"Paul Martin inflicts Canada with parliamentary paralysis"

October 29, 2003

It’s rare to see the leaders of three opposition parties agree.  Yet it’s unprecedented for them to be so forcefully in agreement over an issue that they jointly author and submit a letter to the national media.  

This week, Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper, Progressive Conservative leader Peter MacKay and Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe did just that.  It’s certainly no surprise that Mr. Harper and Mr. MacKay would agree, but what pressing issue could possibly prompt Mr. Duceppe to throw in his endorsement?

Only the most fundamental political matter of all:  democracy.  Right now in Canada, we simply don’t have it.  Mr. Harper, Mr. MacKay and Mr. Duceppe wrote that Paul Martin is increasingly undermining what little authority the prime minister has left and “the resulting paralysis of our federal governance, and the democratic deficit created by this Liberal civil war, are making all Canadians suffer.  This situation must end.” 

We have two governments in Canada, neither actually running the country.  The official one of Jean Chrétien and the parallel one of Liberal leadership shoe-in Paul Martin.  Mr. Chrétien is increasingly powerless because of his lame-duck status and Mr. Martin, though holding unofficial cabinet meetings and musing about policies he may or may not implement, simply doesn’t possess the power … yet. 

Neither the House of Commons, the federal cabinet nor the bureaucracy can function under this conflict.  Just this week, Mr. Martin announced he will review “every single” spending and policy decision implemented by Mr. Chrétien in his final days.  The trouble is Mr. Chrétien continues to insist his final day will be the end of February 2004.  

Meanwhile, what’s the point of each and every federal decision made for the next four months if Paul Martin is just going to consider trashing them when he moves into 24 Sussex?  That’s the question that has inflicted massive paralysis in Ottawa. 

When Transport Minister David Collenette announced last week he’s giving money-losing VIA Rail $700-million, Mr. Martin cast doubt that he would let that happen.  Finance Minister John Manley says he’s not even sure he can table a federal budget without first making certain Mr. Martin agrees. 

The legislation MPs are currently debating is “thin gruel” that was mostly designed to build Mr. Chrétien’s “legacy”.  And even that legislation may not pass before Mr. Martin moves into the PMO. 

The opposition leaders believe that the only way to get the country out of this mess is for Mr. Chrétien to leave office as soon as possible after the November 14th Liberal leadership vote.  They announced that the Bloc, the Alliance and the Tories would support a motion put before MPs this week demanding that Mr. Chrétien do just that.  

Mr. Martin must be able to immediately assume his new duties after his acclamation as Liberal leader and to start being truly held accountable for his intentions and policies.  To quote the three opposition leaders, "We know Canadians are tired of this comedy, and of this democracy on-hold.  The people of this country want the government to go back to work."