harper conservative extremist

Martin continues to blast Tories as extremist
Jan. 21 2006 7:35
Canadian Press
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LONDON, Ont. — Paul Martin launched a last-minute sprint across the country painting his opponents as extreme right-wingers who bear no resemblance to the Conservative party of old.

The coast-to-coast dash pitted Martin against an electoral clock that appears to be ticking on his Liberal government, and racing against a Tory opponent to whom polls suggest Canadians have warmed up.

Asked to name one far-right element in the Tory platform, Martin cited their plans to roll back the Liberals' proposed national day-care plan, Canada's commitment to the Kyoto protocol as well as a recent federal-provincial aboriginal deal.

"You asked for one example. I've given you three,'' Martin shot back.

His warnings of a right-wing agenda have so far only managed to dent the Tory lead in the polls, but Martin remained determined Saturday to end his final weekend on the hustings with the same stark message.

"People will have to choose between the ultra-conservative, extreme right-wing agenda of Stephen Harper and the progressive, ambitious plan we're offering Canadians,'' he told a partisan rally.

It was much the same message in Brampton, Ont., when Martin said a Tory government would imperil abortion rights. He delivered the warning _ aimed squarely at women voters -- flanked by eight of his Toronto-area female candidates.

Conspicuous by their absence were local Liberal candidates who share the anti-abortion leanings of many Conservatives.

Martin has been dogged by questions about the diverse views of his own caucus every time he has raised the abortion issue during the campaign.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has repeatedly said he would not introduce abortion legislation and would use his influence to keep the issue from ever arriving for a free vote in the House of Commons.

As for the Liberals' proposed day-care plan, Harper has promised to replace it with a $1,200-per-child annual subsidy.

He also says he would replace the Kyoto commitment -- which Canada is already far from reaching -- with his own clean-air act, and would revisit parts of the aboriginal deal while heeding most of its principles.

But to Martin, those announcements have been reason enough to travel the country using words like "ultraconservative,'' "extreme,'' and "far right'' to describe his opponents.

He said modern-day Conservatives have nothing in common with the old Progressive Conservative party that disappeared in the 2003 merger with the Canadian Alliance.

"They used to call them the Tories,'' Martin said.

"But that party -- the party of Bob Stanfield, the party of Joe Clark, the party of mainstream and moderate leaders, the party that was proud to call itself progressive, is no more -- it's as dead as disco.''

He described the current incarnation of the Conservatives as a "rehashed version of Preston Manning's Reform party'' and a "dolled-up variation of Stockwell Day's Canadian Alliance.''

Martin accused Conservative Leader Stephen Harper of keeping his candidates in hiding because he doesn't want Canadians to hear what they believe.

"Stephen Harper says he wants members of Parliament to play a greater role in Parliament. He says he wants them to have a greater say, a greater voice. All the time, that is, except during an election campaign.''