Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, venturing deep into Conservative territory, when he visited Saskatchewan, acknowledged his party had errored in the way it treated Western Canada, admitting before 300-people in Regina: "God knows this party has made mistakes out in Western Canada and I know them. We have to be honest enough with our neighbours and citizens to say 'We didn't always get it right. We didn't always listen with respect. We didn't always understand what had to be done.' The dumbest thing you can do is run against Western Canada. The dumbest thing you can do is run against the energy sectors in Western Canada."

Ignatieff stated, the Liberal party had 'failed to under the tremendous importance' of the western energy sector as far back as the national 1980s energy programme, when the Trudeau Liberals introduced the despised policy that many felt siphoned oil revenue from the West, only to send it to Central Canada.

He also acknowledged former leader Stephane Dion's proposed carbon tax during the last federal election, didn't go down well in the West. While, environmental sustainability remains central to the Liberal vision for Canada, Ignatieff says his party on reflection on the Green Shift knows, they have to come up with an energy and environmental policy that will not only make Canada an efficient user but also the developer of sustainable energy, a policy that works with the energy sector.

Though, Ignatieff is hopeful the new policy will bring in the votes, it will be an uphill battle for his party as there are just two Liberal MPs in the three Prairie provinces i. e. Ralph Goodale in Saskatchewan, with the remaining 13 of Saskatchewan's 14-federal ridings Tory blue. As for Alberta, in last fall's federal election, its voters soundly rejected the Liberals, while there is only one Liberal MP in Manitoba.

Ignatieff's first trip to Saskatchewan since becoming the Liberal leader, McCallum, who has accompanied him 'on a listening tour' across Canada, reports a sense of optimism prevails in the Liberal party, as their new leader attracts interest from the public and builds confidence amongst caucus members, saying: 'One thing I'm sure, whatever the decision is on the budget I'm confident that the caucus will be united behind Michael Ignatieff on whatever decision he ultimately makes.'