Liberal Party of Canada

The Liberal Party of Canada (French: Parti libéral du Canada) is Canada's current governing political party. It currently forms the federal government under Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Liberal Party infighting

The period between Paul Martin's assumption of the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada on November 14, 2003, and the 2004 Canadian election being called on May 23, 2004, saw a large amount of infighting within the party.

Related Topics:
November 14 - 2003 - 2004 Canadian election - May 23 - 2004

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many pundits have dated the current split to that earlier era, arguing that there is a clear division between the socially-populist, federalist wing of the party represented by Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chrétien, and the constitutionally flexible, economically-minded wing of John Turner and Paul Martin.

Related Topics:
Pierre Trudeau - Jean Chrétien - John Turner - Paul Martin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When the Liberals formed a majority government after the 1993 election with Chrétien at the helm, party unity was assured by placing Martin, whom Chrétien had defeated for the party leadership in 1990, in the crucial role of Minister of Finance.

Related Topics:
1993 election - Party leadership in 1990 - Minister of Finance

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Martin was the clear successor to Chrétien, and Martin's wide-spread support ensured that most of the institutions of the Liberal Party were controlled by his allies. The split opened wider, however, in the summer of 2002 when Chrétien moved to curtail Martin's apparent campaigning for the leadership, after promising that he would remain prime minister until 2004, in defiance of the Martin camp's organizing. There are varying stories as to what actually occurred at this point. Chretien claims that Martin resigned from cabinet; Martin claims that Chretien fired him. Martin was replaced as Finance Minister by Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, who many saw as Chretien's preferred heir.

Related Topics:
2002 - 2004 - Deputy Prime Minister - John Manley

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Martin's influence in the party, and the fact that polls at the time indicated that Mr. Martin was a more popular leader among the Canadian public than Mr. Chretien, forced Chrétien to announce his retirement later in the year, earlier than he had originally hoped. Martin easily beat the unpopular Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps at the Liberal leadership convention in November 2003, and in December of that year Martin formed his government as Prime Minister. Chretien and Martin have reportedly had few words for each other since the summer of 2002.

Related Topics:
Sheila Copps - Liberal leadership convention in November 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While the issue of the party leadership was settled, at the lower levels of the party considerable in-fighting began. Most of the Chrétien-era cabinet ministers were relegated to the backbenches and ministers such as John Manley, Allan Rock, Don Boudria, Sheila Copps, David Anderson, Herb Dhaliwal and Stephane Dion were moved into minor roles as Martin built his cabinet. Many of them decided to leave politics for the private sector.

Related Topics:
John Manley - Allan Rock - Don Boudria - Sheila Copps - David Anderson - Herb Dhaliwal - Stephane Dion

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some Chrétien loyalists refused to retire, hoping to remain as backbenchers. Unlike in previous elections, however, incumbent Liberals were not backed by the party in their ridings. In many cases, Chrétien allies faced challengers who received unofficial support from the Martinites. For example, the periodic redrawing of riding boundaries resulted in a high-profile battle between former cabinet minister Sheila Copps and future Martin House Leader Tony Valeri for a riding nomination.

Related Topics:
Backbenchers - Ridings - Tony Valeri

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In late 2004, Paul Martin fired former supporter and Mississauga MP Carolyn Parrish from the Liberal Caucus after she told Martin he could "go to hell." Parrish currently sits as an independent in the House of Commons, but votes with the Liberals on almost all issues. Issues have also recently arisen between the largely Chrétien-appointed Liberal Senate Caucus and the Prime Minister's Office. Martin has also faced criticism for being closer with and more rewarding to recent political additions to the Liberal Party including MPs Jean Lapierre, Scott Brison, Ujjal Dosanjh, Keith Martin and most recently Belinda Stronach, as opposed to regular Liberal MPs. In April, 2005 David Kilgour, one of the party's two MPs from Alberta announced that he was leaving the party to sit as an independent member of the House of Commons due to the damaging allegations of corruption in the Liberal Party's Quebec wing based on testimony in the Gomery Commission inquiry.

Related Topics:
2004 - Mississauga - Carolyn Parrish - Senate - Jean Lapierre - Scott Brison - Ujjal Dosanjh - Keith Martin - Belinda Stronach - David Kilgour - Gomery Commission

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For more detailed information, See: 2004 Liberal Party of Canada infighting

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~