Canadian Duers (ANd American) Paul Martin is running things now

Give a short answer on your thoughts on what will happen during his tenure.

I for one think relations with the Bush admin will improve...depending on how you look at it.

Your thoughts?

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

and not yet running things.

When he is PM, life will go on much as it always does.

He may be more pleasant to Bush, but he won't be any more cooperative.

Canadian tradition.

Let's not get TOO specific

until Chretien leaves.

Martin isn't sworn in yet is all....but you know what I mean let's not get technical.

He's the elected PM.

Martin is just party leader.

Don't get carried away. Patience.

You know what I mean LOL....

"I don't believe in right wing dogmatism. I don't believe that trickle down economics works, or that rising levels of inequality speak to a healthy society. I don't believe in left wing dogmatism. I don't believe you can run a government with bankers pounding at the door. I don't believe you should borrow from your children or grandchildren.

Mine is a Liberal vision. And, I believe in the freedom of the individual. I believe that freedom is best assured when we recognize our collective responsibility to one another, and I believe it is the role of government to embody - and to honour - that ideal, that spirit."

Paul Martin's convention speech.

the Liberal party has always been in the center...it's where the voters are. Martin may have been a businessman, but he's his father's son.

The part I liked...and really hope happens:

"What else do we have to do? We have to build a 21st century economy in Canada for Canadians. We succeeded in the last 10 years because we did not deviate from course - balanced budgets, a continually dropping debt ratio, lower taxes. We must stay that course.

Furthermore, we must do a better job of ensuring that government programs work, that they deliver on their objectives, that they deliver on value. We must be a government committed to accountability. A government that treats taxpayers' money like it is your money. Because it is. The fact is, all of this should be a given. And let me assure you, it will be.

But let's be clear as well - none of this is enough. For we have to be at the leading edge of where the global economy is going.

Within a generation, the United States will not be the lone economic superpower. China and India are already accelerating global competition, shaking the foundations of the world economy.

Just as breakthroughs in information technology and communications powered the economic surge of the 1990s, the next decade will witness similar advances in technologies we've never even heard of today. All of this with a potential to revolutionize the way we work, the way we think, how we build the communities where we live and raise our children.

Whether it is our traditional industries or tomorrow's, these enabling technologies will transform our economic base. They will be the world's engines of growth.

Ours must be an economy driven by individual ingenuity and creativity; this means an education system second to none; this means committing to the pursuit of excellence and innovation.

Because that's how we can best guarantee a rising standard of living with quality jobs and higher wages. Ideas and discoveries will be the true currency of the 21st century. Increasingly, that currency must be Canadian.

What more do we have to do? We have to strengthen our social foundations. Because, as we meet our economic needs, we must meet another responsibility - one that speaks to our nation's values and character."

Goooooooooooo Paul!

He paid his workers $2 an hour because they did shipping on the open seas and he got around all those pesky safety, minimum wage, and worker protection laws by flying the flags of countries with last strict labour and ship safety laws on his ships as opposed to a Canadian flag.

who went bankrupt as a businessman?

He was the same as any other shipowner.

He wasn't running a charity you know.

Bono there himself....He put his credibilty on the line by promising to help with the aids in Africa thing...Martins' father was a very liberal, socially concious person and he says he was inspired by his father, so I have a good feeling about how he will be as P.M....Hope I'm right...I guess time will tell....

Should look for a transcript

already kept his promise on another matter....Bono made a terrific speech....

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1068857137936_19/?hub=TopStories

Far more of what he said.

Bono promised to become the 'biggest pain of his life' about these issues. :D

Is he facing pressure to do so?

Look at all the people who have no problem with people screaming hate speech at gays or being locked away for smoking pot.

.

Our 'freepers'.

But they don't count. Literally. 12% or so in the polls.

Martin will likely take part in the Star Wars talks...it doesn't work anyway...but has already said we won't be integrating our immigration policy with the US.

So if there's ever a draft........

Then I must pray that he's more like Trudeau or Pearson than I think he is.

Chretien and the Liberals about not being cozier with Bush...Now they'll be after Martin to "mend fences".....What get's me is that Bush is not in good standing with anyone, except maybe Tony Blair...Even Fox of Mexico, who he invited to his ranch...wow...excitement...is not on friendly terms with him any more...Maybe Bush is the one who should be holding out the olive branch....

but to praise Jack Layton. :)

I think Martin's heart may be in the right place, but he's going to balk at making progressive policy. I also think he'll rapidly appear to be yesterday's man. And I'm convinced the next election will see a minority Liberal government. And that could be good. Canada does consensus politics well.

The NDP are poised to make great gains. Here's a story from Saturday that says it has the potentional of forming the official opposition: http://canada.com/national/story.asp?id=27E8C8BB-B0E1-4C4A-A58C-6B54869508E8 And former leader (and immensely popular) Ed Broadbent is considering running in the riding of Ottawa Centre. Broadbent's just a year older than Martin, after all. http://action.web.ca/home/ndpnpd/en_ndpinthenews.shtml?sh_itm=931ccec8826b60c31611f763437a2646

Layton's fluently bilingual, media savvy and has the progressive credentials. Next year, the NDP campaign is going to be the most exciting to watch. And it's been a while since I could say that.

Layton maybe popular, but realistically the NDP couldn't even get official party status in the Ontario provincial election...and Layton's from TO. Ontario and Quebec hold the balance of power in this country, and they'll both go liberal. Layton will be able to force Martin to move a little to the left of centre.
.

Besides, Toronto just elected an NDP mayor.

The election junkie I am, I can't wait. It's going to be exciting. Lots of variables will be in play, not least of which new leaders for all national parties.

I like the NDP about as much as I like the Liberals, but I highly doubt that they'll form the official opposition anytime soon, let alone cause a Liberal minority this time around. The Reform-Alliance or whatever it decides to call itself next election will be the opposition.
Living in Reform-Alliance land, I see the Liberals as a much more effective counter vote than the NDP.

There's two seats in Edmonton I think they could take, plus Richmond, BC, maybe (long shot) one of the new Calgary Centre seats, and maybe an urban seat in Saskatchewan. Any others?

his background but I believe he will hold, overall, to Canadian liberal policies. He will make courteous noises to the Bush admin regarding trade issues to take the issue out of Alliance hands for the upcoming election. There was a promising beginning when he made it very clear that Canada would not merge it's immigration policies with the US, he spoke about our belief in immigration.

Where I will be watching him will be on the issue of off-shore corporations.

He said so earlier in the year.

And he's a big booster of Canadian participation in missile defence, which Chretien had been balking at.

Iraq, it would be political suicide and he knows it. One other point, being against the war in Iraq will showcase him against the Alliance in the upcoming election, you can make book on that.