.
Search
 Email this articleE-mail this story  Discuss this articleWrite letter to editor  Discuss this articleOrder a classified ad  Print this page

Liberal revival tour visits

Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 14/06) - Interim Liberal leader Bill Graham evoked past party accomplishments and side-stepped more recent low points during a Yellowknife visit Tuesday.

NNSL Photo/graphic

Former defence minister and current interim federal Liberal leader Bill Graham visited Yellowknife Tuesday to talk party renewal. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo


Part of his cross-country tour to discuss party renewal, he touted the Liberals' renewal commission" and said he hopes it can help boost appeal among voters in the wake January's election loss to the Conservatives.

The tour is in advance of a year-end Liberal leadership convention.

Coincidentally, Graham's successor at the defence ministry, Gordon O'Connor, was also in Yellowknife to outline the Harper government's new military spending plan and what it would mean for the North.

"It's just a continuation of our foreign policy," insisted Graham of the $17.1 billion Conservatives have earmarked for enhancing Canada's military.

He then accused the federal government of "inventing a crisis" over Northern sovereignty so they could, "spend billions and billions driving three armed icebreakers around the Arctic."

"Nobody's going to invade the Arctic, real Northern problems aren't Arctic defence," he added.

Though advertised as a meeting for party members and the public, Yellowknifer was denied access and given less than 10 minutes with Graham following the gathering.

"We don't like the press at these because sometimes people don't feel comfortable expressing themselves," explained Graham's executive assistant.

When Yellowknifer was finally ushered in to speak with Graham, he was flanked by Senator Nick Sibbeston - who handled questions regarding aboriginal issues - and Yukon MP Larry Bagnell, who said little but provided additional Liberal support.

During the brief interview, Graham took several opportunities to criticize the Harper government.

"I believe the Conservative government is doing things not in the long-term interests of Canadians," said Graham.

Graham explained the Liberal's renewal commission was, "To look at how to make us a more effective voice for Canadians," and a common practice for political parties in the aftermath of defeat.

When asked what a reborn Liberal party would like to leave behind, Graham avoided the Chretien-era sponsorship scandal and spoke of the Liberals' long-time commitment to Northerners. This included his party's pledge prior to the last election to provide $500 million in pipeline impact funding.

The new Harper government has agreed to honour this commitment, contingent on the pipeline being constructed.