Federal Liberals delay leadership vote for full two years

VANCOUVER – Devastated federal Liberals won’t choose a new leader for a full two years.

Delegates to a special "virtual" convention have decided to postpone a leadership vote until sometime between March 1 and June 30, 2013.

That’s an even greater delay than proposed by party brass, who had wanted Liberals to take 18 to 22 months to rebuild before choosing a permanent replacement for Michael Ignatieff.

Ignatieff resigned after leading the once-mighty party to its worst defeat in history in the May 2 election, which saw the Liberals reduced to a third party rump with only 34 seats.

Toronto MP Bob Rae was named interim leader last month and will continue to hold down the fort until a permanent leader is chosen.

The party’s constitution requires a successor to be chosen within five months of a leader’s resignation.