FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2005

Prime Minister Risking Canada’s Future Prosperity
Threats to withdraw from WTO irresponsible: Menzies

OTTAWA – Ted Menzies, Official Opposition Critic for International and Internal Trade today rejected comments regarding the government’s participation in December’s World Trade Organization meeting in Hong Kong by the Prime Minister yesterday.
Caught by the media, after a crisis Caucus meeting Mr. Martin charged that key initiatives would die as a result of a lost confidence vote, including government participation in the mid-December WTO meeting in Hong Kong.

“The Prime Minister is clearly panicking and trying to hold onto power by fear-mongering and threatening to abandon government responsibilities if forced to be accountable to Canadians in an election,” said Mr. Menzies from Ottawa. “It is irresponsible and unacceptable for the Ministers for International Trade and Agriculture to even consider being anywhere other than in Hong Kong in mid-December.”

The Liberal’s own election history does not support the claim that international meetings or Ministerial responsibilities are withdrawn as soon as the writ is dropped. Paul Martin had no problem calling an election in May 2004 and jetting off to attend the G8 meeting in Georgia. Ministers like Geoff Regan and Bill Graham attended international meetings as ministers, using Challenger jets, during the last election.

On Ministerial responsibility during federal election campaigns, Martin’s former Heritage Minister, Helene Scherrer, now his Principal Secretary, used a government Challenger jet to travel to the annual Banff Television festival and deliver a speech during the 2004 election, using the podium to deliver a partisan attack at taxpayers’ expense. Martin thought this was fine and the Liberals defended Scherrer’s conduct, insisting it was her job as a minister.

“If the Ministers of International Trade and Agriculture are not interested in taking the time to defend the interests of Canada’s exporters and entrepreneurs,” said Menzies. “I am prepared to travel in their place and stand for Canada at the WTO.”

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