Liberal leadership front-runner Michael Ignatieff downplayed suggestions on Wednesday that some of his delegates are bailing on his campaign two days before voting begins to pick a new leader.

Leadership candidate Michael Ignatieff holds a copy of the Liberal women's caucus's Pink Book outside the women's conference at the Liberal leadership convention Wednesday in Montreal.
(Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)

As Liberals began gathering in Montreal Wednesday for the opening of the convention, some have said privately they are put off by some of Ignatieff's positions, including his enthusiastic support for calling Quebec a nation.

Ignatieff, who has recruited more delegates than any other leadership hopeful, urged his supporters to stay the course and not spoil their first ballot.

"This is the Liberal Party of Canada; we care about democracy," Ignatieff said Wednesday. "The idea that they should spoil a ballot seems to me to be a waste of one of the greatest democratic opportunities of a generation."

Delegates are obligated to cast their vote in the first round of balloting for the candidate they signed up to support.

Ignatieff's supporters suggested rumours of delegates spoiling their first ballots have been invented by opposing camps to bring down the frontrunner.

Liberal leadership candidate Bob Rae and his wife Arlene Perley Rae arrive at the Liberal leadership convention on Wednesday.
(Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Ignatieff has also come under fire for his early support of U.S. President George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq in 2003, arguing it was in the best interests of international security and human rights. He has since said Bush made mistakes in the war.

Eight candidates are vying for the party's top job, but Ignatieff, Bob Rae, Gerard Kennedy and Stéphane Dion have pulled away from the pack.

Rae said Wednesday he heads into the vote with more wind in his sails than anyone else.

"We've got lots of momentum," the former Ontario premier said. "We've got lots of support on the ground and I'm just a very happy person. This is going to be a great three days."

Ken Dryden came to Montreal with just six per cent of delegates' support, but said anything is possible once the first round of voting is over.

"Right up to the end of the first ballot, it belongs to the machines," Dryden said Wednesday. "After that it belongs to the people."

Hope for renewal

Delegates expressed their hope that the event will provide political drama and a sense of renewal within the party.

Bob Stewart, who's been a Liberal for 53 years, says he's looking forward to his sixth convention.

"I think this will be the most exciting convention we have ever had," said the Oakville, Ont., man. "Even more exciting than 1968, because you have four potential good candidates."

The convention in 1968 saw delegates unexpectedly elect Pierre Trudeau as leader.

Tamara Kaslowska, an undecided delegate from Alberta, say she'll watch how the candidates perform at the convention before making her choice.

"I kind of like the academia, you know the smart Michael Ignatieff type," she said. "But I've got a little bit of an issue with [the] Iraq war and I don't know where he's standing on that now."

Kaslowska says she's hopeful the convention will help renew the Liberal party, which took a beating in public opinion polls in the wake of the federal sponsorship scandal.

The party has a lot of room to improve, she said.

"Sometimes you have to hold your nose, but sometimes the Liberals ain't so bad," she said.

Dozens of resolutions on agenda

The party escaped a potentially divisive debate on Québécois nationhood after the Quebec wing of the party withdrew a motion on the issue on Tuesday.

The decision came one day after the House of Commons endorsed a similar motion that was presented by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Deputy Liberal leader Lucienne Robillard says the party can now get on with discussions on more than 100 resolutions on issues ranging from Canada-U.S. relations to legalizing marijuana. 

Delegates will also vote on whether to change their system of choosing a leader and may opt for a system of electronic voting.

Stewart says he doesn't mind the change, but will miss the atmosphere of a traditional political convention.

"Well, I think you'll miss the hype that you get from this type of a convention," he said.

"Once that second ballot comes down the back room and the negotiating starts to take place and that's the part that I think is exciting."

Delegates will take part in a series of policy workshops Wednesday ahead of an evening keynote speech from former Vermont governor and Democrat Howard Dean.

The party will pay tribute to former prime minister Paul Martin on Thursday night before voting begins on Friday, with the results of the first ballot expected late that evening.