I'm VERY impressed by Canada's new Liberal PM Paul Martin

[ShaneGR]

He is speaking at the Liberal Party convention, having taken over from Cretien (Spelling). Bona spoke just before him. While I'm not a Canadian, I do travel their often... and I think he's the best Canadian PM I've seen yet. RAPID switches between French and English speaking. ZERO french accent. I know it sounds shallow, but he sounds just like an english version of Chretien... so I suppose I'm hearing how he speaks and going "WOW, he's great."

I repeat, I'm not Canadian (So I get no say).... but I like this guy.

[laura888]

1. what is Canada's position on the invasion of Iraq?

I should know this, but being a dumb, self-involved American, I don't.

Is this new guy going in the right direction in this area?

[Maple]

2. We aren't there

and I doubt we're going, since Canadians generally don't support it.

We support the UN.

However, Martin isn't likely to say too much until he's elected PM and has a 5 year term in front of him.

At the moment he is only head of the Liberal party...not an elected PM as yet.

That is still Chretien.

[laura888]

3. the right direction is NOT to support it! n/t

n/t

[oasis]

10. Jean Cretien recieved extended applause when he mentioned Canada's

break with Bush on Iraq. This was at the same convention of Canada's Liberal Party .

[_Jumper_]

4. Will C-Span replay it?

I only caught the last 10-15 minutes of the speech.:(

[oasis]

18. C-SPAN usually replays on the weekends.

[Spazito]

5. Thanks sgr2...

I think you are right, he will carry on the social policies in the tradition of Chretien. He was our former finance minister and was the driving force for getting us out of a bad deficit position to having a surplus for the last 7 years. I feel a lot better about him than I did in the beginning.

[ShaneGR]

6. It seems to me he is VERY intelligent

And will appeal to a wide variety of Canadians, even in the West.

[Spazito]

7. It is going to be interesting, for sure, during the election early....

next year. The West is pretty well Alliance (our version of Repubs) country but, in my riding, we have at least 3 people trying for the liberal candidacy and I don't recall the last time we have had that so he may very well make inroads here, I sure hope so!

[ShaneGR]

8. I would imagine there would be some anti-conservative-Bush vote there

Particularly with the way the US handled the beef scandal, a little bit of Canadian nationalism in the west, choosing to go with the liberal factions?

How much does US-Canada relations affect the vote?

[Spazito]

9. Not a lot, really...

The Alliance Party has a lot of the same policies as the republicans and tend to stomp their feet and say that Canada is treating the US badly, etc, but they do that as an aside.

In the upcoming election it may play a part but, if it does, it will be to the liberal advantage because Canadians supported Chretien's decision not to go to Iraq.

[funkyflathead]

11. Question: what part of the Canadian population lives in the West?

Mainly I mean the right wing Prarie Provinces?

Thanks

[Some Moran]

12. hehe...

Over half of the population lives in Ontario or Quebeec.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

13. Canada Population - 32m, Western Provinces - 9m

The only really right-wing province is Alberta though, at 3m.

[Spazito]

15. And I know at least 2 Albertans that are not right-wing....

my grown up kids! LOL I am working on them to get active and change a few more minds.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

17. Make that 3, buddy!

There's at least 3 other Albertans on the board other than myself.

[Spazito]

19. Whoo Hoo!

We will lick those right wing Alliance critters 3 by 3!

[canuckagainstBush]

25. Make It 4 by 4

I sent my Liberal Membership application in the other day. We need at least one Liberal elected in Calgary. The rural seats will always go Reform-Alliance.

[ironflange]

20. Does that include me?

In fact, I live in the constituency of the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Blech! Don't blame me, I voted for Bill Phipps!

Did you see the polls that have Martin mopping the floor with either Harper or McKay? That assumes the merger goes through.

[Spazito]

21. Oh dear, my sincerest sympathies

I really, really, really, really, really dislike Mr. Harper.

[ironflange]

23. Yeah, he's excruciatingly boring

I kind of miss Stockwell. He may have been a boob, but you knew he'd always come up with something really crazy to say. At least he was interesting.

[funkyflathead]

16. Thanks n/t

[ironflange]

22. What riding?

??

[Spazito]

I live in the West Kootenays, in B.C. and, sadly, it is presently...

alliance country here, ewwwww. It is my fondest wish to have that change at this next election. Jim Gauk is my rep but he doesn't represent my views at all.

[burrowowl]

24. I hope

he is not a DLC or New labor type, Scary people, Repug-type enablers.

[Some Moran]

26. He's right of Blair...

So that worries me...

But then again, he's left of Chirac. :-P

[xray s]

14. I think I am going to pick up a Canadian citizenship application

I want to keep it handy just in case things go from bad to worse here.