November 14, 2003
Air Canada Centre, Toronto
Chairs: Bobbi Ethier (President, Liberal Party of Canada - Manitoba) and MP Marcel Proulx (Hull--Aylmer, Que.)
| 1 | |
| Paul Martin | 3242 (93.89%) |
| Sheila Copps | 211 (6.11%) |
| Spoiled | 2 (0.06%) |
| TOTAL | 3455 |
Jean Chrétien announced his intention to retire in August 2002. Paul Martin ran for a second time, hoping to replace the man who defeated him 13 years earlier and became prime minister in 1993.
THE CONTENDERS
Martin left cabinet in 2002 after longstanding tension with Chrétien over the future of the leadership reached its apex.
The long-time finance minister promised to cut taxes and lower the national debt while also investing in Canada's cities, early learning, and other social programs. He also pledged to improve Liberal fortunes in the west.
Martin's massive financial and organizational advantage within the party – years in the making – led many potential contenders such as Allan Rock and Brian Tobin to avoid the race. John Manley stayed in the race until late July before withdrawing.
The race officially began in February 2003. The vote that actually mattered was a late-September “super weekend,” when nearly 3,000 Martin delegates were elected to the convention.
Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, by that time his only competitor, secured less than 10 per cent of Martin’s number.
About 531,000 party members, a large number of which were signed up by the Martin campaign, were eligible to vote at local meetings across Canada.
THE CONVENTION
Any hope for drama on the floor disappeared. Martin was now referred to as the prime minister-in-waiting.
But Copps remained in the race, running on the party’s left wing against Martin’s business experience and record as finance minister.
Once the proceedings began, U2 front man Bono took the stage to plead for more attention to Third World debt, AIDS, and the developing world.
THE VOTE
The formal vote confirmed Martin’s lock on the leadership. The 65-year-old accomplished what he could not do in 1990 -- or his father in 1958 and 1968.
He called for a “new politics of achievement” and promised more accountability for government spending, a new-age economy, and better relations with the United States after a year of strain over the Iraq question.
MORE:
- Martin left the convention and flew to Regina to meet Canada’s premiers before the Grey Cup game.
- Chrétien’s farewell speech told Liberals never to lose their “social conscience.” He stepped down as prime minister the following month.
- Martin raised about $12 million. He donated his $3.8-million surplus to help pay down the Liberal party's debt. Copps raised $891,000.
