Paul Martin thinks back to his political career

Serving as Prime Minister for 17 months, his minority government was shaken up due to the sponsorship scandal. Working on his 6th electoral campaign and on his second campaign as leader, he tried to convince his supporters to give him a second chance in the January 2006 elections but his efforts were in vain. Total death was avoided, as 105 Members of Parliament were elected.

How does he feel about leaving a 20-year political career ? “I have an enormous debt to the people of LaSalle-Émard. I owe them everything.”

If I was able to do things for Canada at an international level, it was because of them. For almost 20 years – good times and bad – the people of the riding were always there for me. Being a Member of Parliament for LaSalle-Émard was a lot of work but never did a day go by without me having fun. I also owe a lot to my executive office because my people worked hard non-stop. I also wish to acknowledge my loyal collaborators - Lucie Santoro, Suzanne Ranger, Sylvain Savard and Lorraine Poissant.”

Is he sad about leaving politics ? “It’s a fundamental change but after 20 years, the time has come for me to do something else. I am pleased that the MP who will be replacing me, Lise Zarac, is a LaSalle resident who knows the riding well.”

Which ones of his accomplishments is he proud of ? “As far as the riding is concerned, there was the Knox Bridge restoration, Cégep’s sport centre, Aquadôme, hospital expansion, the flourishing of the economy in the south west region, and several other numerous issues that we settled on a daily basis.”

And his most profound regrets ? “I prefer to turn the page and not look at the past. I would have wanted more time. I created the foundation for the Liberal Party’s platform for the future which covers, among other things: infrastructure, day care centres, education for the aboriginal people, and foreign policy. I am convinced that this will be the future agenda of the country. No doubt there were things that I could have done better but when I look at what I did as Minister of Finance and as Prime Minister to make Canada overcome whatever crisis it faced, I am proud of what I accomplished. We experienced five different crises because we cleaned up the country’s finances. We left a $12 billion budget surplus that the Conservatives had previously wasted.”

Was it a mistake to take on the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada before the sponsorship scandal broke out ? “I became Prime Minister because there were things I wanted to accomplish. I confronted the sponsorship problem head-on and solved it. I created the Gomery Commission because to me, politics is a question of integrity.”

Paul Martin devoted a lot of his energies to Canada’s aboriginal communities and to international issues. “I took on certain issues from the United Nations in Africa. I was co-president of a $200 million fund invested by the British and Norwegian governments to protect the Congo tropical forest which is the second largest forest in the world, second to that of Brazil. I am also active in other European countries and have had discussions with the Japanese for future projects.”

In spite of his numerous preoccupations and trips overseas, Paul Martin will take advantage of his “retirement from politics” to spend more time with his family and in his farm. His wife Sheila-Ann and he have three sons (Jamie, Paul Junior and David). They became grandparents for the first time in September 2006.

“Sheila is very pleased; it wasn’t exactly easy for her while I was in politics. My sons worked for me during elections but I don’t really know if they’re thinking of a political career in the future.”

By leaving active politics, Paul Martin does not hide the fact that he thinks of his father. Paul Martin the father was himself an MP and federal minister. He dreamt of being Prime Minister but never fulfilled that dream. “My father did a lot for Canada. He created socialised health care and citizenship. I think that my father was one of the country’s greatest leaders.”

Even if he is no longer MP for LaSalle-Émard, Paul Martin intends to return and visit the riding that he has represented for almost 20 years. “I definitely intend to come back often to LaSalle-Émard. I spent 20 years of my life here. I love the people.”