Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 21, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba A6 Canada / world Winnipeg free press monday june 21, 2004 Liberal dream team living a Nightmare visions of Cabinet Post dim for Murray other grit stars by Amy Carmichael v Vancouver ? a Liberal dream team of cos a big City mayor and a powerful Union Boss Are among those who have painted tight smiles on their faces As they enter the final week of the Federal Campaign. All of them were virtually assured Cabinet posts. Many of them might not even win their Ridings. Those that do May be facing the More modest Job of backbench opposition my. Life a a risk said Dave Haggard former Leader of a Union that represents thousands of loggers and forestry workers. There comes a time when you have to make a decision if you re going to make a difference. I could have sat through a couple More years and waited for retirement. I a 53. I a not ready to hang up my shoes but Haggard certainly want expecting to shove those shoes under the desk As a Humble opposition my in the House of commons. Haggard former Canfor ceo David Emerson sex Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray and Quebec Media Star Jean Lapierre would not Likely to have agreed to endure the relentless scrutiny and the awkward door step confrontations with voters that come with campaigning unless they knew a Cabinet Post awaited them in Ottawa. Some of them might prefer the Quick Ignominy of losing their elections on june 28 to the lengthier bumpy Economy class life of an opposition my said political scientist Norman Ruff. They re not going to be lined up outside the food Bank but if its a minority government ? it almost certainly looks like it will be ? they will find life will be very lonely. This group has badly misread the mood of the some Ruff said Are victims of arrogance and the belief that they Are popular enough to win. Others he suspected were Star struck when Martin asked them to help save his Campaign. Ultimately that will be their undoing said Ruff of the University of Victoria. The flattery probably inspired Murray to jump aboard the sinking Liberal ship in the Middle of the sponsorship storm when Martin came knocking Ruff said. I have no regrets Murray said of giving up a Job he was extremely successful at making him a widely admired key player in brokering Federal and provincial support for municipalities. But people around him Are biting their lips. The timing really sucked said Brad Tyler West an advocate for Winnipeg a Gay Community who a been friends with Murray for 12 years. I know it sucked for him personally i know he really struggled with it. He would have rather worked out the term As mayor and then stepped Down when the Job was done but you can to choose the time that opportunities present with the tories gaining ground Murray said he nip bloc could give left real clout Layton by Les Perreaux o Ottawa ? new democrats and the bloc sub Cois have enough in common that their combined votes in next weeks election will make left Wing issues impossible to ignore no matter who forms the next government according to nip Leader Jack Layton. The two parties remain divided Over the future of Quebec but share positions on Many social and economic issues Layton said in weekend interview with Canadian press. That will give Canadas left ? the nip and the bloc ? the most clout its had in government in years he said. You see the federalism Issue is such a Core i Don to think you can really predict How this is going to unfold Layton said in an interview As Campaign plane traversed the skies Over Ontario. But if you look at an Issue like Kyoto or an Issue like same sex marriage or More adequate funding federally for the Fis Cal imbalance or affordable housing i think there Are some really interesting synergies shaping Layton refused to discuss formal co operation with other parties including the bloc. Those kinds of discussions can to be considered until voting Day and Layton has had a Chance to consult his caucus he said. But in addition to platform similarities he pointed to recent polls that showed the popularity of the bloc in Quebec and the nip in the rest of Canada. Put aside the fact we Are federalists respectful of Quebe cers and the bloc is not and there Are a lot of similarities Layton said. And Between us we probably have More votes than any other party right now or darn close to in the close election race of 2004, conservatives and Liber als Are competing for Power in a Likely minority government. But the Sovereign list bloc and nip Are set to make substantial electoral gains. Parliament is Likely to be split four ways with no party holding a majority. On issues like environmental Protection health funding pulling Canada out of the United states missile defence plan and protecting the rights of women and homosexuals the bloc and nip share common ground. When Layton talks about the Pivotal role he thinks new democrats will play in a split parliament he sees a precedent in Ontario politics. Ontario snap held the balance of Power in a split provincial legislature in 1985. Bob Rae signed an agreement with the Sec Ond place liberals allowing David Peterson to form govern ment even though conservatives won More seats. During those two years the government introduced popular social programs and adopted nip policies on environment and labour. Suddenly voters saw Rae As a serious provincial Leader. He Spring boarded into Power in 1990. ? Canadian press had no Choice but to jump into the fight. The last thing i want to do is live under a Stephen Harper government. Everything that i be fought for As a politician is at accepting appointments has been the kiss of death for other dream team members. If . Liberal party president Bill Cunningham had taken the High Road and run for nomination instead of accepting an appointment from Martin As a Liberal candidate he might have had a Chance at winning said Ruff. Never did he foresee the kind of backlash that whipped up and slapped him in the face for taking the handout which Cunningham said he Only saw As a powerful and positive endorsement. Cunningham a friends can Only say they feel sorry for him As they watch him flounder in a Hail of accusations that he could to make it on his own. I do feel sorry for Bill. He a a very Nice Guy. He a not some idiot coming out of the Moose pasture. Its not like he a not qualified said harm Gross pres ident of next environmental. That a naive thinking and most successful Busi Ness people who get courted by politicians Are not said . Howe Institute director finn Poschmann. They know How Nasty the game can get. That a Why they Don to get involved he said. You can to kid yourself that accepting a Call automatically flows into a seat at the Cabinet ? Canadian press ;