i hope the spelling error at the end is yours not theirs

"Michael Ignatieff knows the challenges we face as Canadians. He put himself forward to lead the Liberal Party and Canada last year, and in doing so he made a profound commitment to all Canadians. Canada needs leaders of Michael’s stature, abilities and vision."

Means: I threw myself into the fire and got burned by Dion's people, but will try again later.

"In order to attract and keep his caliber of leadership, we need to stand behind Michael Ignatieff for the financial obligations he made on our behalf while seeking to represent our aspirations and to lead Parliament and the country."

Means: He spent alot of money and we need to keep together so that its paid back so Michael can try again next year.

"Join with us at one of Vancouver’s favourite landmarks for a major address by an exceptional thinker who today is one of Canada’s leading public intellectuals and politicians. This occasion is certain to be memorable. Come out to welcome Michael and hear his thoughtful interpretation on the critical issues of our time. Participate in this unique opportunity to probe his thinking about the challenges this country faces. Share with Michael Ignatieff your ideas on the Canada we have and the Canada we want for our children and grandchildren."

Means: Attend and sign up for Michaels next leadership campaign. We're starting to make the list now. Tell him and us how he can rebuild the Liberal Party.

"Tickets for this event are $200 per person. Tax receipts will be issued for an amount net of costs. Payment must be by advance cheque or personal credit card."

Means: We'll issue a tax receipt. Sorry no cash
at the door. We need to know who the contributors are.

"If you cannot attend personally, but would like to contribute your ticket to make it possible for a young Canadian student to attend the event, please indicate your wishes on the form below."

Means: Many of our Young Liberal supporters are busy at SFU and UBC and just paid their tuition and can't attend. But if you would like to sponsor one of our Young Liberals by buying a ticket, we'd be pleased and will issue a tax receipt.

"To reserve tickets we ask you to print and complete the registration form found below and send it via facsimile to: 604-608-6157 or via mail to MICHAEL IGNATIEFF Vancouver Reception c/o Gerry Lenoski, Suite 1000—355 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 2G8"

Means: Send to Gerry. He's our man for the event.

"Note: As of January 1, 2007, regulations for political contributions changed. The limit for contributions to leadership campaigns is $1,100.00. Corporate contributions are prohibited. Tax credits are issued as follows: 75% of the first $400.00, 50% on the next $350.00 and 33.5% on an amount over $750.00 and not exceeding $1,100.00 For example a $200 contribution will cost you $50.00 and a $750.00 contribution will cost you $275.00. If you are unsure if you have met your contribution limit or are interested in other ways of helping Michael meet his outstanding obligations, please be sure to call Gerry Lenoski."

Means: Damn Tories and their spending limits. If you've maxed out your contribution for this tax year, you can still help Michael take back Canada.
let him know what you can do for Michael's next leadership campaign.

Hey, Sean...the puffin thing was hardly a 'gaffe'. With it IGNATIEFF showed the sense of humour of a clever guy who can be a lot of fun. He's just a significant national political player who didn't (on that 'No whales to watch but a surplus of puffins' adventure in Newfoundland), and doesn't, take himself so seriously. Neither are people like me, loyal federal Liberals in BC who supported his Leadership bid last year and now are organizing this event, so bereft of the ability to laugh - at ourselves, and especially at how much traction MI's tongue-in-cheek aside rated in the national media.

P.S. I'll take the "hit" for the typing, not spelling, error in what was an early Invitation draft - my fingers on the keys can be too fast. PICKY...PICKY. Incidentally, you pre-empted our process; the invitation to our Vancouver Aquarium event on Oct 11th is going to all LPC(BC) Members on email later this week. Thanks for the publicity!

GERRY LENOSKI

Actually, it wasnt a gaffe.

It was a joke, the media and people around him were laughing when he made the statement in jest. Look at the actual news footage next time.

"Canada needs leaders of Michael’s stature, abilities and vision.

In order to attract and keep his caliber of leadership"

I thought the Liberal party wouldn't be needing to attract leaders of any calibre, stature, abilities or vision now that they have a leader for the foreseeable future in Stephane Dion? Or is there some secret movement to replace Dion afoot that we don't know about?

Why is Iggy having a leadership fundraiser days before a possible writ being dropped?

This puts serious fatigue on lower mainland candidates and party organizers who seek badly needed funds from donors.

When they phone donors on the 20th for $$, they are going to say that they just finished giving the Liberals 200 dollars for a chicken dinner.

Iggy should go elsewhere to raise money for his debts from his failed venture into politics.

I've read the Young Liberals have been pretty busy at Kwantlen too, but can likely afford their own tickets

Whatever challenges the Ignatieff people are facing in terms of paying debts from the last leadership campaign, they pale in comparison to the challenges now facing the Dion camp after this week's three byelections in Quebec.

I noticed that Ignatieff joined Hedy Fry in the Vancouver Gay Pride parade last month. He seems to think that Vancouver, and downtown Vancouver especially, is a fertile field for his brand of politics.

$200 a ticket. If this event sells 250 tickets, the Ignatieff campaign will have enough money to pay off the $50,000 the Stronach's loaned it.

Our media complains even more than the rest of us that our politicians are humourless, impersonal robots and yet when a politician who has been frequently derided for this breaks the mould by cracking a joke to a friendly audience, it is described here and elsewhere as a "gaffe."

I do hope that Mr. Ignatieff will enlighten his audience with tales of his vast experience learned while living in the United States. But I would bet that it is never mentioned.

Personally, I thought Garth Turner was much funnier when he was here. Maybe he would make a better leader than Ignatieff.

This is at the aquarium? What a great venue. It sounds like it would be a whale of a time.

The results are in...the Iggy crew have been puffin' something fierce...

What a joke--literally.

Well he said "we" quite a bit while he was down south, then when it became clear that Iraq was supremely dumb he came up here and pretty soon he was saying "we" in the environs of Taranaah. Along the way he wrote quite a number of op-ed type things in which he sort of flounced across the stage wearing what could have been a TuTu, or maybe a South Seas loincloth while shouting a bit about how Canada should stride forth or something. I guess pretty soon he will drift away, about when the next election is called, and go off to some quiet garden spot in academe, probably in the UK which is accommodating to the effete, and he will write more stuff. Pretty harmless, all things considered. Not nearly as dangerous as Harper but far too flighty to hire. Maybe he can be replaced by a Liberal who will help the leader instead of grousing around in back rooms with cutting remarks.

The puffin reference? That was, in fact, a gaffe. It doesn't matter how cute the analogy seemed at the time, it played on the front page of major newspapers and only served to remind people of Gomery.

This just in: reporters are not your friends. Nothing is off-the-record, and wisecracks about puffins hiding their excrement are damaging to your party.

I'm looking forward to this event; I'm impressed that they've come up with a creative venue. Thanks for telling us about it Sean!

Hopefully the dinners success will be better then Gerry Lenoski's track record.

Oh by the way, I'm not a "2006 Micheal Ignatieff supporter". I don't know how you got my e-mail but I would be careful about 'what' lists you are using.

It's very brave of you, Gaius Marius, to attack Gerry from behind the veil of a pseudonym. You have real balls. And now that I think about it, what kind of nerd uses the pseudonym "Gaius Marius"?

I've wanted to meet Ignatieff for a while now. I'm glad I'll have the chance to meet him at the aquarium. It will be a fantastic night.

Gaius Dear, how is anyone supposed to know to remove you from their "lists" if you don't post your real name?