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| PRESCRIPTION FOR A NEW MARTIN GOVERNMENT - Wednesday, December 03, 2003 at 11:48 |
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PUBLICATION: The Edmonton Sun ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I am not a Liberal. Never have been, never will be. But Dec. 12, the day that Paul Martin assumes the helm of the government, will be a day laced with cautious optimism. It is my deeply held belief that Martin will try very hard to set his Liberal government apart from Chretien's Liberal government as soon as he hits the ground. That challenge is doubly difficult, in that the two governments will be made up of the same people. Before he even takes office, we are hearing of general structural changes on Martin's horizon - in particular, his wish to get rid of the Human Resources department and reduce the size of cabinet. However, there are also a great many specific initiatives to consider that would place the two Liberal leaders in stark contrast and help the Paul Martin government find its legs quickly. - Buy some helicopters. What would we think about the last 10 years if Paul Martin were to come in and outfit our military with some brand spanking new helicopters to replace our fleet of flying coffins, the Sea Kings, and do so in his first 100 days? It would be a symbolic victory for our incoming PM. We have been told for so long that buying helicopters is a difficult and tedious affair. Do it in three months, Paul, and then take a bow. - Buy some cowboy boots, and get yourself invited to George W. Bush's ranch. It is now official: U.S. President Bush would rather spend time in Iraq than come to Ottawa. Even if the current frosty relationship between Ottawa and Washington has more to do with our two leaders than anything else, Martin should prove that early, and put our minds to rest. - Scrap the gun registry. It is a colossal waste of time and resources. The current government is sticking with the program because to toss it would mean having to admit being wrong, and when was the last time Chretien did that? Kill the registry, and if it is really that important, come up with one that works. - Make nice with the premiers. We saw Martin having a grand old time at the Grey Cup game with his provincial brethren, but when it comes time to get down to business, it would be such a breath of fresh air if everyone could get along. Sure, there will always be a couple of premiers who enjoy moping and complaining, but our new PM should appear to genuinely respect his new colleagues. - Look at expanding free trade to South America. Chretien declared himself a proud free trader, and yet there has been no significant push to expand NAFTA in 10 years. While steering the economy as minister of finance, Martin saw first-hand the positive impacts of free trade. To take a leadership position on an issue as monumental as the establishment of a free trade zone encompassing Canada, Chile and every nation in between would help him achieve something Chretien never had: a legacy made up of nation-building policies. If Martin can do even one of these things, he will be able to put some distance between himself and his predecessor and begin repositioning the Liberal party as a renewed force, just in time for the next federal election. |