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CBC TV
SHOW: The National
April 23, 2004 Friday
ANCHORS: MARK KELLEY
MARK KELLEY (HOST) :
In bad political times, there's nothing like a united front, but
Liberal unity cracked this week over an unexpected issue. It was a
private member's bill on the Armenian genocide, and it exposed some
deep divisions in Paul Martin's government. Jennifer Ditchburn
reports.
JENNIFER DITCHBURN (REPORTER) :
Just weeks before a possible election call and Paul Martin is seeing
cracks in cabinet solidarity.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE :
All those opposed...
JENNIFER DITCHBURN (REPORTER) :
Right on the front benches, ministers Stephen Owen and Rey Pagtakhan
are sitting when they're supposed to stop and stand and vote against
a motion that declared there was an Armenian genocide in 1915. Owen
offered this explanation...
STEPHEN OWEN (MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS) :
I was not comfortable we with the Bloc resolution. I was not going
vote for it but I was not comfortable voting against it. Thank you.
JENNIFER DITCHBURN (REPORTER) :
But sources told the CBC that during their weekly meeting, Paul
Martin was forced to issue a stern reminder to Owen and other cabinet
ministers of their duty to vote along government lines, pointing out
that being in cabinet is a privilege. This may not have been a free
vote for ministers, but it was for everyone else, and most Liberals
voted against their government, even though Foreign Affairs Minister
Bill Graham had warned them that approving a private member's bill
that recognized a disputed Armenian genocide could put a chill on
relations with Turkey and possibly hurt Canadian business. Since the
vote, Graham has been trying to reassure Turkey that the vote was not
an expression of government policy.
BILL GRAHAM (CANADA'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS) :
We're an ally of Turkey. We will be working with Turkey. My belief is
they will accept that position, enable us to get on, turn a page, say
this is the past now, let's move forward.
STAN DOMINSKY (ONTARIO LIBERAL MP) :
There is a certain amount of disarray in the House of Commons.
JENNIFER DITCHBURN (REPORTER) :
This MP says the vote was more about pre-election jitters, MPs
worried about Greeks and Armenians in their ridings reacting
negatively.
STAN DOMINSKY (ONTARIO LIBERAL MP) :
That security is not there right now. From what I can gather from so
many members of the Liberal caucus, they're very uneasy. They're
praying and hoping that they will glean enough votes out of their
constituencies so that they will able to be victorious.
JENNIFER DITCHBURN (REPORTER) :
These days, Liberals are divided on some big issues: riding
nomination battles, whether the prime minister is getting good
advice, and, most of all, on the right timing for an election. Not an
ideal situation for a party that's considering going to the polls in
just a few weeks. Jennifer Ditchburn, CBC News, Ottawa.
SHOW: The National
April 23, 2004 Friday
ANCHORS: MARK KELLEY
MARK KELLEY (HOST) :
In bad political times, there's nothing like a united front, but
Liberal unity cracked this week over an unexpected issue. It was a
private member's bill on the Armenian genocide, and it exposed some
deep divisions in Paul Martin's government. Jennifer Ditchburn
reports.
JENNIFER DITCHBURN (REPORTER) :
Just weeks before a possible election call and Paul Martin is seeing
cracks in cabinet solidarity.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE :
All those opposed...
JENNIFER DITCHBURN (REPORTER) :
Right on the front benches, ministers Stephen Owen and Rey Pagtakhan
are sitting when they're supposed to stop and stand and vote against
a motion that declared there was an Armenian genocide in 1915. Owen
offered this explanation...
STEPHEN OWEN (MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS) :
I was not comfortable we with the Bloc resolution. I was not going
vote for it but I was not comfortable voting against it. Thank you.
JENNIFER DITCHBURN (REPORTER) :
But sources told the CBC that during their weekly meeting, Paul
Martin was forced to issue a stern reminder to Owen and other cabinet
ministers of their duty to vote along government lines, pointing out
that being in cabinet is a privilege. This may not have been a free
vote for ministers, but it was for everyone else, and most Liberals
voted against their government, even though Foreign Affairs Minister
Bill Graham had warned them that approving a private member's bill
that recognized a disputed Armenian genocide could put a chill on
relations with Turkey and possibly hurt Canadian business. Since the
vote, Graham has been trying to reassure Turkey that the vote was not
an expression of government policy.
BILL GRAHAM (CANADA'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS) :
We're an ally of Turkey. We will be working with Turkey. My belief is
they will accept that position, enable us to get on, turn a page, say
this is the past now, let's move forward.
STAN DOMINSKY (ONTARIO LIBERAL MP) :
There is a certain amount of disarray in the House of Commons.
JENNIFER DITCHBURN (REPORTER) :
This MP says the vote was more about pre-election jitters, MPs
worried about Greeks and Armenians in their ridings reacting
negatively.
STAN DOMINSKY (ONTARIO LIBERAL MP) :
That security is not there right now. From what I can gather from so
many members of the Liberal caucus, they're very uneasy. They're
praying and hoping that they will glean enough votes out of their
constituencies so that they will able to be victorious.
JENNIFER DITCHBURN (REPORTER) :
These days, Liberals are divided on some big issues: riding
nomination battles, whether the prime minister is getting good
advice, and, most of all, on the right timing for an election. Not an
ideal situation for a party that's considering going to the polls in
just a few weeks. Jennifer Ditchburn, CBC News, Ottawa.