Canada's 2004 Election

[maplesyrup]

Although Prime Minister Martin has not yet visited our Governor General, to drop the writ for our next election, that is expected in May, one senses we are already in pre-election mode.

It seems like every day now, we are being made aware of different events and issues, that will impact on who will be representing us in Parliament, next time around.

For example, last week, as far as the opposition parties are concerned, there were 2 significant events.

1 - Ed Broadbent, former leader of the NDP announced that he is running for the nomination for the NDP in Ottawa Centre.

2 - Strong rumours that New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord would be running for the leadership of the Conservative Party.

And, oh yes, an Ekkos Research poll was released.

Today we are being notified about a story concerning the price Sheila Copps is going to pay for having run againt Paul Martin for the Liberal leadership:

http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/Conte...ol=968793972154

Marien Meinen, former Canadian Alliance candidate in Ontario, won't be running in the London, Ontario area in the next election due to a personal family-related reason:

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePr.../19/291430.html

Also earlier today on the news, only heard it once, and then it disappeared, about some issue in relation to Toronto's waterfront. If anyone knows what this is about, please post the details.

[maplesyrup]

Winnipeg's mayor, Glen Murray, being interviewed on a panel with Toronto mayor David Miller, and Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell, inferred today that he was not, repeat not, going to be running for the Liberals in the next election.

For some background on this story go to :

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/.../19/291432.html

[maplesyrup]

We have had the corporate elites running trhis country through their hidden lobbyists for quite some time now, and as usual we get the same old, same old.

It seems like this time around, in the next election, we actually are going to be debating some substantive issues, if the following article in today's Globe and Mail is any indication:

'I have decided to seek a seat in Parliament because the Liberal government under the driving social and economic policies of Paul Martin has turned Canada into a deeply unequal society.

During the 1990s, the Liberal government followed the United States in claiming that we must choose between social justice and economic efficiency. They decided on a multibillion-dollar cut to social programs. During the same period, other leading democratic countries — Germany, Sweden, Austria, Norway, the Netherlands — managed to retain high levels of social programs and overcome deficits.

Paul Martin shows every indication of continuing with the false choices as Prime Minister that he began as minister of finance. While announcing yet another freeze on the public sector, he is proceeding with a $4.4-billion reduction in corporate taxes, scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1.

What have been the consequences of the biggest cut in social and environmental spending in Canadian history? The number of children in poverty is over the one-million mark — up, not down, from the time of Mr. Martin's 1989 promise to eliminate such poverty. Meanwhile, during the same period, five other countries virtually eliminated child poverty.

Real incomes of the typical Canadian family remain at the level they were at in the mid-1970s, while those of the rich have gone through the roof.

Cuts of billions of dollars in transfers to the provinces have meant cancer and heart patients in virtually every province have not received the care they deserve, and we can afford.

Average fees for university students have more than doubled (in France, Germany, Spain and Ireland — and many other European countries — university is free).

The number of food banks has increased 300 per cent from 1989 to this year (an increase from 1,100 to 3,287). These results are Paul Martin' s legacy to average and low-income Canadians.

In the midst of this, the most disastrous social impacts since the Second World War, the Martinites incredibly boast that they have run surpluses in the billions of dollars in each of the six past budgets, provided tax cuts in which the top 2 per cent (those earning more than $200,000) got 19 per cent of the cash. The government has also continued to collect millions in excessive Employment Insurance charges from workers and companies, charges that the Auditor-General claims are completely unwarranted.

The crucially important point, ignored by your resident neo-con John Ibbitson, is that this massive onslaught on equality was not necessary to obtain national economic efficiency. During the 1990s, a significant number of Western European countries in the same context of globalization and deficit pressures as Canada relied on a lower-interest-rate policy, economic growth and an equitable mix in taxes and cutbacks.

Results? In these countries, deficits were overcome. In Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, productivity increases in the 1990s equalled or exceeded those of the United States and Canada. Participation in voting and all kinds of other citizen activity in Scandinavia (which has the highest level of social spending) is higher than in the United States and Canada.

Instead of slashing social programs such as education and health to compete, as Mr. Ibbitson would recommend, these countries correctly see such expenditures as providing a competitive advantage. General Motors and Ford, among other reasons, choose to invest in Canada over the United States because, as a result of publicly financed health care, they don't have to provide their workers here with health-care benefits.

If I'm nominated and elected, I will work flat out with Jack Layton to rid Canada of the pre-1940s economic and social policies currently being pursued. Jack Layton's priority on the cities did not wait for an election year.

He has also shown how we could be combining environmental and economic concerns by building fuel-efficient cars. While Paul Martin was evading a clear answer on Kyoto, Mr. Layton actually led the battle in Toronto to put the new wind turbine on the city's waterfront. While Mr. Martin conducts seminars on the "politics of achievement," Jack Layton acts.

Innovative social-democratic policies in continental Europe, and Manitoba and Saskatchewan, have rejected the moral and intellectual barbarism of the new right. At the federal level, we should too. Paul Martin was correct when he said, while in opposition, that it was "garbage" to claim we must take "a broad axe to the social safety net" to have an effective economy.

Regrettably, he and Mike Harris wielded that axe. We've seen the disastrous social consequences. It's time to remove the axe and replace it with brains and compassion.'

by Ed Broadbent

Ed Broadbent is the former federal leader of the New Democratic Party and founding president of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development

It doesn't matter what one's political persuasion is. What is constructive is to put your ideas out in the public domain for Canadians to reflect upon, and discuss.

[maplesyrup]

Copps accuses Martin's team of threatening one half of the federal Liberal women's caucus:

http://ottawa.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View...t_copps20031224

[Goldie]

Perhaps the Conservative Party could draft Copps to rid the party of the intolerant stigma. Then we could label Paul Martin the extremist and chauvanist. With Bernie at the helm the conservatives would be true centrists with a strong right wing and feminists appeal.

I know, idealogically stupid but politcally smooth. The conservatives would carry the female vote. We would no longer be the party of grumpy old men, but women too.

O.K I know she is more likely to jump to the NDP but really we should nail the purple martins the same way they are eating up red tories votes like they are mosquitos.

[udawg]

Perhaps the Conservative Party could draft Copps to rid the party of the intolerant stigma.

The conservatives would carry the female vote.

New to these discussions... I hope that's a joke.

The Conservative Party would NOT get the female vote... and you'd lose half your men too, because I can't think of anyone who is pleased with what Ms. Copps did with any of her portfolios while in Cabinet. (Except the French and the feminists, and you'd lose more votes than you'd gain.)

[maplesyrup]

Stephen Dion says he did a good job with the Quebec file.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...Story/National/

[maplesyrup]

Martin edges Chretien for Canadian Editors/Broadcasters Newsmaker for 2003

The're sure pumping him up aren't they. What is that old expression, the bigger they are, the harder.............?

http://www.cjad.com/content/cjad_news/arti...asp?id=n122611A

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...555/?hub=Canada

Stephen Lewis named by Mclean's magazine as their Newsmaker of the Year for 2003, for his Aids/HIV work in Africa.

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/canada/a...229_72599_72599

Stockwell Day was named Newsmaker of the Year in 2001. Let's not forget about that.

Loserville:

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/canada/a...229_72608_72608

Black (Hollinger))

Copps (Cda)

Boudria (Cda)

Dion (Cda)

Campbell (BC)

Collenette (Cda)

Eves (ON)

Hermanson (SK)

Heatherington (Lrthridge, AB)

[maplesyrup]

I don't know if anyone has checked the NDP website recently but they have made some changes:

www.ndp.ca

They have added a section on the environment, probably hoping to appeal to the Green supporters. Looks like a good strategic move on their part.

The NDP seem to have a different kind of energy these days.

[maplesyrup]

Here's the first predictions in our new year:

Liberals: 182

Conservatives: 66

NDP: 40

Bloc: 20

http://64.4.36.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN...2d1%2fTSOPINION

Hummm.

And the next one:

http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjou...A0-1D0D03AEA3F3

-----

'Raises could boost top aides' salaries above those of MPs'

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto.../BNStory/Front/

'One of Paul Martin's first acts as Prime Minister was to quietly boost the pay of his new cabinet ministers' senior political staff by more than $32,000 a year.

His next act was to freeze pay boosts for other public servants.

The increase in salary means that chiefs of staff for his 29 full cabinet ministers will earn as much as $147,300 a year, $12,100 more than elected members of Parliament make.'

----

Note the word quietly.

Why does our Prime Minister Paul Martin want to try and hide this pay increase from Canadians?

While you are at it, take a look at today's Globe and Mail's poll, albeit unscientific:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Pag...bhub=VoteResult

[Gloria]

The Conservative Party would NOT get the female vote

Very true, and for very obvious reasons, including that neoconservatism would see women formally subjected by men.

(Except the French and the feminists, and you'd lose more votes than you'd gain.)

Care to explain this? Sounds like bigotry to me ... or Alliance rhetoric ... same thing really.

Since there's no right wing vote split (and if you don't believe me, go ask the Canada Election Study people), this new conservative party isn't going to make the inroads it needs to in Ontario, and will likely lose support in Atlantic Canada. The NDP might make a break-through if they're careful not to be too Jack-and-Toronto focussed. I predict the Liberals will win over 200 seats unless this mess in BC taints the federal party in the province.

[udawg]

Bigotry? [laughing] Just the truth. Feminists and the French are among the special interest groups who benefitted from the various programs in dear Sheila's various portfolios. Identifying the groups who seem to get copious amounts of federal funding does not a bigot make.

[Cameron]

Here is a Globe and Mail poll on the possible upcomming election, it shows the NDP and Conservatives grid-locked with 31% each....check it out...followed by the liberals...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Pag...bhub=VoteResult

[Alliance Fanatic]

I think that the Liberal's will have a minority government. If the the new conservative party gets more candidates other than Mackay, Harper, Prentice, maybe if a person like Jim Flahrety ran for the job. I think that whoever wins the leadership race the election will look much like this.

Liberal's-135

Conservative-120

NDP-20

BQ-36

The NDP will split the vote on the left, even with Wacko Jacko at the helm.

[maplesyrup]

Redistribution of Canada federal ridings, is scheduled to go into effect in April, 2004, immediately after which, there are rumours that Prime Minister Paul Martin will be going to our Governor General’s residence to drop the writ for Canada’s 38th election.

Scientific polling companies probably do it, but does anyone here at Mapleleafweb know the province/territory redistributed seat break downs into urban, suburban, and rural categories for each province/territory?

Once the breakdowns are completed, in order to get a grip on what general classifications of populations we have in each province/territiory, maybe we could create at least partially scientific polls of our own, and see how accurate we are, compared to the actual results. My hunch is that the folks here at Mapleleafweb could probably do quite well with forecasting.

PROV--------SEATS-----RURAL-----SUBURBAN-----URBAN

BC-------------36

AB-------------28

SK-------------14

MA-------------14

ON-----------106

QC------------75

NL--------------7

NB------------10

PE--------------4

NS------------11

YK--------------1

NW-------------1

NU-------------1

CA----------308

-------------------------------------------------------------

The following is a table showing a provincial/territory breakdown of population** and seats, with their respective percentages.

PROV-----POPULATION-----POP %-----SEATS-----SEATS %

BC----------3,907,738--------13.0--------36----------11.7

AB----------2,974,807---------9.7---------28------------9.1

SK------------978,933---------3.3---------14------------4.5

MA---------1,119,583---------3.7---------14------------4.5

ON--------11,410,046-------38.0--------106----------34.4

QC---------7,237,479--------24.1---------75----------24.4

NL------------512,930---------1.7-----------7------------2.3

NB------------729,498---------2.4---------10------------3.2

PE------------135,294---------0.5-----------4------------1.3

NS------------908,007---------3.9---------11------------3.6

YK--------------28,674---------0.1-----------1------------0.3

NW------------37,360----------0.1----------1------------0.3

NU-------------26,745----------0.1----------1------------0.3

CA-------30,007,094-------100.6-------308-----------99.9

** Population figures are based on Stats Can 2001

Census.

An attempt has been made to be as accurate as possible, but please advise if there are any errors in the calculations

There have been complaints that provinces were not getting enough seats, or too many seats, but it appears that the two provinces with the biggest differences percentagewise are Ontario which is short 3.6%, and BC which is short 1.3%.

------------------------------------------------

Have you had a chance to read today's article by James Travers?

'Reform, or just same old, same old?

Will Paul Martin make real changes?'

http://64.4.36.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN...%3d968350116467

Some of it may please you, and some of it you may disagree with, but there is lots of material here to munch on for people from all the different political persuasions. He talks about 30 seats in Ontario up for play, and yea, he's a raw, raw Martin booster, but he talks about the Conservatives, the NDP, the Bloc, as well as the Liberals. Some of what he says makes sense and some doesn't. Here's an example:

'If that isn't enough, Martin will be stickhandling an auditor-general's report that is widely expected to suggest that in issuing generous contracts to Quebec advertising firms, Liberals somehow mistook the public purse for their own.

Martin has already shelved the offending program as well as the communications agency that for decades made a science of spending taxpayer money for partisan purposes. But that won't be enough to distance Liberals from scandal if Sheila Fraser, easily Ottawa's most credible and feared official, declares that the rot runs deeper than a few scapegoat politicians, officials and bureaucrats.

Convincing Canadians that Liberal ethics isn't an oxymoron is just one of Martin's many challenges.

At least until April brings an election, the Prime Minister must maintain the momentum that puts him comfortably high in opinion polls and promises Liberals an extraordinary fourth consecutive majority.'

Just don't know why Mr Martin needed to hire Scott Feschuk, the National Post's television critic and humorist, while he has Mr Travers to do his bidding.

Edited January 4, 2004 by maplesyrup

[sir_springer]

Issue that will shape the next election?

Three of them...

Change, change, and change.

Canadians are up to their butts in voter fatigue with the Liberals.

Thus, Martin is deperately trying to market himself as a changed man, and a man of change, who will affect such upon Ottawa.

I sincerely doubt that very many Canadians are buying into that line of crap.

Something to reflect back upon...

We were recently reminded that Stanfield was "the best Prime Minister we never had" (not in my opinion, mind you).

Remember that he was up against Pierre Trudeau...and even so, he came within 2 seats of winning against him.

The contrasts in image between Trudeau and Stanfield were rather stark.

Paul Martin is NOT Pierre Trudeau...despite all his efforts to generate "Martinmania".

And if anything, the contrasts between Martin and Harper work in Harper's favour, primarily due to generational gap.

For about 18 months, Martin has had the advantage of hiding behind Chretien's skirt, speaking to Liberal crowds, avoiding controversy, picking and choosing his moments.

For about 18 months, the entire media in this country has been totally rapt with the ongoing gong show that has been the Liberal Party, and its internal battles.

We're into an entirely new phase now.

Martin is front and center...and I'm already noting that he's not impressing too many pundits, or anyone else, either. His speeches are over the top apple pie shtick; long on superlatives, short on substance. He's all over the map on controvercial issues. He wishy-washy until hell won't have any more.

In a word: He's "vulnerable".

Now Stephen Harper finally has the target for which he's been patiently waiting for about 18 months.

Me thinks it gets really interesting from here forward.

Within the collective mindset of Canadian voters, there is pretty much only one way to affect change: Throw the bums out, period.

All they need is a reasonably credible alternative.

And that's all they're looking for, too.

Not image, not glitz, not hoopla, not truckloads of promises and freebies.

Just credibility, within the context of some reasonable sense of continuity.

At the end of the day, it's all the crap of the last 5 years that ultimately going to torch this Liberal government.

Try as he desperately will, Martin cannot extricate himself from that litany of crap.

Hell, he approved the budgets, and signed the cheques for just about all of it.

The NDP won't have any say in anything...and will be lucky to survive with party status, which I doubt they will.

[maplesyrup]

Canada's changing political landscape.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Start your engines!

First out of the gate in this exciting election (?) year is the NDP.

There was this young man from Quebec who ran for the leadership of the NDP last January. His name is Pierre Lacasse and according to key party members he won the convention if not the leadership.

Today's National Post has announced that Pierre Lacasse has decided to run in Brian Mulroney's former riding in Manicouagan, Quebec.

This will definitely be one of the 'ridings to watch' come election night.

'Star of federal NDP convention to run in Mulroney's old riding'

'NDP firebrand to run in Mulroney's former riding'

'Pierre Ducasse, defeated in 1997, says Quebec politics has changed.'

http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id...d1-1819374be6c6

'Ducasse was the talk of the convention in Toronto last year when his fiery speeches generated some of the loudest cheers.'

'Mr Heath pointed out NDP support in Quebec has jumped to almost 10% in Quebec"

'The NDP has never fared well in the riding and Ducasse himself was soundly defeated by Fournier in the 1997 election, but the NDP executive member is hoping the changing political landscape in Quebec could give him a chance.'

'The Bloc is seen as not realy seen as having a "raison d'etre" any more, he said. When you look at the fact that (Bloc leader) Gilles Duceppe is trashing us in every single interview that he does, I think that they recognize there is some potential.'

Kind of reminds me about Prime Minister Paul Martin's year end interviews, where he kept mentioning the NDP, don't you think?

2000 election results:

Manicouagan (BQ 1,532) 133:134

xGhislain Fournier BQ 11,597

Robert Labadie LIB 7,730

Laurette de Champlain CA 1,201

Gaby-Gabriel Robert PC 830

Normand Caplette NDP 382

1997 election results:

Manicouagan (BQ 8,847)

Ghislain Fournier BQ 12,208

Andre Maltais Lib 10,675

Michel Allard PC 2,009

Pierre Ducasse NDP 1,041

Edited January 5, 2004 by maplesyrup

[Morgan]

Indeed, IMO, Paul Martin has good reason to worry about the NDP splitting the left wing vote, which would be a great help to conservatives in ridings where the race is close.

The Liberals have become increasingly more socialist over the years, and if you're a "re-distribution of wealth/special interest" left winger, heck why not vote for the real goods[NDP] instead of the copycat version[Liberals] whose faces are old news anyways. Come on, Paul Martin, what new energy, vitality does that re-cycled Chretien tire have to offer the bleeding hearts?

Nader and Perot functioned as "spoilers" and Layton's NDP could end up taking a similar role.

Quebec will always lean left wing overall, so what's one seat loss for the PC's? Big deal.They may make it up in Ontario when Liberals and NDP's split the vote and allow for PC/CA candidates to end up winning those ridings.

I say: "Go NDP!" Strong NDP candidates can be the best thing that the PC/CA Party can hope for.

[maplesyrup]

What do you suppose the Liberal Party of Canada's internal polling is saying?

-from today's NDP website

January 5, 2004

New Liberal Attack Page

'New Liberal Attack Page Shows NDP's On The Rise - Paul Martin is Worried About The NDP and our Innovative Ideas'

http://www.ndp.ca/index.php3

'OTTAWA - The NDP today welcomed the arrival of a new Liberal attack website on leader Jack Layton, the latest proof that the NDP is the party on the rise in federal politics. The page is linked from the main page of the Liberals' website and comes after Paul Martin habitually criticized Layton in year-end interviews.

Paul Martin is clearly worried about the NDP's innovative ideas for cities, the environment and our economy, and so he should be. Jack Layton has put more innovative solutions in place on a municipal budget than Martin ever did, sitting on the biggest federal surplus in history.'

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Hill Tmes there is an article by John Reynolds saying that the Liberals will put off the election because of the police raids in BC.

http://www.thehilltimes.ca/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Chretien hard act to follow'

by Richard Gwyn

http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/Conte...ist969907618300

'We are an egalitarian society. It's the most fundamental of all the cross-border differences. It's why we've made universal, free, heath care into a national icon.

The very rich threaten our national identity. In some profound way they aren't wholly Canadian, or aren't the same as the rest of us as we struggle with mortgages, children's education expenses, taxes.'

-----------------------------------

Bulletin:

'Suspect arrested in connection with the raid on the Legislature leaves the country'

http://www.cknw.com/news/news_local2.cfm?i...?item=43670&c=1

Edited January 6, 2004 by maplesyrup

[maplesyrup]

Barbara Yaffe has a column in today's Vancouver Sun entitled:

'Bush backlash factor might benefit Layton'

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouvers...F6-542F0CE5D23B

Ms Yaffe often writes about Western alienation in Canadian politics, but today she is focusing on an issue that will impact on our next election in Canada.

'Against that backdrop it should come as no surprise that something of an anti-Bush backlash has arisen in Canada, a country traditionally more at ease with Democrats in the White House. Certainly, there were no similarly strong feelings about Bill Clinton's policies. Mr. Clinton made a strong impression to be sure, but he never influenced Canadians' voting intentions.

Given the past year's events, voters can't be blamed for feeling more nationalistic, and proud of their moderation and peace-loving ways. Even those believing Canada must renew its armed forces and rid the world of dictators are turned off by Mr. Bush's bully talk and cowboy tactics.

Those dreaming of a gentler world may well look to Mr. Layton and company. New Democrats have been promoting peace and environmental issues. They've spoken for the little guy.'

Candians aren't anti-American, but there are still a lot of doubts in Canada about free-trade and NAFTA, and Canadians have different perspectives on issues such as softwood lumber, mad cow, Kyoto, marijuanna, gay marriage, Africa, and Iraq, than do our American friends.

-----------------------------------------------

'PM, Layton in Net Battle'

By BILL RODGERS - OTTAWA BUREAU CHIEF, SUN MEDIA

http://www.canoe.com/CNEWS/Canada/2004/01/.../06/305816.html

'Layton said yesterday, "Canadians know what Paul Martin is all about. They know he's spoken of ideas before but abandoned them to implement conservative policies for his corporate friends the moment he took office."'[

Another example of Canada's changing political landscape.

Edited January 6, 2004 by maplesyrup

[Morgan]

Who is Barbara Yaffe? .

maplesyrup said:

Candians aren't anti-American, but there are still a lot of doubts in Canada about free-trade and NAFTA, and Canadians have different perspectives on issues such as softwood lumber, mad cow, Kyoto, marijuanna, gay marriage, Africa, and Iraq, than do our American friends.

Let's be clear. It's maplesyrup and the esteemed ex-CBC'er/ ex-Carlton U. journalism graduate Barbara Jaffe, not Canadians at large, who have doubts and different perspectives about Kyoto, free trade, gay marriage blah, blah, blah

Layton benefiting from a George Bush backlash? Huh? Ms. Jaffe has it all wrong.

As I said before, Layton will benefit from a LPOC backlash due to the expose of various scandals involving the corrupt Chretien apparatchik. Though socialists love the idea of re-distribution of wealth, they're not particularly crazy about elected officials re-distributing wealth into their own pockets. Socialist voters want part of the action, too. From a socialist's perspective, it's not just George Radwanski who should be dining on $25 hamburgers, if you know what I mean.

[Neal.F.]

Barbara Yaffe USED TO BE a respected conservative columnist. She supported Stock Day and the CA in the 2000 election. However, since the bloodless Coup d'état engineered by Paul Martin got underway in aug. 2002, she has been a steadfast mouthpiece for the Martin organization in BC, the way I see it.

She has become the champion of gay rights, even to the point of out-queering Svend Robinson. She was even suggesting there is no place in parliament for MPs like Grant Hill, elsie Wayne, larry Spencer , David Kilgour, Dan McTeague etc, ie all those who she considers homophobic.

That borders on totalitarianism, insofar as the only ones who have a right to publicly voice their opinion (shared by many of their constituents, I might add) are those whose public views have passed the political correctness test.

As far as I'm concerned, she has lost all credibility as a conservative spokesperson. In my view she's a bought & paid for martinite, and I wouldn't give you a piece of dog turd for anything she's written in the last two years.

[maplesyrup]

from the CBC website.

http://cbc.ca/stories/2004/01/06/raid_reaction040106

'On Dec. 28, the RCMP and Victoria police raided the offices of two ministerial staffers inside the B.C. legislature in connection with a major drug investigation, carting off hundreds of files.

One of the targets of the raid was David Basi, a top aide to B.C. Finance Minister Gary Collins and a senior activist for the recent Martin leadership campaign. The other was Bob Virk, another Martin activist who was an aide to B.C. Transportation Minister Judith Reid.'

Police also visited Mark Marissen, Bruce Clark, and Eric Borman.

NDP leader Jack Layton at a news conference in Ottawa this afternoon asked Prime Minister Paul Martin:

"Why are these people still wielding influence in Canada's governing party? … I think that propriety would suggest that officials step aside during this investigation so that there can be no questions about this matter." '

Layton was asking for the folowing three BC Martin Liberals to step aside:

1 'Mark Marissen ran Martin's Liberal leadership campaign team and will likely be the party's organizer for B.C. in the federal election expected this spring. He's also on the Liberal party's federal executive in B.C.'

(Mark Marissen is married to Christy Clark, Deputy Premier and Education Minister in the BC Campbell Liberal Government.)

2 Bruce Clark, chief fundraiser for the B.C. wing of the federal Liberals. Police raided his place.

(Bruce Clark is the brother of Christy Clark, Deputy Premier and Education Minister in the BC Campbell Liberal Government.)

3 'Eric Borman, director of operations for the Martin leadership campaign and currently communications director for the federal Liberal party in B.C. Police carried out a raid at a Victoria public relations firm called the Pilot House Group, where Borman is a partner.'

I think Mr Layton has a point.

The BC Premier Gordon Campbell fired one ministerial assistant, and suspended another ministerial assistant both of whom had ties to the Martin Liberals following the RCMP raid on the BC Legislature.

Why doesn't Mr Martin ask his people to step down until this matter gets sorted out? No one is suggesting they did anything wrong, but this is a major police investigation, and for appearances sake, it would be prudent to do so.

Edited January 6, 2004 by maplesyrup

[maplesyrup]

Do you think this raid by the RCMP on the BC Legislature will force Prime Minister Martin to postpone his election that was rumoured for around May 10th, 2004?

Edited January 6, 2004 by maplesyrup

[maplesyrup]

I don't know many of you live out here on the West coast, but for those of you who don't, there is a television station on Vancouver Island, called the New VI.

It seems that ever since the RCMP raid on the BC Legislature on Sunday, December 28, there has been daily shows devoted to this issue on this TV station. Today they had 1 & 1/2 hours devoted to this growing scandal. The Ottawa press corps can try to ignore it all they want, but his story has legs.

For example, Norm Spector, who is a regular political commentator on the New VI and also a journalist, contrasted the differences between Paul Martin and Jack Layton today, as the NDP leader held a news conference in Ottawa, asking Martin to suspend the federal Liberal people involved in the police raids:

Martin - nervous and uncomfortable

Layton - handled the media's difficult questions well, was prepared, impeccable timing, the best he has ever seen him.

For most Canadians this is the first time that they are seeing both these men perform in their respective roles, and remember, first impressions are lasting impressions.

Edited January 7, 2004 by maplesyrup