From Today’s Question Period:

Craig Oliver: “Should you push the leadership race up so that you have a leader in place before that vote in January on the budget.”

Michael Ignatieff: “Craig, I think there’s an emerging feeling in the caucus that given the importance of this vote in late January, it would be appropriate to have a leader in place, a permanent leader in place. And I think it’s fair to say that the caucus is considering different options how to do that, how to accelerate our leadership process. But you know, I’m in the race, I don’t get to make the rules so it’s up to the caucus, it’s up to the party. I’ll play with whatever rules, on whatever time table they give me.”

[later]

Michael Ignatieff: “…I will take the decisions, were I to be given the honour to lead the party, on the 26th, when I’ve seen the budget. […] I will not hesitate to vote that government down if they produce a budget that is, like the auto statement, a kind of ridiculous joke…”

[later]

Jane Taber: “Do you agree with [Manley that Dion should resign]?”

Bob Rae: “I think Mr. Dion has already said that he is going to leave once a new leader is chosen. I think he deserves to be treated with dignity as his time in office comes to an end. I do think that obviously the creation of a coalition and the fact that the House is now adjourned and will be coming back at the end of January means we need to have a new leader in place by then. We need to have a the leadership race moved up and we need to have a broad consultation with the party.”

[later]

Bob Rae: “…because of what’s happened, I can certainly understand that we need to accelerate things.”