What is the Paul Martin Legacy?

There are certain very gifted and intelligent individuals who should never hold the office of Prime Minister; sorry to say, but Paul Martin was one of them. For one, the man could not communicate clearly to Canadians his vision for our country. Evidently, he had many ideas: clean up the environment with the "One Tonne Challenge", bolster childcare with an intrepid multilateral agreement with the provinces, etc. Unfortunately, these individual policies seemed to blend into a jumble of disorganised thinking with no clear direction.

Secondly, like it or not, he represented Canada rather poorly in relations with our largest ally and trading partner. A moderate dose of anti-American sentiment is always a surefire vote winner and probably motivates us to be more competitive on the global stage. Mr. Martin, though, took this to the extreme and made things so cold between us that even the polar bears were complaining.

Sponsorship was much to blame for the Liberals' final swift kick out of power and nobody envied Mr. Martin's position in the face of ceaseless charges of corruption and greed. Perhaps ultimately the Martin government was doomed from the start as victims of circumstances beyond their control. Still, one must wonder how things would have turned had a different PM been at at the helm.

[updated Thu Nov 30 09:07:28 -0500 2006]

Good Morning,

I live in the former PM's home town and in his dad's riding. Paul Martin Sr. was a very respected politician in Windsor. It made sense that Jr. would follow suit and land a job in Ottawa. There could be a "political gene" for all I know, but it was obvious to some of us around here that the kid didn't have it.
I believe Paul Sr. would have went on the attack. Mr. Chretien would be busy today justifing the "I didn't know" argument. Quebecers would know which image to hang up in disgust if daddy "P" was around. Canadians would never forget. Politics was definately a blood sport with Paul Sr. and I imagine guys like Herb Gray and others would be drafted to defend the Liberal brand.
It seems Paul Jr. was too eager to make friends and forgot about his enemies, known, or unknown. Sometimes the apple falls a long way from the tree.

[updated Thu Nov 30 10:50:09 -0500 2006]

Hey why not!!!, lets celebrate Mr. Martins huge accomplishments in his short reign shall we.Lets see now.... 1) He litterally destroyed our Healt Care across Canada with his cuts
2) Mr. Martin dedicated our Liberal destroyed military to Affghanastan, wearing green in desert warfare (3) Promised and Announced just about whatever the Liberal Party could to make farmers happy but then failed as usual to fix the funding problems. (4) Completely ignored the Softwood Lumber File, and now the Liberals are trying to be champions in the House on behalf of the Softwood Lumber Industry hahaha what a joke!! (5) Signed on and did absolutley nada on the Kyoto File, GHG's are up 35% while Mr. Dithers was in office, and finally lets not forget the Sponsorship Scandal, yes the Liberals have alot to celebrate with their former leader. I could go on but I would take up to much space. By the way, lets congradulate Mr. Martin on how well he handled our relationship with the U.S. I'm amazed that we have any dialoge at all after the Liberals were ousted. So enjoy the convention Mr.Martin and lets hope the next leader of your party isn't remotely like you.

[updated Thu Nov 30 11:11:02 -0500 2006]

Paul Martin will be remembered more as a strong Finance Minister rather than a strong Prime Minister.

[updated Thu Nov 30 11:22:24 -0500 2006]

As much as I did not Vote for the Liberals, I liked Paul Martin, but he got stabbed in the back by this corrupted Prime Minister Jean Chretien and his dysfunctional group of MP's and Senators. As a matter of fact Nik will you send me a e-mail when this mr b.s. is on tv, I will change the channel, I actually met Jean Chretien with the late Jack Webster at Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver, Jack was a co member and loved his golf. But my first impress of J.C. was this guy is a bull shitter.

On another note the Parties even Conservatives are included they are not focusing on what Canadians want - That is the Public Service and Public Servants, I personally want 85% of the Public Servants in the Department of Immigration and Foreign Affairs fired most are non Canadians. They are lazy, slow and incompetant, over 3 months to do a simple sponsorship to Canada is not acceptable, losing forms, changins forms, These Abassorders must be made more accountable for the action of their staffs and knowing about Canadians.

[updated Thu Nov 30 14:23:56 -0500 2006]

First I'm from Newfoundland and Labrador - the treatment of this Province by all parties is unacceptable. Having said that I voted Liberal in most elections - as "center" social and economic policies appeal to me. Paul Martin performed well as the Minister of Finance from a global perspective and unfortunately "conservative" from a Federal/Provincial perspective.
I supported Paul Martin when he became leader - but did not support him in the last election. It was not so much about the ad-scam but more about my perception that Paul had become a "managed" Prime Minister. His potential was phenominal but he turned it over to "handlers". It should be a lesson to all future leaders - we elect who we want based on that person's abilities - not the unelected unseen spin doctors in the backroom.

[updated Thu Nov 30 16:36:26 -0500 2006]

I have always found it impossible to believe that Martin wasn't involved in or at least aware of the scandal and its depth in his party in his province. The man had to know about it and Cretien got out when the getting was good. Unfortunately Martin and Cretien now share the image of scandal and corruption and for many of us, that will always be their legacy.
We elected Cretien because we had no choice (the only real opposition was split) not because he was popular that is the very sad reality. The Liberals continue to live in a shell in regard to our position vis-a-vis the United States.

The war in Afghanistan is very much our war (with the killing of Canadians in the NY towers) and all parties were in favor of our involvement. Watching the convention one would think that the Afghanistan war is a uniquely Conservative event. Martin at least had the guts to get us involved and not remain cowering in a corner with Germany and France as the US and Britain do the heavy lifting.

[updated Thu Nov 30 16:40:17 -0500 2006]

I find it funny that Paul Martin and the Liberals in general are considered to be a fiscal party and one that brought about the end to deficits. How quickly people forget that for better or worse, it was the Tories who brought us the dreaded GST and that is the reason why Canada's deficit is now on the decline. The Liberals were voted in on the promise of scrapping the GST (and I voted for them) and then as soon as they had power, they quickly changed their mind about getting rid of the GST and used that new found money to brainwash the majority of the Canadian public that they were a fiscal prudent party who brought Canada out of debt. What a hypocrisy!! I am glad they did what they did because it opened my eyes and I never again voted Liberal. Paul Martin as a good finance minister is a joke, the Liberals as a good financial party is a joke and I wish more Canadians would wake up and realize that. One more interesting observation, the Liberals convention motto, A party built for everyone, A PARTY BUILT TO WIN just goes to show what they are really about. Not a party that is for the Canadian people or about building Canada into a better place, but rather a party that craves power, will do anything to get power and do anything to keep power. As a former Liberal voter, all I can say is thank God for Stephan Harper and the new Conservative Party.

[updated Thu Nov 30 16:46:27 -0500 2006]

What IF the herd of zelous slate designated herds do NOT show up at the evening event? Rather partying, booze and bullying for 2nd ballot people takes preference?
A half empty hall will speak about the dissillusioned Liberals that did not make convention AND that the same old, same old continues. The challenge to imrpove the Liberal system appears to have been taken off the rails already by Martin's old boy's and their control games yet again.

[updated Thu Nov 30 18:07:34 -0500 2006]

Let me be very, very clear. The facts are that Paul Martin continuously promised the Canadian people he would fix health care "for a generation" and meet Kyoto targets and he did no such thing. He made numerous other outlandish promises during the last election which he could never have delivered. His legacy is one of broken promises, poor Federal government management, and a seriously divided Liberal party.

[updated Thu Nov 30 19:48:57 -0500 2006]

Nik Im waiting for the next topic this is to slow, the bottomline is as follows, no matter who the Liberals elect as Leader, I will not be giving them my Vote, it is still to early they must be punishd for the Sponsorship, Gun Registry, HRDC, GST Elimination,and god only knows what else, it is not a National Party, but Im only One Vote out 30 million and the Liberals are not getting it. Tell me you Libeal expecters, I have not seen one Liberal policy to address these bungling programs, Not a word from this Convention to address Accountability I want all Civil Servants to be disciplined not just the Politicians, the Civil Servants are not providing Customer Service to Canadians if your only knew what I have to go through to Sponsor my wife to Canada, these Civil Servants are stupid slow and lazy it is only a 8 to 12 page application, a moron could do it in 3 days these lazy individuals take 3 months or more, I paying the fee but I have to do the work for them, this call center in Montreal is useless, but thanks to the Liberals they are gutless to discipline anyone or fire them. AND YOU KNOW WHAT IM NOT A IMMIGRANT IM A BORN CANADIAN THAT IS TREATED LIKE A THIRD WORLD PERSON BECAUSE OF THE G.D. BILLINGUALIST IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE WITH THIS ONLY SKILL,THEY ARE NOT CAPABLE OF GETTING THE JOB ON TIME. THE WHINNINERS.

[updated Thu Nov 30 20:31:34 -0500 2006]

When Martin became PM, alot of people did have high hopes for Martin. He was a highly sucessful businessman, a sharp minister of finance... and then came Gomery.

The links to these federal debt charts go back to '69 and put it all into perspective. But there are other charts that should go with the national debt to complete the picture of just what Martin will be remembered for in his time as finance minister.
Federal deficit charts:
http://www.blogscanada.ca/egroup/PermaLink.aspx?guid=c5e56576-82b5-44a8-b8f4-1e142b85e3dc

Consolidated provincial/federal debt charts:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/parliament39/net-national-debt.html

last PDF file page has chart of C $dollar back to 1970, when Canada’s currency began to “float”:
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/dollar_book/june1970.pdf

I couldn’t find the Historical interest rates of Canada’s treasury since 1970, but its likely out there. Regardless, there is something that all readers should know, especially the ones who take the time to look at these charts.

There has been much blame put on the Libs for racking up debt under Trudeau, and the Conservatives under Mulroney for doing the same. There’s been much credit taken by the Conservatives for introducing the GST to pay down the debt, even though they never did take much credit for their spending that drove them to such an introduction. And there’s been much finger pointing by the NDP and Cons for the deep cuts in spending combined with increases in corporate and personal tax increases under Martin. However, anyone who dares to look at who spent the money ( and if they did closely, on what, like Mulroney’s 11.7 billion on military spending in GWBush’s war in ’91, or the 4.5 billion spent by Trudeau for energy efficient homes, but don’t quote me on the last figure) and what measures were needed to avoid a currency crisis with any kind of understanding at all, especially considering who was in power from 70’ on, well, these critics should be more silent.

In the early 80’s, deficits were ballooning under Trudeau and while a change of government to the Cons in 84’ staved off what should have been a currency crisis then, the deficits continued to run up with bleeding ink that was caused by continued cuts in taxes and increases in spending both by Trudeau and Mulroney. By the time Paul Martin came on the scene, the currency crisis was becoming full blown. There was no time to win an election by default, or blame the “other” parties for what went wrong.

Clearly, Martin had a choice in a recession climate with low commodity values and a banking industry clearly groaning from FTA. It was cut spending and increase taxes while keeping the GST, or increase taxes, keep the GST and social spending, and be today, where we were at in 91’. Some socialists believe this is the way we should have gone. I’m not one of them.

Will he be remembered for the first nations Kelowna accord? Nope. Harper killed it. The environment? He signed off on Kyoto. A 10 billion dollar plan was in the works, never saw the light of day… but they did double the size of watershed parks in Canada with Dion. Daycare? Harper killed it.

The Afghanistan war? Soldiers weren’t dying under Martin, nor were they put in harms way in large numbers. Shot up by American forces, maybe, but Canadians weren’t coming back by the dozens in a box. This year, Harper took over the southern part of Afghanistan were 300 American soldiers died since 2002, with 8000 American troops stationed there during this time. Was Harper dumb enough not to expect casualties? He has knowingly or ineptly, and will continue, to put Canadian troops in harms way for a war that has been fought for the wrong reasons from the get go.

But Martin won’t be remembered as being a Bush sucker for a phoney war on terrorism generated by lies put forth by the Republican efforts to promote globalization, defined as setting up world markets in countries that don't yet have them (or else) so that they can own middle east assets on paper…

What Martin will be remembered for is windmills and being a fall guy for Gomery. What will I remember him for? Making the tough right choices in tough times. Am I glad to see him go? Few who could see the Gomery scandal, seriously thought Martin would glide to a second term. I’m glad see Harper only get a minority! The NCC presidential, Republican led Stephen Harper could have done better with someone else other than Martin running against him within a Liberal Gomery climate. In spite of his critics, Martin did serve this country and when the smoke clears, and the BS and the bias subsides, the historians will serve him justice… a man that served, (albeit sometimes questionably) his country well.

[updated Thu Nov 30 21:34:25 -0500 2006]

Martin proved to be the ambulate proof of Peter's Principle, "People will rise to the level of their incompetency". He was a great Minister. He was a disaster as PM. It's too bad, he seems like a genuinely nice guy....maybe that's why he didn't last.

[updated Thu Nov 30 22:06:59 -0500 2006]

Oh yes Mark Tooksbury tell about Paul Martin business background you know all those ships registered out of Canada in China or some other place, That reminds me the Liberals are also registered members of the Communist Republic of China Party, because old team Jean Chretien could not wait to get in bed with the Chinese, thank god the Conservatives put red flags on the Chinese companies. I want nothing to do with the Chinese period and get the crooks and spies the Liberals let in.

[updated Thu Nov 30 23:31:56 -0500 2006]

Paul Martin was a disaster for the Liberal Party. Before he was chosen as Liberal leader I wrote the party and warned them not to select Martin as their leader. I regretfully say I told you so.
(as I do in the case of Ignatieff now).
Both men lack integrit, Martin much more so.
Sooner or later persons of low integrity will make serious mistakes. If it only affected the person involved, so bne it, but then a political leader does so it affects a great many people and we all suffer.
Bernie

[updated Fri Dec 01 11:58:37 -0500 2006]

I believe as most here, the Right Honorable Paul Martin, did make a significant contribution in regaining fiscal control by creating annual surpluses in the Federal Budgets. He did this, however, making deep cuts to Health Care, cutting and eliminating programs, using the GST (intended for regular reductions on national debt) to fund other useless, non-productive and unjustified programs and spending to provide friends with incomes, and misappropiated $51 billion in EI Funds by restricting long time steady workers access to EI Benefits they needed to support their family and local economy, totally financially restricting those workers from finding other employment. This program was specifically designed to help long term workers that worked years and years without interuption in employment, temporary benefits to help them, their families including children and their local economies throught a depressing period followed by job loss.
The Liberals will brag about their annual reduction in EI premiums which we have seen the maximum employee premiums reduce from $1,271 in 1995 to $761 in 2005, a savings of $514 per annum or $9.88 per week! During that same time, EI maximum insured earnings reduced from $42,380 in 1995 to $39,000 in 1996 and has since remained at that level. This dispite during that preceeding period, wages were rising. In fact, in 2001, 41% of insured workers earned more than $40,000 and contribute 79% of the total personal income tax and likely equal percentage in GST of all insured workers. Yet these same workers, if they become unemployed, may be entitled to less than 55% of their income lost due to involuntary loss of employment. This is not insurance, it is Paul Martin and the Liberals cash cow with no respect for working Canadians, their families and lack support for the local economies.
I must add, to those unfamiliar with this program. If a workers works 20 or 30 years without interuption and establishes a second income with another employer and then looses their employment with one employer, the benefits entitled are calculated based on the income lost less earnings by the second source of income, thus a worker may find they qualify for much less in benefits if any. For example, I earned $57,000 in my last job and after 31 years without interuption in employment, I received 16% in EI benefits for 45 weeks. Imagine, living on 16%. As a single dad of a teenage daughter, I had to surrender our savings, retirement funds, vehicle and home and file bankruptcy after 18 months of not finding replacement work. Thus my interest in investigating the history on this very important social net that crumbled under the Liberal reign.
Finally, most of the claims by the Liberals about programs like the Child Care Program, Environment, Abroginals, income tax reductions and our Vetrians, came a lot too late as they scrambled just prior to the last election to make announcements while not having proper agreements and fully written programs in place to support these mentionables.
The Liberals need to disassociate themselves with for Mr. Chretien who during the Gomery Inquiry, stated he alone, undertook a quiet quest to gain support from Quebec and being a scrapper himself, deceited his party and government and the taxpayers by allowing the funding of the sponorships and of which little will be recovered while the cost of the commission is paid at the expense of many single families, children and street people. The Right Honorable Martin, should have allowed Justice Gomery to, in addition to carrying out the investigation and report of wrong doing and recommendations, to charge and convict all individuals found quilty of the misappropiation of funds. Mr. Chretien's pension with the government should be stopped and his assets seized to the limit of the shortfall in funds unrecovered in the sponsorship scandle. If any of us in business, ever did what he did in Government, we would expect nothing less.
Good luck to all contenders in the Liberal leadership race.

[updated Fri Dec 01 14:37:21 -0500 2006]

It was very appropriate that during the tribute to Paul Martin last night, the entertainment involved a singer stuffing her face like a glutton with wet limp noodles. How perfect to describe Paul Martin and the Liberals. A party that spends our hard earned tax dollars like gluttons on themselves and their personal friends and a party who's policies and decision making principles are akin to wet limp noodles. Well done Liberals!! In five minutes, you managed to sum up your party and your principles perfectly!! P.S. I must admit though, the lady did have a wonderful singing voice.

[updated Fri Dec 01 17:33:57 -0500 2006]