Ignatieff Attracts Full House for Macdonald Hall Speaking Engagement

Photo by: Danie Chodos

MP Michael Ignatieff speaks to a capacity crowd in Macdonald Hall on September 20, 2007.

Michael Ignatieff, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, spoke to a capacity crowd of students and faculty in Macdonald Hall's largest lecture theatre on September 20, 2007. In his talk, "Taking Ownership: Canada in the 21st Century," Ignatieff, one of the world's foremost experts on human rights, democracy, security, and international affairs, stressed the importance of citizenship and political engagement.

"I'm here to urge upon all of you: don't live a life as a spectator," Ignatieff said, reflecting on his years teaching political science at Harvard University. "I've done it, and it's much better to live life as a citizen."

Throughout his speech, which was hosted by Queen's Law, the Visitor's Committee, and the Queen's International Affairs Association, Ignatieff pointed to national unity as a necessary corollary of Canadian citizenship. Whether between East and West, North and South, French and English, rural and urban, or aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians, he acknowledged the contribution of Canadian unity to our collective sense of belonging and our sense of attachment to one another. In this vein, Ignatieff was pleasantly surprised when a good number of Queen's students in attendance indicated they came from outside the province of Ontario.

As an academic-turned-politician, Ignatieff displayed a keen recognition that his audience was composed of students in law, political science, and other disciplines. In so doing, Ignatieff linked the concept of citizenship rights to that of the students' responsibility for maintaining these rights for others, which served to underscore his general message about political engagement among this generation. "You can't pass the responsibility down the chain," he said. "At some point, it's your job to stand up for the rights of others."

"It was a great experience to see someone as prominent as Mr. Ignatieff speak at Queen's Law," said Monica Chohan, MPA '06, Law ‘09. "I was particularly interested in his take on the importance of citizenship and on the role of individuals in building stronger communities and ultimately, a stronger country. I think that students and faculty alike enjoyed the lecture, and especially Mr. Ignatieff's willingness to candidly respond to questions from the audience."