Paul Martin is no Pierre Trudeau,
Conservative leader Stephen Harper told representatives from
Toronto’s various ethnic community media outlets during a meeting last week.
Mr. Harper said
he cannot figure out why those communities continue to support the Liberals
in large numbers. “I can’t answer to that question other than to say that
the Liberal Party, particularly the Liberal Party under Pierre Trudeau, did
a much better job in reaching out and being present in the ethnocultural
community,” said Mr. Harper, delivering some unexpected praise for the
former Liberal prime minister.
Mr. Harper also
said, however, that “even if they did a better job in reaching out, they
didn’t do a better job in bringing in. Still there is a surprising lack of
influence of new Canadians in the Liberal Party.” The Conservative leader
said that his party wants to do both by reaching out, and also by changing
the complexion of the party, itself.
“Since I’ve
used Mr.Trudeau’s name twice, and I seldom use Mr.Trudeau’s name very
complimentarily, let me just end by pointing out to you that the Liberal
Party of Pierre Trudeau, is not the Liberal Party of today,” he said.“The
Liberal Party of today has systematically ignored the values that most new
Canadians and immigrants believe in.” (See Federal Libs
DeTrudeauize the party)
