2008 parliamentary dispute Stéphane Dion

the liberals , ndp reached deal topple current government , form minority coalition government, support bloc québécois. in agreement, dion have been prime minister (and liberal leader) until may, when liberal party elect successor. dion sent letter of plan governor general michaëlle jean, , opposition had scheduled non-confidence motion 8 december 2008. draw public support, prime minister harper , dion both addressed nation on 3 december 2008. dion s liberal rebuttal, however, considered poor in production quality , delivered late networks, , believed had undermined support coalition. on 4 december 2008, governor general granted prime minister harper s request suspend parliament until january 2009, thereby delaying scheduled non-confidence vote , defeat of conservative government.

shortly afterwards, dion came under increasing pressure party step down liberal leader. on 8 december, dion announced resign leadership successor chosen amongst members of party. resignation took effect on 10 december 2008, upon selection of michael ignatieff interim leader. makes dion second permanent liberal leader in canadian history not become prime minister, after edward blake in 1887. on retirement, dion became shortest serving non-interim leader of liberal party since confederation—serving approximately 4 months less time (740 days 855 days) of next shortest serving leader, paul martin (2003–2006). dion delivered farewell speech on 2 may 2009, @ liberal party leadership convention.