ENGAGED IN A FIGHT for their upcoming elections, the Canada’s Liberal party has become mired in a series of political embarrassments that now has involved a reluctant U.S. State Department, even while the Martin government grapples with yet another finance scandal.
Problems for the Liberals started early in the campaign, and revolve mostly around the aides to current Prime Minister Paul Martin, who is trying to overcome the stain of the Sponsorship Programme corruption within his party. Scott Reid, one of Prime Minister Martin’s advisors in the PMO, lost his temper when Don Martin, of the Calgary Herald, pressed Reid for an interview with his boss during an event at the National Press Club. Reid told the reporter that “Alberta can blow me.” Granted, the Liberals didn’t count on winning too many ridings (the term for Parliament districts) in the western province, but still. Reid has yet to apologize.
