Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff sought to deliver a rousing speech before the party faithful in Quebec on Sunday, in an effort to present a united front after his lieutenant in the province, Denis Coderre, resigned last week.

"You have a simple task," he told a Liberal conference in Quebec City, speaking in French. "It's to convince Quebecers that we have to change and that we are the choice of change."

In a wide-ranging address, Ignatieff spoke of embracing green technology, encouraging trade with large developing countries such as Brazil and India, and criticized recent funding cuts for cultural programs.

At a press conference following his speech, he said his party would continue its campaign to bring down the Conservative-led government and spark an election. But he did not say when he would present Parliament with a new confidence motion.

"I'll decide if and when," he said. "I'll decide as we go along."

Ignatieff also told reporters that he will nominate someone to replace Coderre as Quebec lieutenant in the coming days, most likely another elected MP.

"I will name this representative, and I believe we will choose perhaps at the same time a leading organizer," he said.

Coderre resigned from his post as Ignatieff's Quebec lieutenant last week, due to a dispute about which candidate would run in Montreal's Outrement riding. Coderre had wanted businesswoman Nathalie Le Prohon to become the riding's Liberal candidate, but Ignatieff gave Martin Cauchon a chance to win the nomination.

"Recent events have, alas, proved that I no longer had the moral authority to occupy the post of Quebec lieutenant," Coderre said at a press conference in Montreal last Monday.

Coderre denied that his decision to step down had to do with the "settling of accounts" and said he still has "confidence" in Ignatieff. But he suggested the Liberal leader needs new advisers when it comes to Quebec.

Later, the Montreal MP made conciliatory comments on a prerecorded Quebec talk show that will air Sunday. But he was not expected to attend the party meeting in Quebec City.

Many in the Liberal party condemned Coderre for trying to block Cauchon from running in the Outrement riding.

Cauchon is a former justice minister in Paul Martin's government who left politics in 2004. He recently signalled his intention to return to Parliament Hill in the same riding he held for 11 years.

Rumours have circulated that Coderre sees Cauchon as a potential rival in future contests for the party's leadership. But Cauchon declined to confirm that a rivalry exists.

"When there's power struggles in the party, it's a good sign," Cauchon told CTV Question Period on Sunday.

Meanwhile, New Democrat Thomas Mulcair, the elected MP for Outrement, criticized Cauchon for laying claim to the riding.

"Mr. Cauchon has left politics because it suited him to leave politics; now he thinks he can just jump back in," he said. "I've got news for him: In the meantime, Outremont has become a solid NDP riding."

Although Mulcair is the only federal New Democrat who holds a riding in Quebec, he said his party has seen its support slowly rise in the province over the past few years, while Liberal support has faded.

Ignatieff declined to comment on the rift during an event on Saturday. Earlier in the week, the Liberal Leader warned there would be "consequences" for Coderre's behaviour.

However, a spokesman for Ignatieff confirmed on Friday that the Montreal MP will not be removed from caucus.