Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion announced new election roles Tuesday for his "Dream Team" of former leadership rivals within the party in preparation for the federal campaign.

Dion named Gerard Kennedy, who currently does not hold an elected federal seat in Parliament, as his special adviser for election readiness and renewal.

"He will be my eyes, my ears," Dion told reporters during a news conference in Toronto with his former rivals at his side. "I could not ask for anyone better than Gerard. He has a very strong knowledge about how to win an election."

Kennedy played kingmaker during the Liberal leadership vote earlier this month in Montreal by withdrawing early from the contest and throwing his support behind Dion. That move vaulted the former environment minister ahead of Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae.

Ignatieff, who was the front-runner in polls for most of the leadership campaign and finished second to Dion in the final ballot, was named deputy leader on Monday.

Rae and Nova Scotia MP Scott Brison have been named platform development co-chairs to shape the party's policies on issues such as economic productivity, social justice and environmental sustainability, Dion said.

'We're working under a very tight schedule'

Rae acknowledged the party faced a time constraint to prepare a campaign platform amid the common belief in Ottawa that a spring election is inevitable.

"We're working under a very tight schedule," said the former Ontario premier and NDP leader.

Dion tapped Toronto lawyer Martha Hall Finlay to travel around the country to co-ordinate with grassroots members of the party on policy as platform outreach chair. Her leadership campaign was seen as a fresh boost to the party, lifting her from relative obscurity.

Despite his absence on the appointments list, former NHL great Ken Dryden will have a prominent role for the Liberals in the next election, Dion said.  

"Ken is the heart of our party," Dion said, adding that Dryden would join him in an initiative to counter the government's firing of the president of the Canadian Wheat Board.

"He is so close to the Canadian people and I want him to be everywhere."

Dion said he expects to hold his first caucus meeting in Quebec on Jan. 22.