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PM's Squamish visit scrubbed at last minute

Meeting at Totem Hall postponed Steven Hill shill@squamishchief.

Meeting at Totem Hall postponed

Steven Hill

shill@squamishchief.com

Squamish Nation council members were excitedly anticipating Prime Minister Paul Martin for a scheduled visit with federal Liberal supporters and community leaders at Totem Hall Wednesday (Jan. 4).

But airplane difficulties forced a cancellation of the visit, to the disappointment of all.

"Our problem was we had a plane breakdown, which basically threw our schedule into turmoil," Martin told The Chief in a telephone interview later that day. "I so much wanted to come to Squamish, and I'm going to come if I can. Next time I come to British Columbia I'm going to do everything I can to come to Squamish, but obviously I can't guarantee it. I hope I can get up there before the election, but there is not much time between now and Jan. 23, so it may be after. But you have no idea how much I regret that I couldn't get there."

Martin said he had several key issues he wanted to discuss during the meeting.

"One of the issues I wanted to discuss in Squamish was obviously the whole question of the mill closure," he said. "I'm very concerned about it and have discussed it with Blair [Wilson] and as you know we have, under David Emerson, put together a whole new forestry package and essentially as a government we want to do everything we can do to help.

"The other issue I wanted to discuss was the 2010 Olympics," he added. "As a government we've been a very strong supporter of the Olympics and we have a lot of money in to supporting the Olympic effort. I also wanted to talk about issues they would raise and I hope to come back and do that."

The cancellation also caused disappointment among the Squamish Nation, according to elder Robert Baker. The Squamish Nation council invited four elders to sit in on the meeting with Martin at Totem Hall. Baker said he was keen to meet the Prime Minister, whether he got to talk with him or not.

"I just wanted to know what his campaign was about and if there was any concern for our people," said Baker. "I keep up with those guys. It pays to pay attention."

Baker said that if he had a chance to speak with Martin, he would ask about compensation for First Nations people who were forced into residential schools. Baker himself was placed in a residential school 60 years ago, and he's become a leader in the cause.

Martin said he was aware of some of the issues facing Squamish, such as concern over recent CN derailments."The minister of transport announced three months ago major transport policy, which dealt with all forms of transport and most certainly, the whole question of rail and rail safety," he said.

The Prime Minister also said he wanted to address the question of his party's credibility, which has been under constant attack this election by Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper.

"I think you take a look at what we have done," Martin said. "In the last election, I said British Columbia was going to be front and centre in terms of the national issues.

"Then you look at the roles played by people like David Emerson, Ujjal Dosanjh and Stephen Owen," he continued. "Some of the most important members of my cabinet are from British Columbia. I also said we would move offices here and we moved the Canada Tourism Commission to British Columbia.

"That is obviously important to a place like Squamish - you're in the centre of one of the most important tourist areas in British Columbia," he said. "I said we would deal with wait times in health care, which is a number one priority, and we have been working with the provinces and wait times are coming down right across the country. I said the role of municipal governments would become crucial as far as I was concerned, and bring that to the national table. If you talk to the mayor, I'm sure you'll hear we have done that. I guess the basic issue is from the Pacific gateway to support for communities, the fact is we have done everything we said we would do - and that is the real definition of integrity."

Martin said the main question of the upcoming election campaign would not be credibility, but one of values.

"The other thing I would put to you is there is a fundamental choice to be made between Stephen Harper and myself," he said. "I'm not asking people to make that choice on any other basis other than the values we both bring to the job.

"He does not believe in the role of government. He has said he believes people should fend for themselves. He said he would rip up the childcare agreement," said Martin. "I don't think that is what the people of Squamish want. I think the people want more childcare. Stephen Harper said he didn't believe that was the role of the federal government, and I think that's wrong. I think that will be one of the decisive issues in this election campaign."

But the Canadian economy will also play into the election, he said.

"We have a tremendously strong economy, but families still need the support," he said. "The Canadian economy is doing very well. We have one of the strongest economies in the world.

"Our unemployment rate is at an all time low, the national balance sheet is in the best shape it has ever been, but there are problems, like the mill closing," he said. "I believe when you have a strong economy like that, you have a responsibility to help people who are having a difficult time. Again that is one of the differences between Stephen Harper and myself. That goes back to the role of government. We are going to continue to cut personal income taxes, support the forestry industry, continue to put money into infrastructure and roads and supporting tourism. These are all issues which I believe are part and parcel of the role and responsibility of government."

Martin also heaped praise upon West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country Liberal candidate Blair Wilson.

"Another issue is clearly going to be the quality of the candidates, and clearly Blair Wilson has an enormous opportunity to be a major influence in Ottawa," he said. "He is dynamic, bright and young and he has everything. I really believe sending Blair Wilson to Ottawa is going to be a major asset for Squamish and British Columbia. I think Blair is clearly the superior candidate."

- with files from Sylvie Paillard

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