Canada's Liberal Leader Resigns

Stéphane Dion, the leader of Canada's Liberal Party, announced his resignation yesterday after leading his party to one of its worst ever results in last week's election. The Quebecker said he would remain in office until his successor is chosen, the Globe and Mail reports. Dion is the first Liberal Party leader not to become prime minister since the 19th century.

Dion, who served as environment minister in a previous Liberal government, ran for PM on a radical green platform that proved unpopular amid a global economic downturn. Two Ontario MPs are seen as likely successors: Michael Ignatieff, the former Harvard professor and New York Times contributor; and Bob Rae, who served as premier of Ontario under a different left-wing party.
(More Stéphane Dion stories.)