By Bruce Cheadle
MONTREAL (CP) - Paul Martin made no apologies Thursday for his short tenure at 24 Sussex Drive, but instead lauded his record in office and implored federal Liberals to unite under his successor.
Canada's 21st prime minister was treated to a lengthy standing ovation to end the two-plus-hour tribute program at the Palais des congres, where on Saturday several thousand Liberal delegates will elect a leader to carry them into the next election.
"The next couple of days are going to be very interesting, but one thing is for sure - when the last ballot is cast, all of us must leave here arm in arm, side by side," Martin said.
Martin's two-year reign is remembered as one of lofty expectations, bitter internal party bickering and wobbly election campaigns.
After almost a decade as a flawless finance minister, he took the helm in December 2003 of a Liberal machine riding high in the polls and on its third successive majority. In a span of 25 months, he watched it slip first to minority status and then out of power.
Martin's speech hit only the grace notes.
He spoke of his work eliminating the federal deficit, then listed a string of his policy initiatives as prime minister, including several that have since been reversed by the Conservative government of Stephen Harper.
"The Conservative agenda seeks only to satisfy those who agree with their cold ideology," Martin charged.
"Progress and fairness may be delayed, but they will not be denied," he added to one of many prolonged ovations.
Martin's speech twice praised former prime minister Jean Chretien, who Martin unseated after a prolonged backroom campaign. Chretien, however, was not at the tribute but was to arrive at the convention Friday afternoon.
The Martin-Chretien rift, which wracked the Liberal party in recent years, has not been much in evidence this week as eight candidates vie for the Liberal mantle.
"Maybe we learn from our mistakes," said leadership candidate Stephane Dion, who sat in the cabinets of both prime ministers.
"When you were in the government and you pretend to be the government and the opposition at the same time, you look arrogant and the Canadian people told you that."
The room at the Palais des congres was filled with more than 2,500 people, as organizers threw open the doors to non-delegates following two days of spotty turnouts in the main convention hall.
There was a video tribute from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. James Wolfensohn, the former World Bank Group president, was on hand. And the evening was kept lively with some rollicking live musical entertainment.
Martin was said by associates to be ambivalent about the salute. He knew the party was duty-bound to acknowledge his time in office. He just wishes the celebration hadn't been necessary for a few more years.
His aides were even more wistful. When it came to the trench warfare of political conventions and leadership campaigns, Martin's team was among the fiercest ever fielded. Now they find themselves tourists on the battlefield as others fight to succeed their old boss.
And although they miss the cut-thrust-and-parry of a leadership fight, they are more mournful for their boss's opportunity lost.
"I wish he was still the leader," said one.
So amidst much humour, there was also a nostalgic tone to the evening.
Martin entered to a swing version of Van Halen's song Jump, with its lovable loser lyric: "I get up, and nothing gets me down. You got it tough. I've seen the toughest around."
Even the Martin signs distributed for partisans to wave had a sad historic tinge.
Martin's name was printed on one side, and the name of past Liberal leaders such as Trudeau or St. Laurent on the other. Many bore the name of Edward Blake, the only Liberal leader never to become prime minister.
Copyright © 2006 Canadian Press
MONTREAL (CP) - Paul Martin made no apologies Thursday for his short tenure at 24 Sussex Drive, but instead lauded his record in office and implored federal Liberals to unite under his successor.
Canada's 21st prime minister was treated to a lengthy standing ovation to end the two-plus-hour tribute program at the Palais des congres, where on Saturday several thousand Liberal delegates will elect a leader to carry them into the next election.
"The next couple of days are going to be very interesting, but one thing is for sure - when the last ballot is cast, all of us must leave here arm in arm, side by side," Martin said.
Martin's two-year reign is remembered as one of lofty expectations, bitter internal party bickering and wobbly election campaigns.
After almost a decade as a flawless finance minister, he took the helm in December 2003 of a Liberal machine riding high in the polls and on its third successive majority. In a span of 25 months, he watched it slip first to minority status and then out of power.
Martin's speech hit only the grace notes.
He spoke of his work eliminating the federal deficit, then listed a string of his policy initiatives as prime minister, including several that have since been reversed by the Conservative government of Stephen Harper.
"The Conservative agenda seeks only to satisfy those who agree with their cold ideology," Martin charged.
"Progress and fairness may be delayed, but they will not be denied," he added to one of many prolonged ovations.
Martin's speech twice praised former prime minister Jean Chretien, who Martin unseated after a prolonged backroom campaign. Chretien, however, was not at the tribute but was to arrive at the convention Friday afternoon.
The Martin-Chretien rift, which wracked the Liberal party in recent years, has not been much in evidence this week as eight candidates vie for the Liberal mantle.
"Maybe we learn from our mistakes," said leadership candidate Stephane Dion, who sat in the cabinets of both prime ministers.
"When you were in the government and you pretend to be the government and the opposition at the same time, you look arrogant and the Canadian people told you that."
The room at the Palais des congres was filled with more than 2,500 people, as organizers threw open the doors to non-delegates following two days of spotty turnouts in the main convention hall.
There was a video tribute from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. James Wolfensohn, the former World Bank Group president, was on hand. And the evening was kept lively with some rollicking live musical entertainment.
Martin was said by associates to be ambivalent about the salute. He knew the party was duty-bound to acknowledge his time in office. He just wishes the celebration hadn't been necessary for a few more years.
His aides were even more wistful. When it came to the trench warfare of political conventions and leadership campaigns, Martin's team was among the fiercest ever fielded. Now they find themselves tourists on the battlefield as others fight to succeed their old boss.
And although they miss the cut-thrust-and-parry of a leadership fight, they are more mournful for their boss's opportunity lost.
"I wish he was still the leader," said one.
So amidst much humour, there was also a nostalgic tone to the evening.
Martin entered to a swing version of Van Halen's song Jump, with its lovable loser lyric: "I get up, and nothing gets me down. You got it tough. I've seen the toughest around."
Even the Martin signs distributed for partisans to wave had a sad historic tinge.
Martin's name was printed on one side, and the name of past Liberal leaders such as Trudeau or St. Laurent on the other. Many bore the name of Edward Blake, the only Liberal leader never to become prime minister.
Copyright © 2006 Canadian Press