Liberals predict support will rebound, despite scandal
Last Updated Sun, 15 Feb 2004 3:02:43
TORONTO - A drop in the federal government's popularity since the release of a blistering auditor general's report is unsurprising and temporary, senior Liberals said Saturday.
INDEPTH: The sponsorship scandal
Canadian voters are naturally outraged over broken rules and wasted millions uncovered in a review of a federal sponsorship program in Quebec, according to Mike Robinson, a senior strategist for Prime Minister Paul Martin.
"I think that the public have a right, based on that auditor general's report, to say: 'We're not very happy with the Liberal party right now. I think we want to see some action to demonstrate that in fact you've learned from this and that you're operating in a different way,'" Robinson told CBC News.
"When the shit is hitting the fan like we had this week like we had this week, the reality is that there's a price to pay," said Jean Lapierre, who co-chaired Martin's Liberal leadership bid in 1990.
Lapierre was responding to reporters' questions Saturday about a new public opinion poll that suggests support for the government has plunged from 48 to 39 per cent in recent days.
He predicted the numbers would go back up.
RELATED: Voter support for Liberals plunges
Lapierre plans to run in a Montreal riding in the upcoming election. If he wins the seat and the Liberals are returned to power, he's expected to become the prime minister's Quebec lieutenant.
Martin has held several news conferences since Auditor General Sheila Fraser's report Tuesday revealed more details about the federal sponsorship scandal.
CBC ON-AIR
Paul Martin will face more questions on the sponsorship scandal, this time from the public.
The prime minister will appear Feb. 15 on CBC Radio One's phone-in program C**** Country Checkup, hosted by Rex Murphy.
The program will also air on CBC Newsworld.
He said he didn't know anything about the criminal activity in the Department Public Works when he was finance minister. Martin said he learned of the wrongdoing only when Fraser issued her first report into the matter in 2002. He's ordered an inquiry into the case and said he's prepared to testify.
The prime minister is scheduled to answer questions from callers on a live, national CBC Radio phone-in show, C**** Country Checkup, Sunday afternoon. The program begins at 4 p.m. EST.
Written by CBC News Online staff
Last Updated Sun, 15 Feb 2004 3:02:43
TORONTO - A drop in the federal government's popularity since the release of a blistering auditor general's report is unsurprising and temporary, senior Liberals said Saturday.
INDEPTH: The sponsorship scandal
Canadian voters are naturally outraged over broken rules and wasted millions uncovered in a review of a federal sponsorship program in Quebec, according to Mike Robinson, a senior strategist for Prime Minister Paul Martin.
"I think that the public have a right, based on that auditor general's report, to say: 'We're not very happy with the Liberal party right now. I think we want to see some action to demonstrate that in fact you've learned from this and that you're operating in a different way,'" Robinson told CBC News.
"When the shit is hitting the fan like we had this week like we had this week, the reality is that there's a price to pay," said Jean Lapierre, who co-chaired Martin's Liberal leadership bid in 1990.
Lapierre was responding to reporters' questions Saturday about a new public opinion poll that suggests support for the government has plunged from 48 to 39 per cent in recent days.
He predicted the numbers would go back up.
RELATED: Voter support for Liberals plunges
Lapierre plans to run in a Montreal riding in the upcoming election. If he wins the seat and the Liberals are returned to power, he's expected to become the prime minister's Quebec lieutenant.
Martin has held several news conferences since Auditor General Sheila Fraser's report Tuesday revealed more details about the federal sponsorship scandal.
CBC ON-AIR
Paul Martin will face more questions on the sponsorship scandal, this time from the public.
The prime minister will appear Feb. 15 on CBC Radio One's phone-in program C**** Country Checkup, hosted by Rex Murphy.
The program will also air on CBC Newsworld.
He said he didn't know anything about the criminal activity in the Department Public Works when he was finance minister. Martin said he learned of the wrongdoing only when Fraser issued her first report into the matter in 2002. He's ordered an inquiry into the case and said he's prepared to testify.
The prime minister is scheduled to answer questions from callers on a live, national CBC Radio phone-in show, C**** Country Checkup, Sunday afternoon. The program begins at 4 p.m. EST.
Written by CBC News Online staff
