harper is out of touch

Harper and Buzz Hargrove exchange pointed barbs
January 18, 2006
canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=3d5a2218-8a94-4525-ba91-72932a6522ed&k=59314

STRATHROY, Ont. -- Labour leader Buzz Hargrove says Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's attitude toward the provinces is essentially a separatist approach.

"If you devolve all the powers to the provinces, what do you have left?" Hargrove said as he campaigned alongside Paul Martin. "His view of the country is a separatist view,"

But Hargrove also said Quebec voters should choose the Bloc Quebecois over the Conservatives, who have shown unexpected strength in Quebec in recent polls.

"I would urge them to stop Stephen Harper in any way they can."

Hargrove, head of the Canadian Auto Workers union, has endorsed the Liberals, a switch from the traditional union support for the NDP.

In Toronto, Harper called Hargrove's comments "shocking."

"Mr. Hargrove, who is one of Mr. Martin's key campaign supporters, is now urging people to vote for the Bloc and I wonder what Mr. Martin thinks of that,'' Harper said.

"I think Mr. Martin should distance himself from Mr. Hargrove's comments. I don't think any federalist leader should be urging people to vote for the Bloc."

Harper said Hargrove's comments show a partisanship that puts the interests of the Liberals above those of the country.

The labour leader said he's not happy with the way NDP Leader Jack Layton has run his campaign.

"Jack has made a couple of decisions in this campaign that didn't sit with me very well but he has a right to do that," Hargrove said. "He's the leader of the party."

He said Layton has spent too much time criticizing Martin's government, "as if undermining Liberals was going to strengthen the NDP."

"I think that was a short-term view of the values of Canada."

Hargrove was with Martin in a southwestern Ontario restaurant as the Liberal leader wooed NDP votes.

With polls suggesting a Tory lead just days before Monday's election, Martin said it's time for progressive voters to unite to stop the Tories.

He said Harper's agenda is out of step with Canadian values.