Martin challenges rivals

KEY ISSUES PM takes on Layton over health-care stance Harper’s anti-drug program criticized

ST. JOHN’S, NFLD.—

After days of laid- back campaigning, Prime Minister Paul Martin came out swinging yesterday, questioning why the New Democrats even bothered to force an election and saying Stephen Harper’s anti- drug plan makes him wonder “ what planet” the Conservative leader is on. And he charged that Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe is arrogantly discounting all those Quebecers “ who believe in Canada” by suggesting that the election should make Liberals disappear from that province.

At a news conference here, the Prime Minister was asked about NDP Leader Jack Layton’s recent comments on health care. Last month, the NDP joined the other opposition parties to defeat the Liberal minority after LiberalNDP talks on how to halt the expansion of private health care broke down. But Layton said on Sunday that his party isn’t worried about an increase in privately funded clinics.

“ Like Mr. Layton and like the NDP, I and the Liberal party believe very strongly in the public health- care system,” Martin answered. But he said he couldn’t understand why Layton wants to fight an election over medicare if the NDP isn’t concerned about private clinics. “Given what Mr. Layton said the other day, you’ve really got to wonder what, from his point of view, this election is all about.”

Martin, who was on the first leg of a two- day swing through Atlantic Canada, has been running a low- key campaign for the past week. But yesterday he also hit back at Harper over the Tory leader’s plan — part of his party’s overall anti- drug program — to block the establishment of a safe- injection site in Vancouver meant to help address the city’s severe problems with heroin addiction.

“ Mr. Harper is saying that there are no kinds of community help that can be provided. Well, I just don’t know what planet Mr. Harper is talking about,” Martin said.

While tougher anti- crime measures are needed, he added, these problems have to be handled through community action — whether in Vancouver or Toronto.

“ Dealing with the root causes of crime is by far the most important preventive measure we can take.” He said the Liberals have introduced various pieces of legislation to tighten anti- crime measures, including tougher provisions against car theft and street racing, and a clampdown on the use of conditional sentences in cases involving personal injury or organized crime.

If Harper wanted the government to crack down on crime, why didn’t he help pass these measures instead of forcing an election, Martin asked. Martin joined Transport Minister Jean Lapierre in denouncing Duceppe’s call for Quebecers to use the election to rid his province of Liberals.

“ It demonstrates really a narrowness of mind and an arrogance that is simply unacceptable,” Martin commented.

“ Essentially, what they ( the Bloc) are saying is, if you don’t share the separatist option, then we don’t believe that you belong in contemporary Quebec. Well, let me tell you, there are literally thousands upon thousands of Quebecers who believe very strongly in Canada and they are not going to disappear from the scene.”