by arthur Weinreb, associate Editor,
October 1, 2004
Despite the fact that there are higher than normal temperatures in parts of Canada, we are now into autumn. That means that winter is drawing near and with it, the first anniversary of Paul Martin assuming the office of Prime Minister of Canada. Undoubtedly as the anniversary date and the end of the year approaches, there will be assessments of how Martin has done during his first year, bound to be harsh if his minority government collapses before 2004 ends.
In taking a look at what Paul Martin has done so far, one has to wonder whether or not the PM is nave. Two recent events seem to suggest that this may in fact be a characteristic that will mark the Paul Martin years (or months) in office.
Martin had pledged that he was going to fix Canadian health care "for a generation". The prime minister met with the first ministers in Ottawa for three days and an agreement was reached--the federal government would inject $41 billion into the health care system over the next 10 years. Ten years is hardly a generation but we'll leave that out. The PM and the preems and territorial leaders smiled, posed for pictures and Paul Martin beamed with delight for having fixing the system for a decade if not a generation.
But the first ministers' fingerprints had hardly been dusted off of the conference table before some of the premiers were complaining that they would be back long before 10 years to ask for more money. Some premiers whined that with the increase in aging baby boomers, possible epidemics of as yet unknown diseases and technological changes, they just might have to come back for more money. Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador probably put it best when he said that it would be improper for him to bind his and future governments from never going back to Ottawa for more funds. So much for the 10 year fix.
It would be reassuring to be able to feel that Martin always knew that health care could not be "fixed" for a generation or 10 years and that his statements were mere political puffery to impress the unwashed masses. after all, not being totally truthful to Canadian taxpayers is hardly uncharted waters for the Liberal Party. But Paul Martin appeared to actually believe that he could and did settle all the disputes over health care between the federal government and the provinces for a decade. Martin came across as nave enough to actually believe his own rhetoric. This was something that we never had to worry about with Da Boss.
On the international front, Martin appears equally out of touch. While addressing the United Nations, the Canadian prime minister castigated the international body for debating the definition of genocide while people were dying in the Darfur region of the Sudan. as admirable as Martin's sentiments were, all he did was talk. He joined the debate, the very thing that he rightly criticized the United Nations for--talking while people in Darfur are dying.
Martin realizes that many countries will not agree to go into Sudan because of their economic interests. In following the dictates of the international organization, Martin scoffed at the notion of "sovereignty" which he, in the true tradition of an internationalist, believes is outdated.
Here again the Canadian prime minister appears to be nave. Telling the UN to change and take action is nice, but that doesn't stop what may indeed turn out to be genocide, equal to or greater than that which took place in Rwanda a decade ago, in the african country. Martin's interest in trying to get the United Nations to change by making a speech simply adds to the problem.
If Paul Martin was really concerned about saving lives in africa he would simply ignore the UN. He would search out other like-minded countries, help form a coalition and take action. But as we all know, only simple minded cowboys from Texas ever do that. Paul Martin is content to make speeches at the Useless Nations while people in the Sudan are being slaughtered.
Martin's attempts at problem solving, both at home and on the world stage appear to be simplistic and unrealistic. Is he really nave enough to think that he has solved Canada's health care bickering and that he is accomplishing anything for the people of Darfur?