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Thursday, April 21, 2005
Martin's speech
So Prime Minister Paul Martin didn't take my advice but he did do something bold -- promising to call an election within 30 days of the release of Mr. Justice John Gomery's report expected late this year. By then 1) people will either have forgotten about Adscam or will have tire of it, 2) Martin and his Liberal government will have a record to run on and 3) Martin will probably be exonerated by Justice Gomery's report. Martin also makes it virtually impossible for the opposition to force an election -- they'll look like schmucks if they do.
Overall it was a good speech -- that is, it will achieve would it needs to -- because Martin appeared quite upset with the "unjustifiable mess." The media will jump on board and report that Martin is serious about getting to the bottom of Adscam. He definitely scores points with voters by reminding them of all the things he has done to appear to be concerned about millions of dollars being squandered (cancelling the sponsorship program on his first day in office, calling the inquiry, calling for the RCMP to investigate illegal activities, etc...). But the central question remains: what did Paul Martin know about Adscam and if he didn't know anything, considering that he was the finance minister and a minister from the province in which the scandal occured, why didn't he? Was Martin, too, corrupt or was he incompetent?
Posted by Paul Tuns on April 21, 2005 in Canadian Politics | Permalink
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Comments
Martin also makes it virtually impossible for the opposition to force an election -- they'll look like schmucks if they do.
I don't buy it.
He knows it won't stop an election in June. The purpose of this speech was simply to give the Libs a weapon in the election. They will portray the conservatives as "rash."
Posted by: Texan | 2005-04-21 5:28:49 PM
The conservatives have to hammer home your last point. Martin can not be Mr. Innocent and at the same time have been a competent Justice Minister and Senior Cabinet minister from Quebec. Something smells hear. HOWEVER, the mainstream media (esp.CBC) will float over this point if no one calls them up short on it.
Steve, Peter, Jason etc. do not let this guy get up on an eight count. No Mercy!
Posted by: Jack | 2005-04-21 5:42:40 PM
In my thinking the very fact that he shut down the sponsorship program immediately upon assuming office means that he knew a lot more about what was going on than he is letting on. Remember that this was before the auditor general's report was made public.
Harper also made a good point in the press scrum following the statements. He said that we don't know when or if Gomery will report and that half the Liberal party will be in court in June trying to shut it down.
Posted by: TimR | 2005-04-21 5:47:15 PM
By all means let the Gomery Commission complete its work. We need to know of everyone who should face criminal prosecution. However, there is no reason to delay an election. With the revelations coming out of the commission on a daily basis, the Liberal Party has clearly forfeited the right to govern. It does not matter whether Martin is clean. His party clearly stinks.
Posted by: Peter Mahon | 2005-04-22 1:03:41 PM
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