"I look around the room here today and feel a renewed sense of energy... because we are entering what I believe will be a period of critically important transformative change." This is among the stock phrases Liberal campaigners are being encouraged to use in the coming election campaign.
Other phrases emphasize Paul Martin's leadership. "Our prime minister, Paul Martin, is doing a tremendous job as the standard-bearer for change." "In only a few short months (Martin) has been able to set the stage to improve, through policies and initiatives, the lives of all Canadians in the coming decade."
Most observers, it seems, are not impressed. Rabble.ca columnist Scott Piatkowski writes, "the period since the Martin takeover in December has been remarkably devoid of any new initiatives (as distinct from new speeches suggesting that new initiatives may soon occur, if only we wait for the next speech)." Maclean's columnist Paul Wells described Martin's health care initiatives thus: "he will solve health care, where all before him failed, by showing up." A recent analysis by Dennis Bueckert of Canadian Press found Conservative and Liberal rhetoric on health care to be deeply similar: "both sides spout similar platitudes, but offer few specifics".
» CP: Tory, Grits share rhetoric on health care
The Dominion is a monthly paper published by an incipient network of independent journalists in Canada. It aims to provide accurate, critical coverage that is accountable to its readers and the subjects it tackles. Taking its name from Canada's official status as both a colony and a colonial force, the Dominion examines politics, culture and daily life with a view to understanding the exercise of power.