Month: April 2005

There is much talk in Ottawa that there is an increased likelihood of a general federal election some time before the fall. The buzz is the result of testimony invariably described as explosive at the Gomery Inquiry, now holding hearings in Montreal. No one in Canada is allowed to report on details of the testimony of former ad executive Jean Brault for Justice John Gomery imposed a publication ban on Brault’s testimony in order to protect Brault’s rights to a fair trial. Brault faces criminal charges in connection with the Adscam scandal and his trial is set to begin on May 2.

Yesterday, though, several politicians weighed in on the likelihood of an election happening soon.

Here is Prime Minister Paul Martin in the House of Commons yesterday:

Paul Martin, Prime Minister:

Martin: The fact is that Canadians do merit having the facts and should have the facts. That is why I called for the Gomery commission. That is why this government put that commission in place. It is precisely to have those facts. That is why there should not be an election until Justice Gomery has reported, because Canadians deserve to know the facts.

Here are the questions put to various MPs by reporters in the foyer outside the House of Commons and their responses, which have been lightly edited:

Leader of the Opposition Stephen Harper was asked about an election on March 24:

Question:  Monsieur Harper, est-ce que vous croyez que ça justifie une élection cette fois?

Stephen Harper:  C'est une décision pour le premier ministre. C'est le premier ministre qui décide de déclencher des élections. J'ai dit clairement, et ce n'est pas une grande surprise, je n'ai pas l'intention et je parle pour le parti, je suis certain, que nous n'avons pas l'intention d'appuyer un tel amendement, un amendement dangereux qui donne un pouvoir sans limite au gouvernement de faire des politiques de Kyoto sans l'appui du parlement.

The decision to call an election is a decision of the prime minister. He will have to decide whether this or any particular element of the budget is worth calling an election over. I will tell you that that is his decision, but we will not be intimidated into supporting a provision that is so dangerous. This is an attempt by the government to get unlimited power to declare any element of the Kyoto plan to affect any industry that will pose multimillion dollar fines on any basis without any parliamentary approval or discussion whatsoever and it is completely unacceptable.

Others spoke about this Monday:

Jean Lapierre, Liberal MP and Transport Minister

Question:   Pensez-vous qu'en élection les gens vont voir la différence entre les bons libéraux et les mauvais libéraux?

Lapierre: Je pense qu'en élection la vérité a toujours sa place et pas seulement en élection.  On a demandé les travaux de cette commission-là justement pour s'assurer que la vérité sorte.  Maintenant s'il y a des choses qui ont été faites au détriment du Parti libéral, ça ne peut pas que des milliers et des milliers de militants libéraux soient tous aspergés de la même odeur parce que certains individus auraient pu abuser.

Diane Ablonczy, Conservative MP

Question:  Do you think what is unrolling at the Gomery inquiry is grounds enough for an election?

Ablonczy:  Because I can't comment on anything that might have come out in Gomery I can't answer that question at this time.

Question:   Does it make it more difficult to argue for an election when the Prime Minister comes back at you that if you do attach this high priority to Justice Gomery's work that he should be allowed to finish his work before there would be any election?

Ablonczy:  Well again, I think you have to ask the Prime Minister what he meant by that but it's very clear that Justice Gomery is in fact getting to the bottom of things and I think that's reassurance to all Canadians and that's what we had hoped would happen.

Question:   You're not just an MP, you're a politician.  So what do you tell your political workers back home?  Are you telling them to get ready?

Ablonczy:  I have told them ever since the last election that there could be an election at any time and to be on a constant state of yellow alert.  So that's where they are.

Question:   Would you rather wait until the Gomery report is out?

Ablonczy:  I think Canadians will be making judgements all the way along and a number of things could trigger an election.  So, you know again that's only one aspect of it.

Question:   Should there be a discussion at your Wednesday caucus meeting on if the Gomery proceedings are actually having an influence on whether there should be an election or not?

Diane Ablonczy:  Well again that's a hypothetical question.  So I'll have to pass.

Brian Pallister, Conservative MP

Question:   In terms of the [publication] ban, once it gets lifted what do you anticipate might happen?

Pallister:  Well I don't want to speculate.  I think there's enough of that going on certainly.  I guess there was already an underlying concern about the level of corruption and how much it might have permeated the government but with, you know, the rumour monguering that's going on right now I don't want to add to it.  I want to wait and find out what the facts are.  Obviously if they're strongly critical of the government then it will have an influence on the likelihood that something may occur as a result and one of the things that may occur as a result would be an election naturally. It's unfortunate that obviously it's bad for all elected people I think when you see this kind of thing, at least what's alleged happening.

Question:   But it's good for Conservatives?:

Pallister:  Oh certainly, it's good for Conservatives.  Obviously people are looking at the Conservative Party as an alternate now especially given our recent successful policy conference.  I think that the authority we have now to put forward a very clear and coherent plan to Canadians that it will be very difficult for the government to cast aspersions toward and fear monguering just won't work in the next election campaign the way it has in the past couple.  So, I think all of that speaks well of the Conservative Party as being able to form the government after the next election.

Jack Layton, NDP Leader:

Question:   Quand est-ce que les élections devraient avoir lieu selon vous?  Est-ce qu'on devrait attendre la fin de la publication du rapport de Gomery avant de tenir les élections?

Layton:  Alors c'est vraiment une question hypothétique.  On va voir.  Mais moi je pense que les Canadiens et les Canadiennes ils veulent que nous travaillons sur les questions importantes maintenant.  Ce sont la pollution, le dossier de Kyoto et toutes sortes d'autres initiatives. 

Question:   Wh
at about election readiness? Are you making any attempt to be more ready than you were a few weeks ago?  Are you looking at Gomery as a possibility that a snap election could be called?

Layton:  Well, any political party is always aware of the circumstances on the go at any given time and you're always prepared. We always stand at a state of readiness but the key thing is I don't think Canadians want an election.  They want to see the House of Commons get down to work.  We think at a bare minimum there ought to be something done about pollution and Kyoto.  We think that there ought to be come progress on a whole lot of key issues and that's what people sent us here to work on and right from the get-go that's been our approach.

Below are two e-mails released by ABC News today about Peter Jennings. Jennings, a Canadian, will soon start treatments for lung cancer. The first is from ABC News President David Westin.  The second is from Jennings himself:

David Westin statement:

This morning, Peter Jennings told his senior staff at World News Tonight
that yesterday afternoon he was diagnosed with lung cancer.  I include
below the full text of Peter's note to the group of people with whom he
works most closely.  He will begin outpatient treatment next week here in
New York.  It's both Peter's and my expectation that he will anchor World
News Tonight during the period of treatment to the extent he can do so
comfortably; but, we should also expect him to be off the broadcast from
time to time, depending on how he feels.  Charlie Gibson, Elizabeth Vargas,
and others will be substituting for Peter as necessary and when their other
responsibilities permit.

All of us at ABC News have watched over the years as Peter has led us on
various assignments with strength and with courage.  We've done our best to
support him in these endeavors.  Now, this Peter's been given a tough
assignment.  He's already bringing to new challenge the courage and
strength we've seen so often in his reporting from the field and in
anchoring ABC News.  I know that all of us will give him every bit of
support that he needs and asks for.  Peter will once again lead the way,
but we will stand with him at every turn.

Peter Jennings e-mail:

Dear All — Forgive me the group mailing, but it seems the easiest way to
tell a lot of people I care for…about a change in my life.

I have been diagnosed with lung cancer. Yes, it was quite a surprise.

As you all know, this is a challenge. I begin chemo-therapy next week.  I
will continue to do the broadcast. There will be good days and bad, which
means that some days I may be cranky and some days really cranky! Almost 10
million Americans are living with cancer. I am sure I will learn from them
how to cope with the facts of life that none of us anticipated. In all the
years I have worked here I have had the most outstanding support from this
news division.

Hundreds of you have been like family. It feels good to have such a family
right now.

Peter