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Tandem | June 30, 2000 | BACK | NEXT
MARTIN, THE POLITICS AND THE
ECONOMY
`Minister of Finance talks about taxation,
Clarity, opposition parties, next elections and WHO
By Angelo Persichilli
(Versione
Italiana)
Whoever
is going to be the leader of Canadian Alliance is not going to be a threat to
the Liberals. This is the opinion of the federal Minister of Finance, Paul
Martin, on the next leader of the new Canadian political party.
In
an interview to Tandem, the
minister of Finance also says that he is "surprised by the Senate
action on the Clarity Bill" and he believes that "it would be to
everybody's benefit that the Bill would pass and be done with". Martin
says that he doesn't agree with those saying that the Bill goes beyond the
Quebec issue.
The
minister, who says that he is ready for an election at "anytime"
and that it is his "current intention" to run again, also talks
about the present economic situation, the need to cope with globalization,
the negative consequences "for everybody" if Ontario goes for its
own taxation system, and the World Health Organization's (WHO) rating of
Canada's performance in this important sector. Martin also talks about the
present political situation and how other political parties are dealing
with the current changes.
Any concerns about the new leader of Canadian
Alliance?
«I do not think it makes a lot of
difference. I don't think that anyone would represent where the hearts and
minds of Canadians are. I think that they are all pitching out there to the
extreme right and that's not where Canadians are».
Are you surprised by the Senate's
resistance on the Clarity Bill?
«Yes, I am. I think that it would be to everybody's benefit that the
Bill would pass and be done with».
Some say that the Bill goes beyond Quebec
and weakens the Senate's role.
«No. I do not think so. The Clarity Bill deals with clarity and doesn't
affect the future role of the Senate. The Clarity Bill deals exactly with
what it says: essentially the necessity to have a clear and unambiguous
question».
Are you surprised by the report of the World
Health Organization saying that
Canadian Medicare should be improved after ranking it the 30th in the
world?
«I think that most medical experts would agree that there are some
structural reforms which would be required and Ithink that Iwould support
the first part of the statement. However, with an aging population, the
development of new technology and the fact that people are living longer,
more money will be required. But I do think that structural reforms, within
the context of a universal health‑care system, are very important. We must
better protect our current system of Medicare. Am I surprised when they say
that we could do better? No. I do believe, nonetheless, that our universal
system of Medic re is absolutely the best of any system. However, that
doesn't mean 1hat even the best system cannot be improved upon».
If our system is the best, why then are we ranked
30th?
«I don't know the answer to that.
I haven't read the report in detail enough to know».
Let's talk about Canadian economy.
Last time we had a conversation, you expressed a lot of confidence. Do you
hold the same conviction?
«I am very confident. All of the
numbers that have come out since we last chatted have borne out that
confidence. Our unemployment is at a 24‑year low, exports and trade surplus
are almost at record height, our inflation continues to be in check. I
remain very much confident and all those numbers bear that out."
We talk a lot about globalization,
but over 80 percent of o u r trade is with the United States. Is our economy really global?
«If your question is that we would like to see a higher percentage of our
trade with Europe, Asia and Latin America, the answer is yes. On the other
hand, the United States economy has been by far the strongest. Asia has had
the Asian crisis, Europe certainly has not been strong as it could have
been, and so it is only natural that o u r trade with the fastest and
strongest economy is going to grow. But there is no doubt that as soon as the
Asia crisis comes to a solution, you are going to see an increase of our
trade with Asia».
Canada depends heavily on the revenue from
Ontario. What happens if Ontario decides to go ahead with t h e implementation of a Provincial tax system?
«If Ontario went to its own
taxes, that would mean that we would end up with a tax jungle. It would
make the system much more complex, it would not help the country and, in
fact, it would hurt Ontario because Ontario is a major contributor to the
Canadian economy but also benefits from having an efficient national
economy. So, if we end up with a tax jungle because of any action taken by
any province, it will hurt everybody».
So you believe that Ontario Premier
Mike Harris will not go ahead with this plan?
«Our officials are meeting and I
really hope that we can work this out. It would make no sense for Ontario
to plunge the country into the kind of tax balkanization that would occur
if Ontario were on its own. I can't believe that Canadian government and
Ontario Government officials cannot work this out».
When do you expect the next election?
«The Prime Minister said sometime within the next 12 months."
When you would like to have them?
«Anytime».
Are you going to be there?
«It is my current intention».
How do you see the Canadian left?
«I think that the problem is that the
federal NDP has simply not evolved. If you take a look at the Labour
government in the UK, or if you take a look at the left in Germany, you see
that these political parties have evolved and kept themselves modern. ‑
Federal NDP hasn't done that. Consequently, much of its message is
irrelevant. There is no relevance to the reality the Canadians live in
today».
Does it still make sense nowadays
to talk about left or right?
«I think that essentially the main difference is between people who are
prepared to meet the challenges of globalization, to meet the challenges of
new technologies and who want to build a modern society, and people who
differ. This is really where the centre is. We have the Tories and on the
other side we have the NDP. These parties are essentially paralyzed by the
prospect of change. Consequently, in the 21st century they are still
talking about a 1970‑80 philosophy».
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