Canada Free Press -- ARCHIVES

Because without America, there is no free world.

Return to Canada Free Press

Canadian Politics

Paul Martin: trust me
Stephen Harper: okay

By arthur Weinreb, associate Editor,
Friday, august 19, 2005

Stephen Harper appeared with Pierre Bourque on CFRa radio in Ottawa last Tuesday to discuss the appointment of Michaëlle Jean as Canada’s next governor general. The interview took place before Jean released a statement denying that she had ever been a member of a separatist party or organization and said that she was a strong and committed federalist.

Harper had told Bourque that Paul Martin had called him and told him that the rumours that were circulating about Jean were untrue. The prime minister had made it clear to him that Michaëlle Jean was a committed federalist. Paul said, "trust me" and Stephen said, "okay".

Now there was no evidence, then or now, that Paul Martin was lying when he made that statement to Harper and others. But Canadians had no idea what that statement was based upon, other than the paternalistic, trust me attitude of Martin. although Stephen Harper wanted more clarification of incidents such as the one where Jean appeared on camera, toasting what appeared to be Quebec separation with a group of prominent sovereignists, the Conservative Party leader seemed overeager to believe whatever Paul Martin was telling him.

again, there was no evidence that the PM was lying but Harper’s willingness to take Martin at his word seemed strange for man who wants to run the next election campaign on the issue of integrity. after all, Paul Martin was not the prime minister at the time of the sponsorship scandal, a fact that Martin and his supporters are willing to keep pointing out. It is extremely difficult to see how Harper can argue that he has more integrity than Martin when he is so willing to accept Michaëlle Jean’s commitment to federalism that is based on, not evidence, but Paul Martin’s say so. But then again, integrity and honesty in government seems to be fading fast as an election issue. a recent poll shows that the issue of honesty and corruption in government is way down the list of priorities of Canadians. a CTV/Globe & Mail poll revealed that only 2 per cent of respondents think that the sponsorship scandal and government corruption is the most important issue facing Canadians. Not surprisingly, health care topped the list with 16 per cent of Canadians indicating that is was the number one issue facing the country.

and speaking of health care, the position of Stephen Harper and his Conservatives on how health care should be delivered in this country is no different than that of Martin’s Liberals. There was a time in the not too distant past when the mere mention of the word "private" in relation to the delivery of health care was political suicide. But this all changed when the left leaning and activist Supreme Court of Canada held that Quebeckers had the right to purchase private health insurance when their right to life, liberty and security of the person was jeopardized by long wait times in the public system. The thinking of Supreme Court was adopted by the Canadian Medical association, hardly an extreme right group, at their recent convention where they voted for allowing private health care when people cannot receive timely treatment under the public system. Yet Harper’s position on health care is the same as the government’s; the only difference being that the Conservatives say that they can do it better, faster, cheaper, etc. than the Liberals can.

Stephen Harper’s unwillingness to disagree with the Liberals on key issues as well as his now painting Paul Martin as a man of integrity who should be taken as his word when he makes statements based upon no or unknown evidence shows that he is not cut out for a leadership role in the rough and tumble world of partisan politics.

Perhaps Merger Boy should think about having his party join the governing Liberals. The social conservatives in his party, the ones who are prohibited from speaking out, will be able to function just as well in the Liberal Party of Canada. and let Jack Layton, the de facto leader of the opposition, go the whole route and move into Stornoway.

Paul Martin should be taken at his word; remember where you heard that.