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February 16, 2004

It has long been the goal of the Liberal Party, and indeed every political party in the country, to attract more women candidates for public office.  The huge barriers that women face in attempting to enter public life are systemic and ingrained, and hence not easily overcome.  Therefore, just like Jean Chretien before him, Paul Martin is apparently getting involved in certain ridings across the country in order to ensure that more women have the opportunity to become Members of Parliament.

However, if Mr. Martin is so interested in protecting women candidates, why is he allowing a head-to-head battle in Hamilton between his former leadership opponent Sheila Copps and his Transport Minister Tony Valeri, despite the fact that a riding currently without a declared candidate sits right next door?

For that matter, if MPs are to be given greater power in the House of Commons by way of more free votes, why have members been instructed that a vote on the gun registry is a vote of confidence and therefore must be decided along party lines?

By the same logic, if Mr. Martin is determined to fight the democratic deficit and the cynicism of the electorate, why on yesterday's appearance on CBC's Cross Country Checkup was and evasive Paul Martin "unable to say" when an election would be called, even though that decision rests solely on his shoulders?

Each of the abovementioned examples are encompassed in the government's goal to implement new democratic reforms, and yet each has inherent contradictions that nullify the attempts.

Canadians are not likely to be fooled by grandiose declarations if they are simply ignored in practice.  Talk is cheap, and unless Mr. Martin discontinues his practice of selectively fulfilling commitments, his credibility in tackling the current sponsorship scandal will not be worth the paper that Alfonso Gagliano's newly composed resume is printed on.

Comments? jonathan@tdhstrategies.com