Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 22, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba 2004 Federal election tuesday june 22, 2004 a13 your vote counts Hitler remark Sparks juror David Chartrand hidden Metis Leader apologizes for trivializing the holocaust by Mary Agnes Welch t he Leader of the Manitoba Metis federation yesterday compared the conservative party a nation Al Campaign manager to Hitler but later apologized for trivializing the holocaust. David Chartrand who was urging aboriginal people to vote Liberal in the june 28 general election said the tories have a hidden Agenda that could strip first nations and Metis people of their rights. He singled out tory Campaign manager Tom Flanagan who wrote a controversial Book four years ago called first nations second thoughts. We know what a behind the curtain. We know Thomas Flanagan is behind there. If you were us your hearts would Start to panic said Chartrand. Just like no disrespect when people talk about Hitler they see such hatred that a Man could be so cruel. You look at Thomas Flanagan writing about us say ing that we should to even exist that we re not even a said Char Trand. Asked if he was comparing Flanagan to Hitler Chartrand said if Flanagan had his Way if he had an army behind him yes i later Chartrand said his emotions got the better of him and he went too far in his comments. I do apologize he said. I did to want to Ever trivialize the hardships certain people experienced under hitlers regime and that All of their families still feel in his Book Flanagan attempts to debunk current thinking about aboriginal issues and makes a Case for assimilation. Flanagan who rarely does Media interviews could not be reached for comment yesterday but conservative party spokesman Yaroslav Baran condemned Chartrand a comparison. Its absurd its outrageous and its an insult to jewish canadians and to the memories of the millions who perished in the second world War said Baran. Chartrand made the comments Dur ing a press conference with grand chief Dennis White Bird of the Assembly of Manitoba chiefs where the two for Mally endorsed the Liberal party. Its the first time the emf and the am have endorsed a National party. White Bird said he feared a conservative government would invoke the notwithstanding clause to override charter rights that protect first nations people from assimilation. Mainstream politics have misrepresented a lot of aboriginal issues and we have to get involved in the decision making process in government said White Bird. Chartrand noted that conservative Leader Stephen Harper took a Day off from the Campaign Trail on National aboriginal Day. That is an insult and a Clear sign of what he has to offer to the aboriginal people said Chartrand. But critics Point out aboriginal peo ple have not fared Well the last decade under the Liberal party which championed a new governance act that was hated by Many aboriginal leaders and has failed to Speed compensation pack Ages owed to residential school survivors. Land claim deals Are still outstanding living conditions on Reserve Are still abysmal and Money has to flow to Winnipeg from the Federal governments Urban aboriginal strategy. ? with files from Paul Egan. conservative Leader Stephen Harper walks with his wife Laureen Daugh Ter Rachel four and son Ben eight at Cape Spear National historic site near St. Johns fld. On sunday. He took a break yesterday from his Campaign to rest and refocus. Frank Gunn / Canadian press a debacle for the West Pagtakhan raises fears about harpers economic development plans by Paul Egan conservative Leader Stephen Harper says he wants to mend the depart ment of Western economic diversification not end it. But Rey Pagtakhan the Liberal candidate in Winnipeg North who was min ister of wed in Paul Martins government said Harper appears to favour changes that would create a debacle for the when questioned about his plans for wed and other regional development agencies harpers aides Point to a speech he made june 2 to the Toronto Board of Trade. I will keep the regional development agencies but focus them on developing sound policy ideas and help to create net working and marketing opportunities for regional businesses and encouraging the growth of innovation clusters Harper said in the speech. But the regional development Agen cies will get out of the Grants and subsidies the conservative leaders comments on wed and other subjects Are drawing increased scrutiny As polling trends show a conservative government More Likely. Harper said he wants to eliminate Grants and other financial subsidies to businesses and replace them with a More favourable tax environment through tax cuts or investment tax credits. The conservative platform says regional development spending would focus on research and development especially medical and scientific research. Pagtakhan said that with rare exceptions wed has already ended Loans and Grants to businesses though it continues such payments to non profit Agen cies. But he said he a concerned Harper would apparently limit the role of Region Al development agencies such As wed to research and development. That is diametrically opposed to what we believe is an important tool particularly Here in Manitoba and Winnipeg Pagtakhan said. That would be a debacle for the the department supports entrepreneurship and creating sustainable communities through developments such As a North Winnipeg wellness Centre Pagtakhan said. Those two areas Likely would not fall under the umbrella of research and development he said. Pagtakhan questioned whether Harper would cancel the $50-million Canada Manitoba economic partnership agreement or the $75-million Winnipeg development agreement. Vic Toews the conservative incumbent in Provencher said its ludicrous for Pagtakhan to suggest the Region would suffer economically under a Harper government. In addition to spending on research and development the conservatives would make Long delayed investments in infrastructure he said. We will not support Grants to com Mercial enterprises who should be hav ing a level playing Field and a fair tax system in which to compete Toews said. Toews noted Liberal my Reg Alcock suggested wed was ineffective and should be abolished shortly before he was named president of the Treasury Board. Judy was lycia leis the nip Candi Date in Winnipeg North said she a concerned about replacing regional financial subsidies with tax cuts. There a no proof that improving tax benefits is necessarily going to improve opportunities in this province she said. and spa in this one time conservative i just thought this is so typical he 2004 Federal election your vote counts area North of Toronto. The health care Issue of reducing wait times is simply too important that these meetings be conducted behind closed doors. Let them be open to he later acknowledged that nothing said. These things Are done out East and the Prairies we just Don to really voter cards were sent out beginning june 2 and the error was caught that same Day says elections Canada spokesman Roger Francis. Where the Federal leaders Are today Gilles Dueppe bloc quebecois. Montreal 7 30 . Radio inter View Koi 10 . To interview would prevent leaders from continuing the error was quickly corrected Mcsique plus 10 45 . News con to discuss health care Over the phone or in corridors during the meeting which is slated to take place in Niagara on the Lake sometime this summer. He said. Some were sent out but elections Canada found out about the error. None of the cards were sent to Ference 5 15 . Dinner with Hunt sic supporters 5 42 . To interview 5 50 . Campaigns in Hunt sic. Martin will include Public in first ministers meeting Bracebridge ont. ? prime minis Ter Paul Martin added a new twist to his election Campaign focus on health care yesterday promising to open up this Summers first ministers Confer ence by allowing Media cameras behind closed doors. Martin said he will employ the same strategy he used As finance minister when he held Public hearings on eradicating the $42 billion deficit which was wiped out in four years. I am proposing today that this sum mers first ministers meeting on strengthening health care be cast wide open to canadians and to the cameras so they can see where their leaders stand and what they believe in mar tin told 100 party supporters at a breakfast at the upscale Aston resort notebook he said for the past 30 years the health care debate in Canada has focused entirely on Money. Martin has already committed during this Campaign to putting $9 billion More into health care to reducing wait lists Hir ing new doctors and establishing a National Home care program and potentially another $7 billion in additional spending pending negotiations. Despite a string of polls that show the liberals neck and neck with the conservatives Martin and his team remain upbeat that the health care Agenda is making inroads in reducing gains conservative Leader Stephen Harper made earlier in the Campaign. Feds misplace Winnipeg some Manitoba voters May have been surprised to find out Winnipeg had been adopted by Minnesota when they received their voter information cards earlier this month. Elections Canada mistakenly addressed cards to Winnipeg in. In is the postal abbreviation for Minnesota. My is the abbreviation for Manitoba. Winnipeg Ger Bruce Shefrin said he was shocked when he saw the card. Alcock suffers slip of lip if he did to know it already senior Manitoba Liberal Reg Alcock Learned that when he Speaks the tory Media machine listens. Alcock who was president of the Treasury Board in Paul Martins government took part in a relaxed give and take recently with two other Manitoba parliamentarians who hold fairly Safe seats ? conservative Brian Pallister and new Democrat Bill Blaikie. The session sponsored by the Winnipeg chamber of Commerce featured Friendly jibes and allusions to the car Toon to show the Simpsons. At some Point Alcock was sufficiently relaxed to say of his Liberal govern ment we did Cut health care. We did Cut health care by lunch time conservative head quarters across the county in Ottawa had posted a news release on its web site titled or. Martin Reg Alcock says ? Alcock finally let the cat out of the bag and admitted the failure Paul Martin has always denied the news release said. Laval que 12 10 . Lunch with supporters 2 . News conference. Terrebonne que 3 . Visits family Centre Des Moulins. Ste Therese que 3 45 . Vis its Paccard factory. Stephen Harper conservatives. Sault Ste. Marie ont 10 15 . Campaign event at office of candidate Cameron Ross 350 Lake re. Toronto 5 . Taping with Peter Mansbridge Csc studio front St. Photo of throwing first pitch for Blue jays game at sky dome. Jim Harris Green party. Toronto 7 30 . Mai Streeting 11 30 . Visits youth employment Centre 2 30 . Media availability. Jack Layton nip. Oshawa ont 9 . Campaign announcement. Stephenville fld 6 . Walkabout with local candidate 7 30 . Campaign event at seniors club. Paul Martin liberals. Coquitlam . 8 30 . Rally. Vancouver 12 15 . Luncheon. Terrace . 5 45 . Visits local Campaign Headquarters ;