Martin-mania is expanding in Canada

PM Jean Chrétien's former finance minister is experiencing support from all political sides

The political climate in Ottawa is confusing, with most of the federal parties looking for changes, searching for new ideas and new leaders. The only element that stands solid in the mist of all this confusion, is the name of the next leader of the Liberal Party: a backbencher from Montreal, Quebec from the riding of LaSalle-Émard. That's Paul Martin Jr.
But the title on his business card doesn't match his mantle. Hailed all over the land as the next Prime Minister of Canada, he's greeted like a rock star wherever he goes. He appears to be the white knight who is going to bring stability to a democratic system that seems to be gliding over the Hill searching for a place to land.
Martin's machine has rolled over any opponent and every organization seems to be ready to support him with both votes and money. His war chest is like a vacuum cleaner sucking up any political donation, even the ones that used to go to left and right-wing political parties. He is supported by Bay Street, Main Street and in union halls, once the cathedral of the NDP's former empire.
This Martin-mania evokes a déjà-vu from the late 1960s, when the country was hit by another "mania." But this time Paul Martin, the Junior, is on the receiving end of the stick. On the eve of this new session, Tandem conducted an interview with the man at the centre of this political storm.

Mr. Martin, aren't you concerned by all this attention and a possible "coronation?"
"I hope that we, all the Liberals, have an opportunity to discuss issues and prepare for the decade that lies ahead."

Don't you believe that the new rules preventing ministers to campaign for the leadership give you a considerable advantage, leaving only Dennis Mills as a potential challenger?
"Those are decisions made by other people. There is no doubt that Cabinet ministers have many advantages if they decide to run for the leadership and this, obviously, works both ways. Some people, like Dennis Mills or me, perhaps, have slightly more freedom but we do not have the advantages that other ministers have and there are disadvantages as well."

Do you miss Cabinet meetings?
"I very much enjoyed being the minister of finance. No doubt about that."

Would you go back?
"I think that you don't rewrite history."

They used to say you were popular on Bay Street and on Main Street. Now you're popular in union halls.
"It was a tremendous evening last night [Tuesday, Sept. 24, at a Toronto fundraiser that raked in $750,000 for the Martin machine] and, you are right, it was organized by Liuna Local 183. They did a tremendous job. There were many representatives of construction companies there and other construction unions. I really feel that what we saw that night, Canadians from all walks of life, confirms what I said in the speech, that the debate is not between the left and the right-wing, but between those who believe Canada has the opportunity to lead the world and those who believe that Canada is going to be the second best. That, to me, is the line of demarcation. You look at all the people that come to Canada from abroad, come here to build a better life for themselves, to build a better country. And I think that, what you saw in that room, was a tremendous enthusiasm for a very optimistic view of the future."

How do you like being a backbencher?
"I have always believed that the Members of Parliament have a strong role to play. I believe that the stronger the role of the MP is, the stronger the role of our democracy is. What we have to do is to give the MPs the tools, the instruments, the ability to speak and influence policies. I am able to do that from my position; perhaps it is an indication of what can be done."

But you are a backbencher who is attacked by the opposition more than the government.
"So far the attacks from the opposition, Alliance, and Conservatives haven't been very strong. I'd be delighted to engage the opposition leaders and any member of the opposition in the debate because this goes back to what I've just said. There isn't any doubt that when you look for examples of policies from Alliance, they are completely disconnected from the reality of Canadian life. The Conservatives are still struggling to find themselves. If they are able to wage a debate that interests Canadians, I'll be delighted to do it. The problem that exists is that all you hear from the Alliance and the Conservatives is the debate to unite the right, and that is not of a great interest to Canadians."

And what do you believe Canadians want to talk about?
"Canadians are more interested to hear what is going to happen to our healthcare system, how we're going to improve the education system, what's going to happen to our children. Those are the main issues and, if the opposition wants to engage in those issues, I would be delighted."

You mentioned the opposition, but not the NDP?
"They are in the middle of a leadership race but it doesn't seem that there are many policies discussed during this race and we don't know where they are going to come out. I'm sure that when their leadership race is over, they may as well turn their minds to the other parties and when they do, I assure all the Liberals are going to be there to meet on whatever ground they choose to fight."

Mr. Chrétien's government is talking about a five-year spending plan. They say you don't feel comfortable with it. The hands of the next Prime Minister might be tied.
"I think we saw all through the Conservative administration that you cannot project the whole five years out. Therefore, when things change, governments have their hands tied, programs get cut or the government goes back on the deficit. And that's what the Conservatives did. I believe that the policy that we followed in the course of the past five years is the right one."

But you had five-year plans.
"We did do five-year projections for the healthcare and the tax cuts, but those should be the very rare exceptions. Setting long-term objectives but having your spending on a two-year basis really allows you to adjust to changing circumstances. Let's take a look at the United States. Last year they had predicted a surplus of $235-billion, now they have a deficit of $130-billion; it's a swing of a $400-billion. The world can change very quickly, and I do not believe that it would make any sense to simply project that the unexpected is not going to happen, the world is not going to change. I think that the essence of the good, social management is to make sure that you don't go back to the deficit and you do protect yourself from the unexpected. Because let me tell you: the unexpected it will happen."

Let's talk about Kyoto. There are many numbers flying around. Can you tell us yours?
"While I support Kyoto, I believe that the first responsibility of a government is to lay down a clear plan as to how the target will be achieved. And, when you have that clear plan, then you can begin to deal with hard numbers, numbers that you can have confidence in. Without a clear plan, then you are going to have exactly the problem that you just described, that is to have numbers coming from the right, the left, the centre. I think that the first responsibility of the government is to lay out a clean plan. Then we can have a debate."

Are you telling us that the government you were in up to last summer, had no plan even though the protocol was signed in 1996?
"There was a great deal of work done on many aspects like the emissions trading and some of those components were done, but the overall comprehensive plan had not been there by the time I left the government."

One of the most important elements of the political debate in Canada in the last few years seems to be the relationship between you and Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. How would you characterize that relationship?
"The relationship is fine. Differences of opinion occur in government; that's the nature of our process; therefore people pursue different course of action. That's understandable, besides that, the relationship is fine."

Aren't you scared by the big expectations from Liberal MPs and Canadians?
"Last week I had a tour of many education facilities. It was a real eye-opener for me on a subject I've followed for quite some time. I believe that if I continue to do this, I'm sure we'll be able to handle the issues that the all country wants to deal with."

Publication Date: 2002-10-06
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=1845