renewal, not deference!

This Stephane Dion comment, via Calagary Grit vis-a-vis Michael Ignatieff and climate change, caught my eye:

He’s thrown out some ideas, but he didn’t even include a single word recognizing the work which myself and the Liberal government did on the climate change file or on our 2005 climate change proposal. When I travel to the Bahamas, they recognize the work Canada has done on Climate Change. I think it shows incredible disrespect for a new Liberal MP to come in here and ignore everything we’ve done.

Regardless of who is giving and who receiving, this is a sentiment that bothers me. Renewal is not about patting ourselves on the back. Canadians at large will not receive us well if we self-censor any criticism of the government that they just relegated to opposition. This comment is particularly absurd in that it doesn't refer to criticism, but rather to a lack of gushing praise.

Generally, Dion has shown an understanding of this. I appreciate his other instances of combativeness in the interest of finishing with a stronger party. Ignatieff, on the other hand, has been careful to preface nearly every comment with deference to a Dryden on child care, a Volpe on immigration, etc.

This should be a no-brainer: embuing the '05 Martin government with sacred cow status is only going to hurt the leadership process and the party