Tories aim for 'smaller' Canada, Martin says
Last Updated Fri, 11 Jun 2004 20:35:46 EDT

TORONTO - Liberal Leader Paul Martin returned to the campaign trail Friday,
ramping up his attack against Stephen Harper and warning Canadians of a
bleak and backward-looking country under a Conservative government. Martin
was out of the country for part of this week at the G8 meeting in the U.S.,
and before that, he was in France for the 60th anniversary of D-Day.

Speaking to a women's business group, Martin suggested Canada would be a
meaner country under the Conservatives. He warned that if elected, they
would override equality rights in the Constitution. "Under a Liberal
government, fundamental rights will not be open to negotiation," he
said.

Martin also said Conservative leader Stephen Harper would slash spending on
social programs to pay for lower taxes. "We would be smaller within
our own borders with diminished social services - a wearing away of
fundamental rights and an erosion of our collective responsibility to those
who need our help most."

Martin warned about the cost of Harper's platform to cut taxes and increase
military spending, saying he might have to scrap important government
departments. "He could eliminate the Department of Citizenship and
Immigration, he could eliminate the Justice Department, he could in fact
eliminate the Heritage Department. He could then turn around and eliminate
Industry, Foreign Affairs, Fisheries and Oceans and Natural
Resources," Martin said.

Martin also cited formal pronouncements and comments on social issues which
individual Conservative candidates have made. He decried what he called the
Conservative's willingness to ignore minority rights and its economic
proposals. He was cheered when he again said he would defend a woman's
right to have an abortion.

Although it is not a part of the Conservative platform, Harper has said he
would allow a free vote on the issue if an MP introduced a private members
bill.


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