CTV.ca | Dion turns to Paul Martin team for debate help

Liberal finance critic John McCallum greets former prime minister Paul Martin at a breakfast meeting ahead of a speech by Michael Ignatieff at the Economic Club of Canada, in downtown Toronto, on Monday, Sept. 29, 2008. (Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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Liberal Leader Stephane Dion speaks at a campaign stop in Gatineau, Que. on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper delivers his campaign speech at a rally in Val D'Or, Que., on Monday Sept. 29, 2008. (Tom Hanson / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper delivers his campaign speech at a rally in Val D'Or, Que., on Monday Sept. 29, 2008. (Tom Hanson / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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NDP Leader Jack Layton makes an announcement in downtown Toronto, on Monday Sept. 29, 2008. (Jacques Boissinot / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Dion turns to Paul Martin team for debate help

Updated Tue. Sep. 30 2008 5:48 PM ET

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA -- With economic turmoil grabbing centre stage in the election campaign, Liberals are turning to deficit-buster Paul Martin and his former top advisers to help burnish Stephane Dion's fiscal credentials.

The team that is helping to prepare the Liberal leader for his debut performance in crucial televised leaders debates is made up almost entirely of members of Martin's one-time inner circle.

And Martin himself has been taking an increasingly prominent role in the campaign.

The former prime minister, best known for balancing Canada's books after years of ballooning deficits, launched a blistering attack Monday on the Harper government's economic management. He used a speech in Toronto to castigate Stephen Harper's Conservatives for squandering the huge annual surpluses racked up by the previous Liberal regime and leaving the country teetering on the brink of deficit.

Behind the scenes, members of Martin's inner circle are heavily involved in staging mock debates aimed at preparing Dion for both the style and substance of the attacks he's likely to face from his opponents in Wednesday's French debate and Thursday's English debate.

According to Liberal insiders, Tim Murphy, Martin's one-time chief of staff, has been playing the role of Harper in the dry runs. Richard Mahoney and Mark Watton, also erstwhile Martin confidants, have played the roles of moderator and NDP Leader Jack Layton respectively.

Scott Reid, Martin's former communications director, has been helping draft Dion's opening statement for the debates -- wasted effort since the networks decided late Tuesday to eliminate opening and closing statements.

Senator Francis Fox, a longtime Martin ally, has overseen preparation for the French debate. Elly Alboim, another Martin insider, has also been involved.

The heavy involvement of Martin's old inner circle has raised eyebrows in some Liberal circles.

Some senior Liberals question why Dion is relying on people who lost the last election. Moreover, they question the Martin team's expertise on debates, given that Martin never particularly shone during debates in 2004 or 2006.

Dion's reliance on the former Martin advisers has also provoked resentment among some Liberals who've never forgiven the Martin crowd for orchestrating a putsch against Jean Chretien.

Party president Doug Ferguson may have had that lingering feud in mind when he wrote the party's latest fundraising pitch, urging "the entire Liberal family" to pull together.

"When the chips are down, most of us turn first to our families for support and encouragement. And at times like that, families set their differences aside and pull together for what's right," he wrote.

The debates are critical for Dion, whose campaign has been struggling to gain traction. With the Liberals about 10 points behind the Tories and in some danger of being overtaken by the NDP, pollster Bruce Anderson said there is more at stake for Dion than any other leader.

"If he does badly, the fragile circumstance that his party finds itself in right now could become more fragile still," said Anderson, president of Harris-Decima.

"And there isn't an awful lot of room to shed support . . . before you get into some pretty dire scenarios for the Liberal party."

If Dion exceeds low expectations and puts in "a brilliant performance," Anderson said the Liberals could finally get the bounce in the polls they've been hoping for.

With the TV networks eliminating opening and closing statements to make room for more discussion of the economy, some Liberals contend it makes perfect sense for Dion to lean on Martin's inner circle for debate preparation. Murphy, Reid and the others were intimately involved in the party's crowning achievement of the past 15 years: eliminating the deficit.

Dion, who has never held an economic portfolio himself, signalled Tuesday that he will use the debates to remind Canadians about the Liberal party's economic record.

"I will have an opportunity to show that the best approach is the one that we have shown to Canadians. Look at our track record," he said after visiting a soup kitchen in Gatineau, Que.

Dion said he'll position himself as a fiscally prudent centrist, someone who eschews the extremes of the laissez-faire Harper on the right and the anti-business Layton on the left.

"We Liberals, we are able to have a fair society and we're able at the same time to have a strong economy because we understand the link between the two."

Comments are now closed for this story

RCR
Dion and Layton berating the PM for the economics crisis in the US. Their platforms including the Green shift and Layton plan of giving untold amounts of money for daycare and every other social problem in this country. No thanks.The economy here is slowing but as the Pm said stay the course.We have the best economy of all the G8 countries so we are doing something right.Sounds like Layton is looking for another sound bite.I can't believe take that guy seriously.He platform is even more dangerous than Dions.

Mark in NB
So does Jack think that he could have done something to affect the US's policy? That is what the root problem is. Any all-leaders meeting in Canada wouldn't change the current situation.

Any slow-down in our economy is directly related to the US's policy.

As far as people freaking out over recessions, they happen. Everything is a cycle and right now is recession time. We had at least 6 years to get our personal financial houses in order.

I'd like to ask the people complaining (mainly the people who say Harper sucks for creating this recession) about this recession what they personally did to get their finances in order over the last 6 years?

(As a side no, no I am not a conservative. I just don't like people who blame everyone else and take no responsibilities for their personal hardships)

Steve in Fredericton
Who does Jack Layton think he is? Calling an "all-party leader's meeting"!?

One of my greatest fears in this election is that the NDP could actually be voted in as the Opposition. If that happens there would be an endless spew of utter nonsense from Jack on a daily basis. You folks think the past parliament was ineffective? You haven't seen anything yet. Wait until Jack brings his "I saw it done on a US political TV talkshow" approach to the legislature.

The financial crisis, while directly affecting us all, is the creation of corporate greed (largely in the US market place) and unfortunately, the CEO fat cats are the only ones who control the levers of wealth and will be the only ones who actually make more money from a failing economy. It's criminal. It's unrestrained capitalism; the man with the most money wins.

M. Darryl Harvey
5 national leaders ???
Lets see, Conservative, Liberal and NDP are National.
The Bloc is only in Quebec and the Greens have never elected a member anywhere..

Darryl

Frunk
Jack Layton just doesn't get it!! He thinks that Canada can make a difference in this US financial crisis. Imagine him being your fianancial adviser. NOT!!

Ian Ottawa
This is where we will see how well each would represent our interests. We know PM Harper followed through on his promises and in fact we are better off than what the Liberals left us with. We are better on the world stage because we aren't insulting our neighbor's to the South (although we still have Liberals trying the "Between the sheets" game). We will see the "TRAITORS" trying to break up the Country. We will see the Liberals trying to defend there record?? And from Jack we'll hear how they would do everything right but from Jack we really get Jack. PM Harper will be attacked but he is a smart man and at the end will be the clear winner.

NO ACCOUNTABILITY
I wonder how "Mr. Accountability" Harper is going to explain the 148 patronage appointments he made just before the election call that he thought would be hidden due to the summer parliamentary break.

I'm not saying it hasn't happened in the past but I thought Harper promised not to do this? I would feel betrayed if I had voted for him. (I didn't and I won't pretend that I did the way other posters like to post).

The article got buried on the site last night. Check the "Canada" news section.

Dean
How can you call Gilles Duceppe a national party leader when he only represents Quebec? There was a big flap over the Green party being able to attend the debate because she hasn't any seats. I think at least she isn't out to destroy Canada by separating the country. I don't understand how someone can take an oath to Canada when their agenda is to break away. Isn't that illegal? How does Duceppe think he is a "national" leader? I think it's about time we all called his bluff and began to treat Quebec the same as any other province. I don't want to see any kind of separation but at the same time, no ransom either.

Allan
I have more faith in the Liberals to understand and fix and preserve Canada's economy than I do with the Conservatives.

Brian Mulroney left us massive debt. The Liberals cleared it up and presented us with what 10, 11 consecutive budget surpluses. They began paying down the national debt, put money aside for a rainy day (this included a special $3 billion war fund), and starting investing in infrastructure and programs to help the elderly and ill.

Harper comes along and takes us to the edge of deficit in two years! He still thinks the US is a stable economy and right about most issues. And where has his cabinet been over the last two years? They're all hidden from view, like he doesn't trust them, which given their recent comments on the campaign trail is understandable.

I can't trust the Conservatives. Every other leader elected you get the impression they would put party politics behind them and represent the country and people of Canada. With Harper I feel he only wants to help a certain few and to hell with the rest of us.

Pat
At last Harper will be out of his bubble and have to debate Mr. Dion face to face on the real election issues instead of negative advertising ads. I am look forward to it.

Mike In Ottawa
All I want to know is why the current Government and they are STILL the Government, have almost nothing to say to Canadians when ask the hard questions regarding how Canada plans to handle this crisis. Almost any time I here a member of the the Governing Party questioned or ask to answer questions they almost inevitably sound like they are talking to a two year old who couldn't possibly understand the issues, this make me furious and what makes me even more furious is that most people take it. What's up Canada are you all two year olds waiting to be TOLD what to think, just look were that has gotten the American Public!!! All the information is available to make informed decisions start opening your eyes and take a look around we are being led by our Collective Noses. I guess we will deserve what we get............

MW (Ottawa)
This debate is going to be like a gathering of "Bitchers" at a picnic.

All through this election the left, Dion, Layton, Duceppe and May have whined, and complained their way across Canada, throwing false accusations and spinning the truth about the Conservative leader and his platform.

As they gather together this will be an opportunity for Canadians (those who care to watch) to see up close a Prime Minister up against a bunch of radical noisy school kids trying to score brownie points. That is if they can get a word in over Elizabeth May and Dions constant interruptions.

Should be interesting - NOT.

BM in Cgy
Obama-Jack wants all 5 National Leaders to meet. Interesting. He forgets that there are really only three NATIONAL Parties. He thinks that Canada can somehow have influence on this issue. He doesn't understand the differences in the two banking systems nor does he understand the difference between an investment bank and a retail bank. His "solution" is to rip up NAFTA and cancel the softwood deal. GREAT! Bet the U.S. gives a hoot about either of these right now. Jack, stop grand-standing and be realistic if you don't mind! I can't believe that ANYONE would vote for this blow-hard!

Steady as she goes
To Mike in Ottawa:

1) There is no banking crisis in Canada and not likely to be one due to our excellent banking system.

2) Until and unless the US decides which way they agree to act, the entire world is waiting. So what would you have our PM do?

3) The US economy is still in growth mode (BNN TV comment yesterday) despite their financial credit crisis and our economy is still in growth mode as well despite some real challenges in certain sectors (automotive).

4) There is NOTHING to respond to at present. We have a large surplus despite what Liberals including Paul Martin said in TO yesterday (BNN TV yesterday) which can be used to help offset some of the difficulty through targeted initiatives like the Windsor auto plant grant.

5) You don't act on fear - you act on facts with responsible measures something the Liberal and NDP leaders haven't figured out yet with their socialist tax and grab policies.

PVT
In Europe some governemnts are bailing out banks because of the hard times in the US and they aren't tied as closely to the American economy as we are - proof positive that our economics are sound and that Canada is in good hands. Anyone who says otherwise is simply making uneducated, partisan comments.

why is the Bloq called a national party? Ottawa
I see several comments on here about the Bloq being called a national party. National perhaps in the sense of Quebec being its own nation but not in the sense of Canada nationally. I still dont get why such a self interested regional party in allowed to run in a federal election and why so many Quebecers waste their vote cheering them in. Seriously. Look at the numbers, most people in Quebec seem to be saying they will vote for the Bloq. I almost wish BC and Alberta or the Maritime provinces would form a political party of their own and run in the next election, it is what the country deserves by allowing the Bloq to run in a national election. Somehow that would be declared unconstitutional by Duceppe, probably. Wake up Quebecers, do you want the economy to be healthy? Voting in the Block heads as opposition will not do that. And wasting your votes on that party wont help pull this country together.

Mr. C.
It doesn't really sound like a real "debate", to me.
Three Liberals,)May, the American, Dion the French citizen, and, well... wee Jackie) and Duceppe, who doesn't want to be Canadian, at all, all four, of them. piling onto the one guy, with
Pakin (hardly a Tory) as moderator, isn't a "debate"
It's a free time televised live Political broadcast for the Liberals. Harper should have declined to participate in this farce and suggested, in stead,let the other four have a go at each other and let Harper debate, one-on-one with each of the Party Leaders.

Karen
Did one of the Conservative strategists take the time to introduce Harper to his daughter? She's probably a smart girl and remembered that he walked her on the first day of the campaign.

Mark in NB and others are convincing me more and more not to vote Harper. You keep saying the Canadian economy is controlled by what happens in the US. If so, we don't need Harper as the money manager and we certainly don't want his right-wing views managing the armed forces, the arts, or any other important area.

Raj
I hope they do, in most polls. This is the biggest issue, not a speech in 2003!sheesh!

Sean
Change 15 minutes on the economy to 1 hour? Doesn't that sound like what they did in the US debate? But this is not the US! Harper, truth be told, wants this because the economy is his strong piece at the moment. Moreover, he doesn't want to get pummelled by everyone else on everything else: horrific environmental planning, cutting arts funding and buying votes with a 500-dollar tax give-away to voters, the pliagarized speech and republican parroting, sending 14-year olds to prison for life, and disgraceful ad/malicious campaigns. When will people wake up? Harper is trying to deflect attention again from his massive problems--and people are buying it!

Dale Wilson - Edmonton
Diamond Jack Layton calls a meeting of the 5 national party leaders. Did he realize how dumb that would sound when there is a debate just a couple of days away? I assume he was trying to appear statesmanlike...I guess. Did he learn nothing from Mr. McCain's stupid and transparent call to suspend campaigning earlier and the widespread derision with which it was greeted?

CC-western Canada
Dion and Layton shouldn't have a problem debating the economy for an hour. It was they who said the PM is wrecking the economy (which he isn't obviously). Layton wanted "an emergency meeting" over it, he should be game. Dion thinks that his tax is the "future of economics in Canada. He should be ok with it. And in the end they will flip all over the place and Harper will chew them both up and teach them a few things on economics. I can't wait to see Dion licking his wounds after Harper is done with him.

Paul - Orillia
Are the broadcasters going to allow this dictator to tell them what to do also??

dave
Of course the liberals wont agree with this as they are
"Green" when it comes to economic issues. I am conservative and dont plan to watch the debate anyhow as 5 is a real crowd, and I can catch highlites after.

Connie
Harper seems to want to avoid other topics. A seperate debate on the economy makes sense. Failing that extend the debate to ensure all issues are covered.

Rob
As always a brilliant move by Harper. Dion and Layton and May plans are full of holes. You need time to disect them and since they have been whining about the economy they cannot say no to this. Poor Dion, he will be chewed up like bubble gum, can't wait. You can sell tickets for that one

Gordo Mc
Allan - right on! Someone else who echoes my concerns.

Seems to bo a lot of easily offended Con-formists who like to rant and rail against anyone who dares speak out against Harper. If the Con-formists are so fantastic, what do you have to worry about?

I'm concerned with the gradual yet persistent erosion of civil liberties and constitutional freedoms that have been occurring under Harper's "stewardship."

If Harper wins again - and I'm not so naive to believe he won't - then we will see this trend continue, and it will become even more apparent that the Con-formists are holding true to their Reform roots.

But hey - they seem to appeal to the knee-jerk reactionists and those who are easily appeased by feel-good legislation that does more harm than good.

Nick in Gatineau
Paul - Orillia wrote :
'... Are the broadcasters going to allow this dictator to tell them what to do also??...'

The press is what got him elected as PM. Then Harper shunned them. The question is how far will the Press let him go ? All they want is news and Harper gives 'em plenty.

For a politician who always said that you stick to your ideas and beliefs he sure keeps changing his tune ! He wants to reverse all the important decisions he's taken since he came to power. Now he wants to change the format of a debate because he's failed to be accountable since this whole thing began ?

Yo Harper. Use the mirrors! back pedaling is harder than it looks.

Ian- Alberta
Wow I guess Canadians dying in a foreign land isnt important to Harper. Or the environment, or foreign policy, or health care, resource development, education. Nope; Harper only wants to talk economy. And holy he's an economist by trade. Guess he has no opinion or no expertise in any other area. Shameful a country is alot more than an economy Mr. Harper. Take your fascism and go away please. I want to elect someone who is more than a one issue party.

Andrew
You know, im so sick of people saying Mulrony left us with a debt.

P.E.T. left him with the debt so place blame where it belongs.

Mul just didnt do anything to get rid of the debt but he also didnt grow the debt.

So the creep and MArtin cleaned up a mess made by their own party.

This revisionist history the liberals and NDP do drive me crazy. TELL THE TRUTH FOR A CHANGE.

And just for arguement sake, Dion, Ray, Iggy had nothing to do with Martins debt payments so why are so many assuming Dion will instantly run a balanced budget because Martin did.

Look at his platform and THINK for crying out loud. Liberals and NDP would put us both into the worst fiscal deficiet Canada has ever seen.

Geoff
...The liberals may have elimatined the deficit(via massive decreases in transfer payments to the provinces and lucking into decreased interest rates which reduced the cost of servicing the $580 billion debt) but they hardly even put a small dent in the debt let alone eliminate it.

Deficits and debt began in Canada with the Liberals under Trudeau. Mulroney just continued the trend initiated by the Liberals. ...

Marcel
Mr. Harper has had since February 6, 2006 to talk about the Canadian economy. Mr. Harper and his party have failed completely on the Canadian economy.

Pat
Harper wants to control the debate.. well why don't we also let him play the piano in the middle of the debate so he can entertain the midlle income families..

Paul in BC
Harper was caught plagiarizing the Australian Conservative Party's Leader's speech about Iraq (and is now denying it)and now Harper is stealing Layton's idea of leaders getting together to discuss the economy. (Note: the Australians have since tossed the Conservatives out in their country)

Harper has been denying anything is wrong with the economy, suddenly he sees the light. He knew the economy was turning sour and should have kept Parliament in session to discuss this issue. Instead he broke his own law and called an early election a year before it was scheduled to be called so Parliament cannot discuss it. He's so dishonest.

JP in BC
Mr Harper
Woudl you like to borrow my SHOVEL for the debate ?

Martin Smith
Jack Leyton asking for the meeting of the party heads is very much like John McCain "heading back to Washington to avert the crisis".

Look what that has done for him.

Blaming Stephen Harper for "Canadian Economic Collapse" when Canada has an almost $10 billion surplus Federally and many Provinces are also in surplus seems to be a misfire.

If I was Stephen Harper, I'd happily accept the blame for the current state of the Canadian Economy.

Nearly ALL of the downturn in Canada's economy has been caused by US or foreign companies - the closures in Ontario are pretty much ALL US companies and directly related to the slow down in the USA, not Canada.

Tom Hawley
Did John Howard request this for his debate?
An hour for the economy?Does he need more time to place economic fear on us?
History has proven it was Liberal governments that took the helm and guided Canada out of storms.Only to let it fall back into the hands of first mates.They proceeded to put the country on cruise and not have anyone in the crow's nest.
Canada.Canada.Canada.A severe storm is heading our way.We need to abort.

Jim Mills
How about a separate debate on the economy? I still want to hear about other issues.

Johnedeals Calgary
Harper has nothing to fear whether debating the economy or otherwise. He will be debating the coalition of the lost. Mindless Jack and his band of political dysfunctionals. Do you think for a heartbeat that Jack Layton or Ms. May have a foggy clue as to what has, is and might transpire with the US economic crisis, let alone the Canadian economy? These are people who believe that if they increase the number of electric cars and daycare spaces, the interest rate will drop! Geeesh...

Jerry Younge
Had Harper introduced a platform like other parties, then it would be OK to dedicate 1 hour for the economy. However Harper has not introduced any platform during this bleak economic times. He is coming now and want to discuss it for an hour.

Now if he insists, then he can have another debate only dedicated to the economy. Alternatively, he can let him Minister of Finance to have a debate with other parties Finance critics, provided he authorize Jim to talk

KJ in Kingston
It will be very interesting to see how the other party leaders react to this proposal. Harper has the strongest background on economic issues and it will play to his advantage keep the focus in that topic longer. The man is no dummy, that's for sure

james
A "National Leaders Debate"?

The Bloc is Quebec only, hardly "national";

The NDP have never formed the official opposition let alone government, and probably never will. Hardly a "leader";

The Greens have never elected anyone to Parliament and judging by the polls won't. Their appearance is only because of Dion's whining.

So in reality, a true "National Leaders debate" would be Harper and Dion. And judging by Bob Rae's comments today, the Liberals really don't have much to talk about being as they are evading talking about Green Shift and upping taxes by 30%.

I think a good movie or hockey game is in order.

Marc Sauve
Steve, George's best buddy, didn't want to spend time on the economy yesterday but now that the market seems to have temporarily picked up, he's all for it. What a shame this man takes us all for fools. Quebec revolts, O.K. let' give a bit to the arts and culture. The guy thinks he can con everyone.

Joe Vancouver
Skip watching the debate, the real fun will be watching Biden debate Caribou Barbi!!

Lorne.
Miss May..heres an opportunity to get at least double your parties support.Two question.."Mr.Dion,when willyou repay the 230 thousand you owe canadians for your leadership race dept?Your already on your 2nd extension."And when will your party square up with the money owed to canadians for the sponsership scandel?"These are legitimate questions regarding our economy and will give the greens some credibility.Go for it Liz!!

Bernard Romanycia
How about watching paint dry for an hour, it's just as exciting. Bunch of Mumbo Jumbo.

Dorotheum
Frankly I find the majority of the comments left on this story shameful. The Bloc is a federal party, whether you like their policies or not. The Greens had a sitting member of parliament before parliament was dissolved and they have been receiving millions of dollars of taxpayer money from the government because of their performances in previous elections. Canadians deserve a chance to hear them debate.

If you disagree with either of those points, then I really think you shouldn't be allowed to vote. Ignorance causes enough problems in Canada, we don't need it influencing our elections.

MH in Vancouver
I think each important issue, such as health care, environment, economy, etc. should each get equal time. King Harpocrit just wants to avoid the other topics because he knows he has failed in each of those. If the issue of the economy is allowed 1 hour of time, then a second debate should be scheduled to deal with the other topics as I want to hear about all issues facing Canada not just one.

Matt G. from CB Nova Scotia.
The Meltdown in the United States will only affect Canadians if our government allows it! Canada is our country, not part of the United States. We should stand strong by ourselves. Why should we be negatively affected by the outrageous blunders of the American people and their banks. Americans are in the position they are in because they always had one mindset... " We live in the most powerful country in the World, and we should be able to have whatever we want, including big homes, expensive cars, expensive material things, and send our kids to our outrageously over-priced colleges". The banks gave loans to people who made combined incomes of maybe $100,000 plus, for homes worth in upwards of $500000+. It is a very sad situation, I will agree. But that country, as a whole needs to smarten up. No one is exempt from working like everyone else, paying bills that are within their reach, and living life to the fullest. You can still have fun, enjoy life, and have nice things, if you take it slow and buy things as you can afford them. I hope Harper and all the leaders will spend lots of time reassuring Canadians that this is our country, and we will not be told how our financial outcome should unfold by another country. This is a big planet. Find other people to trade with, do business with, etc. This country can survive/thrive off the diversity, and the highly educated people that choose this beautiful country to live and PROSPER in.

May
Yes please. The economy is by far the most important issue and they need an hour.

Kudos Stephen Harper and Jack Layton.

Mike
The biggest risk to the Canadian market is a change of government. If the Dion Liberals (this is not longer Cretien/Martin) or the NDP have the power, the Canadian market will fall 1000pts and the dollar would be off a nickel.

Gender Neutral
Dion is turning to Martin, eh? Well, all the advice in the world isn't going to matter when you can't relate what you want to say to the english speaking population. Harper and Layton know how to debate. Dion gets flustered and almost angry looking. I pity poor Mr. Dion. So out of his league.

Gordo Mc
Dorotheum - any party that can field candidates in every province/territory has the right to call themselves a national party. This includes the Greens, who are slowly becoming a more recognized and viable option.

However, the Bloc fields candidates only in Quebec. Worse, their sole raison d'etre is the breakup of Canada. National party? I don't think so.

Bob
Dion needs all the help he can get. Does he ever make a decision on his own? Hopefully he will not ask one of his "stars" Bob Rae for economic advice.

Donin Calgary
In the the red corner:
Dion
Layton
Duceppe
May
Rae
Ignatiff
Martin
CBC
CTV
Global
Globe and Mail
Arts community
In the Blue corner:
Harper

Soounds like a fair fight to me

Steve Daly, Mississauga
It says a lot about your leadership when you have to go to Mr. Dithers for leadership advice.

Actually, it says that Leadership is something you can't even identify in others, let alone possess yourself.

Look like Dion is going to be hearing a Nylons classic:

Na na na na na na na na
Hey hey hey goodbye...

Raj
Dion is really going to need all the help he can get, it's like a lamb to slaughter.I cannot understand what he says, sorry.

Todd
So when the Liberals are facing a certain defeat, they turn to what they call their "deep bench" and call on...Mr Dithers?

Oh my, looks like the bench is pretty shallow after all.

david
Although I prefer Harper as the only logical choice for p.m., I would certainly not want the communist leaning NDP as opposition

Pankratz in BC
I would like to hear each leader debate their optimal rescue plan for Canada. Then, I would favor passage of one-time enabling legislation giving the PM sweeping powers to act on short notice after consultation with political, business (including banking) and labor leaders. This would provide the PM with strategic "if-then" alternative responses as opposed to political knee-jerk reactions. Such a blank check is high risk, however, these are largely uncharted waters. Timing is everything in making a wise decision and hence my "undemocratic" suggestion.

Anne, Ottawa
Why are so many people fuming over Harper squandering this huge surplus that we had? SURPLUS is a watered-down word for OVERTAXATION!!! By the way, Mulroney did leave us with a huge debt that TRUDEAU began. When he came into office, Canada was somewhere around 15 bil in debt. When he took a walk in the snow and finally decided to leave, we were over 200 BIL in the hole! Paul Martin's brilliant fiscal management as finance minister was no more than Preston Manning's ideas being swiped and repackaged with a red bow. I don't care who leads the Libs now or in the near future after Dion gets all the daggers out of his back, but they are not allowed to even consider being in power again until we can recover ALL the money in ALL the paperbags from Adscam.

Dave W
Don't people know that massive surpluses means massive over taxing???? There is nothing to be proud of when massive surpluses come. We're still running surpluses to the tune of a couple billion....Harper and his team have done a fantastic job running our country.

HKP in Vancouver.
The best thing about the Oct. 14 Election is that on the 15th...Dion will be gone..!!

Steve the Pundit
Of course; I mean, who knows more about winning election strategies than Paul Martin's team?

R/H Ontario
I agree with many of the former posts. Duceppe is NOT a National Leader, period! He may be a Provincial Leader but that is all. He should NEVER be on a National Leaders Debate, nor Ms May.
But if you whine enough I guess everyone gives in to you. Maybe just for some peace and quiet.
If Harper fails us then hopefully in the next Election, four years from now, the Libs will have been purged and there are some decent people there to lead for a change. Well it won't hurt to dream I guess.

Marc Coquitlam B.C.
I think Paul Martin owes most of his success to his predessor Michael Wilson. He and Mulroney brought in the GST, Free trade and put the finacial systems in place to get us out of deficit. Paul Martin used those as well as downloading costs of healthcare to provinces and got his surplus that way. In B.C. we got a shiney new MSP premium to pay.

C. Martin
We are better off???? I'm still trying to find the money the reduction in the GST gave me. mmm I think I would have been better off with the income tax allowance we get at tax time...oh yeah Harper scraped that didn't he. As for the money for day care I have no kids so I lost out on that one too.

BB in B.C.
To Paul in B.C......Howard was the Liberal PM of Australia. Isn't that amazing?
To Tom Hawley.....John Howard isn't debating anyone so what's your point?
To the rest of you Lefties.....I cast my ballot today. You can't change my mind now. Gottcha!!!

JrJ of Toronto
First off, there wouldn't be any debate and election had harper honored and respected the oct. 14, 2009 election date he tabled which became the law of the land. this guy changes things in a snap of his fingers if it benefits him but ducks when caught on guard. harper can't be trusted with his words and musn't be trusted at all.

Karl
I'll tell you how Paul Martin cut the deficit. He cut transfers to provinces, cut programs, under funded ministries and stood by getting praised while the provinces were strugglingand forced to cut Health care. Yes thats what I want to go back to Paul Martin eco 101. God help us!

GenX (Vancouver)
Is this the same Scott Reid who insulted Middle Class Canadians by referring us as beer and popcorn layabouts?

Bill, Renfrew County
But will Dion use his own ideas and words?

Paul R. Martin
The Canadian economy grew by 0.7% in July which was the best performance in 4 years. Manufacturing output soared. The Canadian economy is solid. Dion will get hammered in the debate.

David From Windsor
The reason Paul Martin was so good at recovering out of a deficit was the fact that millions of tax dollars were used to do so. The promised to get rid of GST, they didn't. If they want to start bringing up stuff that happened 5 years ago I think we can all light a fire under them by starting to talk about the sponsorship scandal that got Paul Martin the boot in the first place.

This Liberal party is just putting on a gong show for us to enjoy.

Baffles me how people can still support them... guess you can't change some people.

Chris
One other thing, is it not legislated that we have to pay the debt down, so in the old day's that might have happened with the surplus, now we are paying down the debt. That was and is surplus dollars, when people say they are in a deficit, 3-4 billion a year is going to the debt, everybody called it a surplus. We are in better shape now than then to weather the future.

farmer fred
Seriously? Help from Martin's team. The guy who lost the election with the worse campaign ever- until this one? The guy who's performance in the debate was so bad it likely cost him the election. That guy? Seriously.

I couldn't help but notice all these Conservative sweater vest lovers spending all this time on this article, which barely mentions the NDP attacking Jack Layton. Methinks the Conservatives are getting worried that Stevie is going to look out of his league when it comes to talking about the real impact of the economy in people's lives. A community near me just lost 500 manufacturing jobs thanks to Stevie's leadership on the economy. Good going Mister I have never actually held a real job in my life in the private sector Harper.

PEI Fella
Ah leaning on Paul Martin. The man who should still be at the helm of the Liberal Party.
Too bad, but at this point I don't think there is anything Dion can do to save this election for the Liberals, save maybe turning water into wine.

Trevor
Ian, he kept which promises? I have a list of lies
1. No unelected Ministers (except where the dept. responsible for Adscam is concerned right Mr. Fortier?) 2. No appointed Senators (except for campaign advisors like Fortier)
3. Floor crossers should be subject to by-elections (but poaching Emerson before he serves even a second in the House is not floor-crossing) 4. We will "never" tax income trusts (for the next 11 months or so)
5. The next election will be in October 2009 (unless we can conveniently forget we said that)
6. 25,000 private daycare spaces (never happened)
7. 1,000 troops, helicopters, and drones BEFORE committing our troops to Afghanistan until 2011 (750 troops, no copters or drones)
8. We've got a good plan for the environment (ridiculed around the world)
9. That plan didn't work. We'll have all parties work together to create another plan (Clean Air Act passed and was ignored by the CPC) 10. Whoops! We don't like that plan. We've got another great plan for the enviroment (no real action until 2050 and short-term targets STILL not announced)
11. The new Atlantic Accord is EXACTLY the same as the old one (even though there were amendments)
12. We'll always follow the law (as we understand it) 13. We will be fiscally responsible (highest spending govt. in history)
14. Guaranteed wait times across Canada for 5 health services (didn't even come close on that one)
15. We will be honest and accountable (obstruction rule book, removal of directors, 3-question referendum, sneaky immigration reform, less access to info, etc.)
16. The Mulroney-Schreiber inquiry is coming soon (we're still waiting)
17. I will not pander to Quebec (money taken from SK and given to QC for taxbreak, nationhood, recent pre-election goodies)