 |
June 2 - June 9, 2002 |
PM minimizes importance of lost seats
Many Liberals however voice their concerns as two by-elections are lost to the NDP and Conservatives
By Angelo Persichilli
Originally Published: 2002-05-26
 |
|
Prime Minister Chretien
|
The official party line calls for Liberals to minimize the importance of the two seats lost in the by-elections held on May 13, but there is concern for the present predicament of the Liberal Party. "It's indisputable that this vote in two ridings that we had won for several decades is an act of protest against Jean Chrétien's leadership."
The official version was given by Prime Minister Chrétien himself: the government always has some mid-term problems and the two ridings were lost because of local factors.
Meeting with journalists in London, UK, after a summit with British PM Tony Blair, Chrétien said he was sorry for the defeats in the two ridings, "but these are normal occurrences. It's happened before and will happen again."
The by-elections were held in seven ridings: six of which were previously held by Liberals, and the seventh which was vacated by Preston Manning, former leader of the Reform Party.
The Liberals lost two seats: one in Windsor, where Liberals had been elected for the past 40 years, and the other in Gander-Grand Falls, where Liberals had always won since 1949, when Newfoundland and Labrador joined Canada.
"When a riding loses a very strong representative like Herb Grey," said Chrétien about Windsor, "there is often a change." He reminded the audience that "when I left politics, my Quebec riding went to another party."
The Gander seat went to the Tories, the Windsor one to the NDP. Conservative candidate Rex Barnes defeated Liberal Beaton Tulk, the well-known former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. The seat had vacated by MP George Baker, who was appointed to the Senate. In Windsor, the seat formerly held for 40 years by Herb Grey has been captured by Brian Masse, previously a Windsor city councillor.
Some Liberals close to the PM deflect criticism aimed at Chrétien for this defeat by remarking that the PM never campaigned in Windsor and that his picture never appeared on the posters. Supporters of Paul Martin, who did support the campaign, retort that "the vote was not against Martin but against Chrétien".
Page 1/...Page 2
|
| Home / Back to Top |
|
|
 |
|
|
</ td>
