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Nault backs Martin

Author

Paul Barnsley, Windspeaker Staff Writer, Ottawa

Volume

21

Issue

4

Year

2003

Page 9

Just days after he sparred publicly in the press with Liberal Party leadership front-runner Paul Martin over the First Nations governance act, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Robert Nault, declared publicly that the former finance minister has his support in the leadership race.

Some observers say it was merely a smart move by Nault, who likely would have been left out in the political wilderness when the coronation of Martin as party leader is finalized had he not jumped on board the Martin express. But other observers wonder if a back-room deal was struck by the two men and, if so, what it means for them.

So far, Martin has said all the right things when talking about First Nation issues, although several attempts by this publication to get a one-on-one interview with the man have gone unanswered. First Nation leaders are cautiously optimistic they'll have a more open ear in the Prime Minister's Office when Martin takes over from the retiring Jean Chretien.

Chretien has a long list of legacy legislation pending in the House and little hope that all of it will be passed into law before the current session of Parliament comes to an end.

Canadian Alliance Indian Affairs critic Brian Pallister is one parliamentarian who suspects something's up.

He says the First Nations governance act was approved by Cabinet, of which Paul Martin was a member, and that Martin fully endorsed the bill while in Cabinet and has recently become a vocal opponent of the legislation. Martin has publicly criticized the bill and has admitted that he would not enact it should he become Prime Minister, Pallister added.

Nault's "surprising endorsement" of Paul Martin for the Liberal leadership has led to speculation that a backroom deal has been struck in exchange for the Indian Affairs minister's support, he added.

"I am troubled by the flip-flop. Just days ago, Martin stated that he would not enact the FNGA, which led to Nault's challenge for a better plan to be put on the table," Brian Pallister said. "Now Nault is supporting Martin. It appears that the two have talked behind closed doors and struck a deal. So much for Paul Martin's new way of doing politics."

National Chief Matthew Coon Come isn't so sure a lot should be read into the move.

"I think the minister is trying to pull straws for survival of his governance act, which I believe will die on the order paper," he said.

"[NDP critic] Pat Martin made reference to, and so did Pallister, that [the Liberals] were talking to the [Opposition parties] because they wanted their finance bill on elections to go through. He insinuated that there was a kind of deal there, that if they supported [the campaign finance bill] that they would allow the FNGA to die on the order paper."

Alistair Mullin, spokesman for the Indian Affairs minister, said it was a simple matter of Nault deciding Martin was the best choice.

"There's a number of issues that go on when a minister or a member of parliament decides who they're going to support in a leadership race. It was the minister's view that Paul Martin is just the best man for the job," he said. "Even though this is a political party, to a certain extent you have to put politics aside and ask yourself some fundamental questions about who leads the party and what kind of person, who has the quality of leadership you admire the most."

Ottawa insiders aren't so sure. Those with long memories recall that in 1988, Bob Nault was first elected to parliament at age 33. His office was across the hall from another relatively new MP, Paul Martin. People forget that during Brian Mulroney's time, especially from1988 to 1993, the Liberal caucus wasn't very big. In other words, Martin and Nault have some history.

Others point out that the minister of Indian Affairs was the co-chair of Sheila Copps' leadership campaign in 1993 and wonder what happened. They tend to suspect a deal was struck. They also point out that Martin's languag has changed slightly since Nault endorsed him, another indication that something was decided between the two men.

At first Martin said he wouldn't pass the bill. More recently he has been saying all First Nations concerns can be dealt with during the implementation phase, which would of course happen after the bill is passed. The implementation phase proposed in the bill was recently changed from two years to three. That's something Nault has been suggesting all along. It may be another sign a deal of sorts was struck.

More troubling for First Nations' observers, all of this indicates Bill C-7 is far from dead, that some move may be made to push it through in the fall.