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Politics : Canadian Political Free-for-All -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lorne who wrote (3168)	10/31/2003 8:15:09 AM
From: DeplorableIrredeemableRedneck	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 37265

PM hints he may leave Sussex Drive within month 'Toss the keys' to Martin Robert Fife, Ottawa Bureau Chief CanWest News Service Friday, October 31, 2003 ADVERTISEMENT OTTAWA - Jean Chrétien is sending signals to close associates that he will "toss the keys" to 24 Sussex Drive to Paul Martin as early as the end of November. The development came as the president of the Liberal party stepped up pressure yesterday for the Prime Minister to retire before February, as he has said he will do. Insiders say Mr. Chrétien told at least one senior Cabinet minister that he has no interest in attending the Commonwealth summit in Nigeria in early December. This suggests the Prime Minister could step down before the end of November to allow Mr. Martin to form a new government, although insiders say the timetable for the transition must still be worked out with the incoming prime minister. "He is of a mind now to just toss the keys to [Mr. Martin] on the 16th of November, but he knows that isn't necessarily practical either," a loyalist said. "The indications are that if he goes, it will be because of an arrangement between him and Martin." Stephen LeDrew, the outgoing party president, said yesterday Mr. Chrétien should respect the democratic process and the tradition of the Liberal party and step aside within 10 days of the Nov. 14 election of Mr. Martin as party leader. "I just think he should do the right thing and clearly the right thing is to leave earlier than he anticipated, which is after the convention," he said. "The tradition in Canada is around 10 days to two weeks, but certainly before Christmas. This would fit well with a lot of people." Mr. LeDrew made the same point in an article in the Liberal Times, the party newspaper, in which he expressed confidence that Mr. Chrétien's "finely honed political instincts will lead him to do the right thing when he is no longer leader of the party." However, Mr. LeDrew acknowledged a lot of senior Liberals are "walking on eggshells" and are reluctant to tell the Prime Minister to leave early for fear that would incite his legendary temper -- and reinforce his original plan to hang on until February. Mr. Chrétien, 69, opened the door to an early departure when he suggested this week that he will step down some time "between now and February." However, Jim Munson, the Prime Minister's communications director, said no decision has been made. He said Mr. Chrétien will work out a reasonable timetable with Mr. Martin after the convention. "He will sit down with his successor, and he will do what is good for the party and the country and the government," he said. "But the Prime Minister has always said he is leaving in February unless he changes his mind." He added: "When he said he will leave between now and February, it could be at the end of February." Mr. Munson also denied a CTV report that a deal has already been struck with the Martin camp for Mr. Chrétien to step down in exchange for passage of the remainder of the Prime Minister's so-called legacy agenda. The legislation includes a bill to decriminalize marijuana and a bill creating an independent ethics commissioner. Discussions have been held between Eddie Goldenberg, the Prime Minister's chief of staff, and Ottawa lobbyist Michael Robinson, the head of the Martin transition team, about staffing for the Prime Minister's Office but not about legislative priorities or when Mr. Chrétien will leave, Mr. Munson said. "That level of discussion will be between the Prime Minister and Mr. Martin." Scott Reid, a spokesman for Mr. Martin, also said no deal has been reached. A decision by Mr. Chrétien to retire in November or early December would awaken the political process and a bureaucracy that has been idling for almost a year waiting for Mr. Martin to take power. Mr. Martin, 64, would not only have to form a Cabinet and staff the PMO, but prepare for the Commonwealth summit, which would be his first foreign foray as Canada's 22nd prime minister. Mr. Martin is expected to adjourn Parliament once he becomes prime minister and to come back in the new year with a Throne Speech, setting out a new mandate for a Liberal government that has been in power for a decade. © Copyright 2003 National Post nationalpost.com