Making of the Paul Martin myth

By Roy Whyte
August 28, 2003
As most Canadians already know, we are headed into a new era of Liberal leadership. This leadership is about to be passed by default to Paul Martin. While there is an outward appearance of a leadership campaign, the winner has all but already been named. Paul Martin will be the next Prime Minister just as soon as the current PM Jean Chrétien decides enough is enough.

While most democratic countries have established steps and courses for choosing their leader, in Canada we just leave that to the party themselves. While most Canadians had an opportunity to voice their concern via ballot over the Liberals being headed by Jean Chrétien, those same Canadians and all other Canadians do not have that opportunity now. That opportunity now remains o*nly with the Liberal party themselves, their backers, and those that donate money to the leadership campaigns.

It is around money where most of the problems occur with the myth of Paul Martin. It would seem that Paul Martin has little trouble drumming up millions of dollars to ensure his default assent into the Prime Ministers Office as the leader of Canada.

John Manley, o*ne of the other candidates dropped out of the running when he realized that his campaign finances were nowhere o*n par with that of his rival, Paul Martin. Sheila Copps is of course the o*nly o*ne remaining in the race with Paul Martin. As well, do not forget that Martin has done everything he could to ensure we do not know just how much he has raised, and just who it has come from.

So just how is it that Paul Martin has no problem raising millions of dollars? Is it because he is just the best choice? Is it because of his terrific track record in public service? Maybe it is his previous experiences that are lending themselves well to his current role of default Prime Minister?

One thing is for sure, the corporate media outfits like the National Post, and the Global chain of newspapers and media outlets are helping to perpetuate this myth of Martin.

So just who is Paul Martin and why should he be our next Prime Minister? If you are to believe this MacLean's Magazine article, then it would seem he is a decent choice. Too bad the article does not tell the whole truth.

Oh sure Paul Martin is the son of a long-time Liberal minister, but for MacLean's to say, "Oddly enough, the o*ne accomplishment most Canadians identify with him -- eliminating the federal deficit -- might be the least telling item", seems just a little odd. Of course the majority of Canadians key in o*n this o*ne aspect of Paul Martin. His cuts o*n the advice of the WTO and IMF still resonate today. His slashing of social spending has hurt millions of Canadians.

Do not tell that to MacLean's though, "Tough, though temporary, cuts in transfer payments to the provinces for health and education were part of the answer", is what they had to say about the cuts. Temporary cuts? Try telling that to the provinces!

So what else is there to Paul Martin? Well he is an established businessperson. Paul Martin is the owner of Canadian Steamship Lines which was purchased in 1981. From MacLean's, "...prides himself o*n having made CSL a more innovative, internationally competitive company. As finance minister, he tried to use the tools available to the federal government to prime the whole Canadian economy's capacity for innovation and competitiveness". Is this how MacLean's and others are making the myth of Paul Martin?

Do MacLean's and the other media outfits really think we are that shallow? Paul Martin tried to increase capacity for innovation and competitiveness? The numbers certainly do not back that up!

Under Paul Martins watch as Finance Minister, Canada saw the highest rates of foreign takeovers in Canadian history. Canada is now the most foreign owned industrialized nation o*n earth! Competitiveness has decreased each year under the Liberals as it did with the PCs before them. Innovation through research has also plummeted as all the foreign owned corporations and industries no longer spend that money here in Canada. Yes Martin did have some spending initiatives over the years but again, o*ne peek at the raw numbers and any Canadian will see, Paul Martin has run Canada like his ships, o*n the cheap and to make profits for the elite.

Do not let little things like his ships and business being registered overseas to avoid Canadian taxes and laws affect your judgment of Paul Martin. Ignore that his corporation does business with the Suharto family of Indonesia. Overlook that he pays his workers as little as possible. Forget that he thinks national missile defence is a good idea. Never mind that he listened to the IMF and WTO over you and every other Canadian.

For if you can do that then yes, Paul Martin looks and sounds pretty darn good. Too bad we here at the CDM are not willing to do that.

So next time you are reading o*ne of Canada's multitude of right leaning rags and hear the kudos for Paul Martin, just hark back to the stats. The stats do not lie. That title belongs to those that do not tell the whole truth of Paul Martin.


Roy Whyte is associated with Canadian Democratic Movement.


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