By Judi McLeod
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
With Howard Dean the keynote speaker at the November 28th, Liberal leadership convention, the tribute party for former Prime Minister Paul Martin is taking a back seat.
In recognition of his lifelong commitment to public and community service, the Easter Seal Society of Ontario will recognize the Rt. Honourable Paul Martin at its prestigious Tribute gala on Friday.
Martin was sworn in as Canada's 21st Prime Minister on December 12, 2003 in a "smudging ceremony" and was smudged out on January 23, 2006 in a federal election that saw his minority Liberal government replaced by the minority Stephen Harper-led Conservative government.
at Martin's swearing in ceremony, by special request rocker Bono, of U2 band fame, was the keynote speaker. It was not too difficult drafting the shaded-wearing celeb to the swearing in of a prime minister, as Bono is always ready to remind world leaders of their responsibility to reduce the debt of african nations and poverty in third world nations.
In the dramatically changing world of politics, Martin has long since faded into the paint-chipped Liberal woodwork, and Bono went into hiding from the taxman.
"The rock band U2 cane under criticism yesterday after reports that it has moved a portion of its multi-million-pound business empire out of Ireland for tax reasons," (www.telegraph.co.uk.com, 08/08/2006).
"The band, fronted by Bono, the anti-poverty campaigner, has reportedly transferred some of its publishing company to Holland.
"John Burton, Irish Labour's finance spokesman, said: "Having listened to Bono on the necessity for the Irish Government to give more money to Ireland aid, of which I approve, I am surprised that U2 are not prepared to contribute to the Exchequer on a fair basis along with the bulk of Irish taxpayers.
"I share Bono's desire to see more resources devoted to Ireland aid, but it is more difficult to make a case for it if everyone is not willing to be part of the social contract that stipulates that everybody should pay their fair share in what is a low-tax country."
Bono, who promised to kick Martin's butt if he ever reneged on his commitment to world poverty, could live up to that promise by investigating whatever happened to the money CIDa (Canadian International Development agency) earmarked for the tsunami victims.
Rather than Bono or Howard Dean, speakers at Friday's Martin gala include the likes of Belinda Stronach, in recent news as the man killer blondie, and Liberal MP for Newmarket-aurora, who after election as a Conservative dumped both her Party and boyfriend PC Deputy Prime Minister Peter MacKay.
But it is only that Martin, who seems to have played the bridesmaid role in a long political career, will be eclipsed by the hyped up drama of who will be the new Liberal leader.
There is speculation in some quarters on whether Martin's life-long mentor UN environmental guru Maurice Strong will drop by to shake his protg's hand. Ditto about whether anyone from the power-behind-the-throne Desmarais family will be in attendance.
Meanwhile, everything has come full circle for the Liberal Party of Canada, on a roll ever since their american counterparts, the Democrats seized control of both houses.
Stridently anti-american during the Martin and Chrtien regimes, in retrospect both administrations were really at heart, only anti-Conservative.
"Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, fresh from leading Democrats to victory in both Houses of Congress, has been recruited to inspire Canada's Liberals in their own efforts to find their way back from the political wilderness." (www.globeandmail.com, 10/11/06). "Dr. Dean, the Democratic National Committee chairman, will deliver the keynote speech at the Liberal Party's leadership convention this month, just as the Liberals are trying to emulate the Democrats' efforts to rebuild their shaken party organization.
Meanwhile, given that the Liberals have always counted themselves the Natural Ruling Party in Canada, political life is about to become a loud and long Howard Dean howl.
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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