a confidence vote regarding the Throne Speech, Dion mentioned in a statement in the House of Commons on October 17 that the Liberals will support the [[Throne Speech]] but with major amendments including the Kyoto Protocol and the end of mission in Afghanistan by 2009 and had criticized the government on several aspects including the economy, seniors and child poverty, the crime policy, the Senate reform. The latter amendment proposal was rejected by the [[New Democratic Party]] who are favoring an immediate end to the mission. Dion explained the decision as that the Canadians are not willing to have a third election in just over three years.<ref name = ThroneSpeech2007> {{Cite news|url = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071016/throne_speech_071017/20071017?hub=TopStories|title = Harper gives Dion another election challenge| author = CTV News|date = October 17, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-17}}</ref>. All Liberal members abstained from voting on the Throne Speech on October 24, 2007 which passed 126–79.<ref>{{cite news|author = CTV News|title = Throne speech passes, Liberals abstain from voting|publisher = CTV|url = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071023/throne_speech_071024/20071024?hub=Politics|date = October 24, 2007}} </ref>
[[Marc Garneau]] initially stated that he was not part of Dion's vision after being passed over for a riding nomination. Since then, Dion and Garneau have reconciled, and Garneau will run to succeed outgoing longtime MP [[Lucienne Robillard]] in Westmount-Ville-Marie.[http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hOo_tzg7qs62Iqwd3L7IYCNOotyA][http://www.lavalnews.ca/articles/TLN1520/FolcoTLN152905.html]
The Liberal Party won three of four [[by-election]]s held on March 17, 2008, as Dion's former leadership rivals [[Bob Rae]] and [[Martha Hall Findlay]] won convincing victories in [[Toronto Centre]] and [[Willowdale (electoral district)|Willowdale]] and [[Joyce Murray]] was narrowly returned for [[Vancouver Quadra]]. The Conservatives won a fourth contest in the northern [[Saskatchewan]] riding of [[Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River]], which the Liberals had narrowly taken in the previous election. Dion declared the results a victory for his party, while also noting that some Liberal support was siphoned off to the [[Green Party of Canada|Green Party]].<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=b5cb5481-a3e4-4dbd-8d71-debd38f4a31b&k=85925|title = Dion declares victory after byelection wins| author = Zosia Bielski|date = March 18, 2007|accessdate=2008-03-18}}</ref>. Some journalists described the outcome as a mixed result for both the Liberal Party and Dion's leadership.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080318.wbyelectionupdate0318/BNStory/National/home|title = Liberals win in Toronto, B.C., lose in Sask.| author = Gloria Galloway|date = March 18, 2007|accessdate=2008-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.680news.com/news/national/article.jsp?content=n0318154A|title = Mixed byelection results prolong Liberal angst over election timing| author = Joan Bryden|date = March 18, 2007|accessdate=2008-03-18}}</ref>
==Miscellaneous==
*Dion's family has a [[Siberian Husky|husky]] named "[[Kyoto accord|Kyoto]]" which they purchased "to cheer themselves up after the Liberals lost the last [2006] election."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=09fe377b-49bf-441b-9f23-6efd71abe000&k=50781 |work=National Post |format=reprint |title=Dion positions himself as potential kingmaker |first=Philip |last=Authier |date=November 26, 2006 |accessdate=2006-12-04}}</ref> However, Dion was not the first environment minister or Liberal to have a dog by that name. [[David Anderson (Canadian politician)|David Anderson]] also has a [[schnauzer]] named Kyoto which he purchased one week after Canada's ratification of the [[Kyoto Accord]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2007/02/01/3499153-cp.html |work=Canada News |format=reprint |title=Dion not first Liberal to call his dog Kyoto |first= |last= |date=February 1, 2007 |accessdate=2007-02-02}}</ref>
*In May 1999, Dion was the object of a [[Pieing|pie-in-the-face gag]] orchestrated by the Montreal group, ''les [[Entartistes]]''. The group's stated focus is to "deflate" influential political figures, and they have successfully pied several Canadian federal and provincial politicians, with past targets including [[Jean Chrétien]] and [[Ralph Klein]]. Dion was not amused and pressed charges, resulting in convictions of assault against two members of the pie-throwing group.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2000/05/17/pie_000517.html |author=CBC News |work=CBC.ca |title=Pie throwers tossed suspended sentences |date=November 10, 2000 |accessdate=2006-12-04}}</ref> They were given suspended sentences.
*Dion holds dual citizenship through his mother, who was born in France.<ref name="ctv citizenship">{{Cite news|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061205/dion_dual_061205/20061205?hub=TopStories |format= |work= |title=Stéphane Dion says he'll keep dual citizenship |author=CTV.ca news staff|authorlink=CTV Television Network|date=December 5, 2006|accessdate=2006-12-05}}</ref> Other MPs holding dual citizenship include Conservative Minister of Health [[Tony Clement]], Conservative MP [[Myron Thompson]], and NDP caucus members [[Libby Davies]] and [[Olivia Chow]].
==Notes and references==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{wikinewscat|Stéphane Dion}}
*[http://www.stephanedion.ca Stéphane Dion's Campaign Site]
*[http://www.howdtheyvote.ca/member.php?id=89 How'd They Vote?: Stéphane Dion's voting history and quotes]
*[http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/bio.asp?lang=E&query=182&s=M List of federal political experience from the Library of Parliament]
*[http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1419 Stéphane Dion Interview]
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| title=[[Member of Parliament]] from [[Saint-Laurent—Cartierville]]
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{{ministry box cabinet posts 1 |
post1preceded = [[David Anderson (Canadian politician)|David Anderson]] |
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post1years = 2004–2006 |
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post1followed = [[Rona Ambrose]] |
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post2followed = [[Pierre Pettigrew]] |
post1preceded = [[Marcel Massé]] |
post1 = [[President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]] |
post1years = 1996–2003 |
post1note = |
post1followed = [[Denis Coderre]] |
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