Prime Minister Paul Martin Visits the Bay

Photo contributions by Peggy Greco and Bill Tremblay


Heading in to the last week of the election all camps are giving their final push to get supporters out to vote.

As the Conservatives hold on to a sizeable lead in the polls, the riding of Nipissing-Timiskaming is to close to call and Liberals hoped a visit by Paul Martin on Sunday would help Rota edge out his opponent.

Martin was ushered in to the ball room through a sea of people that lined the hallway and foyer with the crowd chanting ‘Martin Martin’ drowning out the live band that was playing in the back, and once on stage Martin answered back with ‘Rota Rota’.

Describing the local candidate, Martin told the crowd that Rota was an accomplished political neophyte who had garnered a great list of accomplishments on the Hill in a short 19 months and wants to see him continue to deliver.

“You won’t see many MP’s hit the ground running like Rota,” states the Prime Minister.

“He is a strong voice for North Bay, a strong voice for Northern Ontario and a strong voice for the Liberal vision.”

The leader then outlined his vision to the audience describing what kind of Canada the Liberals want.

“Our Canada is one of kindness, generosity with an independent voice and financial stability.”

Pointing out weaknesses in the Conservative plan, He got a laugh when telling the crowd ‘I know a little bit of what it takes to make a budget’ saying Harpers tax cuts fail the test and will send the country back into a deficit.

“Harper has come before Canadians and given us a list of 196 promises, but he can’t tell us how he’s going to pay for them.”

Addressing the crowd in both official languages he said the Harper Conservatives would walk away from the childcare agreement with the provinces, the Kelowna Accord and roll back the Liberal tax cuts to middle income earners and scrap the Kyoto agreement.

“That ain’t on."

"What he's going to do is break Canada’s word to the rest of the world,” chides the PM.

The statement got a rise out of an audience member yelling back to the PM that 'Harper is American'.

Martin, turning his attention to the status of Canada’s financial standing reminded the crowd of the state the country's books were in when the party was swept to power.

"Liberals know how important it is to stay out of a deficit and pay down the debt, this not the time to turn back the clock."

The leader then turned his attention back to Rota describing him as the type of voice Northern Ontario needs.

"Let's talk about what Anthony Rota believes in," he said.

Once again the crowd of over 700 erupted 'Rota, Rota' as the leader outlined the list.

"Anthony believes in a strong economy, he believes in a balanced budget, the middle class, healthcare, early childhood development."

"Anthony believes that post secondary education is not a privilege it is a necessity."

Martin continued to say that Rota has offered strong representation to the riding and that North Bay needs to be at the national table.

"We believe in Northern Ontario and we believe in FedNor" he yells over the crowd.

Then Martin calmed the crowd addressing the issues the Liberal government has endured and the struggles that Canada faces.

"We have challenges to face as a nation, but when we haven’t as a nation faced a challenge."

"We have such potential, such promise and together we will achieve them."