The Liberals have officially announced their summer bus tour – with a few swipes at the Tories’ media strategy. Here’s their press release:
For Immediate Release
June 14, 2010
“Liberal Express” hits the road this summer
OTTAWA – The Liberal caucus is hitting the road this summer in an unprecedented cross-country tour to showcase the Liberal Party of Canada as the progressive, compassionate, responsible alternative to the Harper Conservatives – and the only party that can replace them in government.
The centrepiece of the cross-country tour will be grassroots, multi-day “Liberal Express” bus tours with Leader Michael Ignatieff and members of the Liberal Team in regions across Canada.
“The contrast this summer could not be greater,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “While the Conservatives are throwing away taxpayers’ dollars on an epic scale, we’ll be on the road on the cheap – connecting with Canadians where they live in towns and cities across this country. The Liberal Team will be holding town halls, participating in key community events, listening, learning and sharing our positive vision of Canada.
“We’ll be making the case for a bright, hopeful, exciting Canadian future, based on our priorities of learning, care and renewed Canadian global leadership, versus the Conservative priorities of $6 billion in tax cuts for Canada’s largest corporations and the wasteful squandering at the G20.
“Starting at the Calgary Stampede, through every province and territory, and ending in Cape Breton for the Liberal Summer Caucus, we’ll be meeting Canadians were they live to talk about the real issues of their day-to-day lives – health and home care, jobs and training, pensions, and clean energy. Those are the issues Canadians care deeply about.”
Mr. Ignatieff will barnstorm every province and territory this summer. The following are the tentative dates, with the multi-day Liberal Express bus tours highlighted in bold:
- July 10: Alberta
- Week of July 11: Ontario (Liberal Express Bus Tour)
- Week of July 18: Saskatchewan
- Week of July 18: Quebec (Liberal Express Bus Tour)
- Week of July 25: Ontario (Liberal Express Bus Tour)
- Week of August 1: New Brunswick – Prince Edward Island (Liberal Express Bus Tour)
- Week of August 1: Newfoundland and Labrador
- Week of August 8: Nunavut, Northwest Territories
- Weeks of August 8 and 15: Manitoba – Ontario (Liberal Express Bus Tour)
- Week of August 15: Yukon
- Weeks of August 15 and 22: British Columbia (Liberal Express Bus Tour)
- Week of August 22: Quebec (Liberal Express Bus Tour)
- Week of August 29: Nova Scotia (Liberal Express Bus Tour)
“We invite the working women and men of Canada’s media to come along for the ride on the Liberal Express,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “Instead of staying cooped up in the Ottawa bubble during the summer, join us on the road to meet real Canadians and talk real issues. Unlike the Harper Conservatives, we won’t push you around or try to intimidate or micromanage you.
“Real leadership is about being out there, taking risks, reaching out,” concluded Mr. Ignatieff. “That’s what the Liberal Express is all about – all aboard!”
