Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 11098 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/10 2001/11
2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AMED ASEC AORC AF AS AEMR ABUD AMGT AR APECO AFIN AM AJ AU AE ABLD AG AY ASIG APER AMBASSADOR ASEAN AA AL ASUP AX AID AUC ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG ADANA AFFAIRS AND AN ADCO ARM ATRN AECL AADP ACOA APEC AGRICULTURE ACS ADPM ASCH AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ARF ACBAQ APCS AMG AQ AMCHAMS AORG AGAO ADM AFSI AFSN AINF AIT AO ATFN AROC AFGHANISTAN AFU AER ALOW AC AZ AVERY AGMT
BO BD BR BEXP BA BRUSSELS BL BM BH BTIO BIDEN BT BC BU BY BX BG BK BF BBSR BMGT BTIU BE BWC BB BP BILAT
CS CASC CA CDC CVIS CY CO CI CMGT CODEL CFED CH CW CU CONDOLEEZZA CR CSW CPAS CJUS CDG CE CG CBW COUNTER CN CKGR COUNTERTERRORISM CWC CJAN CIA CD CLINTON CT CARSON CONS CB CM CLMT CROS CNARC CIDA CBSA CIC CEUDA CHR CITT CAC CACM CVR CAPC COPUOS CBC CBE CDB CAN COE COUNTRY CLEARANCE CACS CF CL CIS CTM COM CV CICTE
DEA DR DA DOMESTIC DHS DAO DCM DEPT DTRA DPRK DEFENSE DE DJ DISENGAGEMENT DOD DEAX DOE DK DS
ETRD ELAB ECON EG EUN EAIR EAID EU ECIN ENRG EPET EFIN EAGR EINT EIND ENERG ELTN ETTC EINV ECPS EFIS EWWT EK ES EN EPA EC ER EI EZ ET EINVECONSENVCSJA ECONOMICS EXTERNAL ELN ELECTIONS EMIN EINN EFINECONCS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENIV ECUN ENGR ENNP EUR EAP EEPET ETRDEINVTINTCS ENVI EFTA ETRO ESENV ECINECONCS ENVR ECONOMY ECONOMIC EUMEM EAIDS ETRA ETRN EUREM EFIM EIAR EXIM ERD EAIG ETRC EXBS EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD EUC EREL ECA ENGY ECONCS EINVETC ECONEFIN ESA ETC ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH
FI FJ FR FREEDOM FTAA FARC FAO FMLN FBI FOR FTA FOREIGN FINANCE FO FISO FDA FAC FOI FM FINR
GOV GAERC GG GT GM GV GH GOI GA GTIP GR GZ GE GCC GY GANGS GL GLOBAL GERARD GF GAZA GTMO
HK HR HO HA HUMAN HU HILLARY HSTC HUMOR HEBRON HI HURI HYMPSK
IR IS IRS IMO ID IWC IZ ICAO IV IC IT IZPREL IRAQI IO IN IAEA ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR INRB ITALY ICRC INTERPOL IQ ICTY INTELSAT IEFIN IA INR IRC IACI ITRA IL ICJ INTERNAL ISRAELI INMARSAT ITU ILC IBRD IMF ILO IDP ITF IBET IGAD IEA IAHRC ICTR IDA IIP INRA INRO IRAJ IF
JA JP JO JOSEPH JOHNNIE JM JUS JAMES
KISL KIRF KWBG KSCA KDEM KIRC KPAO KMDR KCRM KWMN KFRD KTFN KHLS KN KCIP KNNP KSTC KIPR KOMC KTDB KJUS KOLY KIDE KSTH KS KMPI KZ KG KRVC KICC KTIA KTIP KVPR KV KU KR KPKO KGHG KCOR KE KSUM KPAL KSEP KGIC KFLO KAWC KUNR KNPP KNEI KBIO KPRP KMCA KTEX KGIT KNSD KCFE KLIG KFLU KBCT KOMS KBTS KACT KCRS KGCC KDRG KWMM KAWK KHIV KSPR KRAD KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KPAI KHSA KTLA KO KFSC KVIR KX KFTFN KHDP KPLS KSAF KMFO KRCM KCSY KSAC KPWR KTRD KID KWNM KMRS KICA KRIM KSEO KPOA KCHG KREC KOM KRGY KCMR KSCI KFIN KVRP KPAONZ KCGC KNAR KMOC KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KNUC KPIN KPRV KBTR KERG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNUP KTER KDDG KPAK KREL KCOM KNNPMNUC KRFD KHUM KDEV KCFC KWWMN KTBT KWMNCS KJUST
LE LY LU LTTE LI LO LH LG LAB LA LOG LT
MARR MCAP MOPS MY MNUC MX MARAD MASS MIL MO MU MEPI MR MDC MPOS MEETINGS MD MTCRE MK MUCN MASC MRCRE ML MA MEPP MAR MAPP MP MT MAS MTS MLS MI MERCOSUR MC MV MEDIA MILI MEPN MG MW MIK MTCR MZ MOPPS MAPS MCC MASSMNUC MQADHAFI MTRE
NZ NI NPT NZUS NL NATO NO NAFTA NDP NIPP NP NS NU NATIONAL NPG NGO NG NK NA NSSP NRR NSG NSC NPA NORAD NT NW NEW NH NSF NV NR NE NSFO NC NAR NASA
OTRA OIIP OPRC OVIP OPDC OPIC OREP OEXC OAS OSCE ODIP OSAC OFDP OIE OECD OPCW OVP OPAD OFDA OIC OSCI OMIG OBSP ON OCS OCII OHUM OTR OFFICIALS
PGOV PREL PTER PINR PHUM PK PE PO PREF PHSA PINS PARM PROP POL PSOE PAK PBTS PAO PM PF PNAT POLITICS PARMS PBIO PSI POLINT POLITICAL PARTIES PL PA PGOVLO PORG PGOVE PLN PINF PRELP PAS PPA PRGOV PUNE PG PALESTINIAN POLICY PROG PDEM PREFA PDOV PCI PRAM PTBS PSA POSTS PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PGIV PHUMPGOV PCUL PSEPC PREO PAHO PMIL PNG PP PS PEPR PINT PU PECON POGOV PINL PKFK PY PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PMAR PHUMPREL PHUS PRL PGOC PNR PGGV PROV PTERE PGOF PHUMBA PEL POV
QA
RS RICE RUPREL RU RIGHTS RO RW RSP RP REACTION REPORT RCMP RSO RF RFE RM ROBERT REGION
SOCI SARS SMIG SCUL SENV SNAR SW SA SP SY SENVKGHG SU SF SAN SZ SR SO SHUM SYR SAARC SL SI SNARCS SWE SN SPCE SNARIZ SCRS SC SIPDIS SEN SNARN SPCVIS STEINBERG SG SIPRS SH SOFA SANC SK ST SEVN
TBIO TSPL TPHY TT TRSY TRGY TN TSPA TU TW TC TX TI TS TO TH TIP TP TERRORISM TURKEY TD TZ TFIN TNGD TINT THPY TBID TF TL TV TK TR
UNGA UZ UK UP USTR UN USEU US UNSC UNHCR UNMIK USUN UNESCO UNHRC UY UNO UG UNDC UAE UNAUS UNDESCO UNEP UNCHC UNFICYP UNCHR USNC UNIDROIT UNCSD UNDP UNC UNODC USOAS UNPUOS UNCND USPS UNICEF UV UNCHS UNVIE UE USAID
VE VT VTPREL VZ VM VI VAT VN
WTO WHO WS WTRO WITH WTRQ WBG WI WHA WMD WMO WIPO WHTI WFP WB WWARD WA WEU WZ
XF XM XV XR XA XK XH XL XS XG XW XY XE XT XD XZ XX XTAG XQ XB XU XI XC
YM YI YMCS YE
ZR ZI ZANU ZU ZO ZP ZB ZL ZK ZF ZEALAND ZN ZA ZOELLICK ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 05OTTAWA741, LIBERAL PARTY CONVENTION WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05OTTAWA741.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05OTTAWA741 | 2005-03-09 21:09 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Ottawa

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000741

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: CA PGOV PINR PREL
    SUBJECT: LIBERAL PARTY CONVENTION WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR
    CONSERVATIVES TO TOP

    REF: (A) OTTAWA 640 (B) OTTAWA 696 (C) OTTAWA 713

    ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Liberal Party Convention finished on an
    upbeat note March 6, trumpeting the theme of "Promises Made -
    Promises Delivered" for three days.  The Liberals followed
    the model of successful American convention organizers by
    scripting an overwhelming endorsement of PM Martin,s
    leadership, keeping controversy outside the tent, and using
    big names to draw a crowd.  Of note, convention delegates
    voted 88% in favour of not holding a leadership convention,
    thereby ensuring that Martin will lead the party into the
    next election.  There was little of substance decided on the
    policy side of the convention, although there was animated
    discussion of a number of controversial issues such as
    marijuana, legalization of prostitution and gender/minority
    rights within the party.  The Liberal Party Convention will
    be a hard act to follow for the Conservatives, whose
    convention later in the month in Montreal will deal with more
    fundamental issues of party identity and values against a
    backdrop of consistently flat popularity.  End Summary

    WE ARE THE PARTY OF JOE CANADA
    ------------------------------

    ¶2. (SBU) As late as last week, media commentators speculated
    that the Liberal Party Convention would be poorly attended
    and tense as candidates-in-waiting lobbied for support and
    Martin and Chrtien supporters squared off.  But for three
    days, the Liberals put on an excellent show, amidst a festive
    atmosphere flush with youthful enthusiasm.  Reports indicate
    that 2500 delegates attended when early predictions were for
    a maximum of 2000.  The Liberal message was clear -- &we are
    the party of mainstream Canada and we are capable of leading
    the country effectively.8  This message was conveyed through
    a skillful combination of keynote speakers, policy workshops,
    an accountability session with the cabinet, and a leadership
    review, all tightly scripted to show unity and avoid public
    controversy.

    MARTIN PASSES LEADERSHIP VOTE COMFORTABLY
    -----------------------------------------

    ¶3. (SBU) A key piece of the convention was a leadership
    validation, in which 88% of delegates voted against holding a
    separate leadership convention, thus leaving PM Martin to
    lead the party into the next election.  The Prime Minister,s
    approval rating was better than predicted, but according to
    some observers it reflects a desire for party unity more than
    complete acceptance of Martin,s leadership, and they point
    out that his numbers are down from the 95% he had when he
    first won the party leadership.

    ¶4. (SBU) There was, despite this show of support, a fair
    amount of speculation about who will one day succeed Martin,
    and while no candidates have announced their intention to try
    to displace the party leader in the near future, the media
    was still willing to speculate.  The following names were
    mentioned as potential candidates for a future leadership
    challenge -- MP Maurizio Bevilacqua, MP and former Minister
    Denis Coderre, Minister of Public Works Scott Brison, Foreign
    Minister Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Immigration Joe Volpe,
    Ambassador Frank McKenna, former MP and leadership candidate
    John Manley, former MP Martin Cauchon, author Michael
    Ignatieff, and Liberal Party organizer Christy Clark.
    Conspicuous by their absence from the convention were
    high-profile Liberals such as John Manley, Sheila Copps, and
    Jean Chrtien, presumably to avert any controversy and keep
    the attention on Martin.

    POLICY ISSUES A SNOOZE
    ----------------------

    ¶5. (SBU) The policy element of the convention was organized
    around thematic workshops in which resolutions were debated
    and selected to advance to the main convention floor, with
    some Priority Resolutions going directly to the general
    debate.  Most of the resolutions that made it to the floor
    were not bold statements about new or controversial policy,
    and this lends some credence to media complaints that the
    substance of the convention was simply boring.  Among the
    policy positions adopted were:

    --    expanding the definition of marriage to include same
    sex couples;
    --    a commitment to ensure clean, publicly managed drinking
    water in the developing world;
    --    meeting Canada,s Kyoto target;
    --    increased support for Canada,s peacekeeping
    initiatives;
    --    changes to employment insurance; and
    --    the development of a national child care program.

    Civil marriage caused a brief and heated debate but the
    debate over a resolution to mandate 50% participation of
    women in executive levels of the party and government was
    even more contentious.

    ¶6. (SBU) Also of note, the Priority Resolution against
    Canadian participation in Ballistic Missile Defence was
    dropped.  Wendy Wright, an executive member of the Young
    Liberals of Canada, which sponsored the resolution, told
    POLFSN that this was because the Liberal government had
    already made this resolution a real policy so it was moot.
    Media commentators speculate, however, that they did it to
    avoid embarrassing debate with anti-American overtones on the
    convention floor.  Several delegates were visibly annoyed by
    the withdrawal of the resolution because they wanted the
    policy on the Liberal books for the record regardless of what
    the government decided earlier.  They suspect that the issue
    will return and they want their opposition firmly entrenched
    as official Liberal policy.

    YOUNG LIBERALS PROMINENT
    ------------------------

    ¶7. (SBU) Of the various convention groupings, the Young
    Liberals of Canada stood out.  The Young Liberals
    demonstrated high levels of technical organization and
    enthusiasm while actively advancing their left of center
    agenda.  They functioned as the largest single organized
    group at the convention, which was most clear in the Justice
    and Constitutional workshop where they successfully sponsored
    resolutions on legalizing marijuana and sex worker rights.
    Using cell-phones and text-messaging technology the YLC let
    their members know when their resolutions were up for debate
    and vote, and vehemently defended their legalization of
    marijuana resolution, only to abandon it at the priority
    stage in favour of a resolution on sex workers rights.

    ¶8. (SBU) Comment: The efforts by party organizers and leaders
    to convey the appearance of unity and enthusiasm, regardless
    of the problems that lie under the surface, have prompted
    some observers to call the gathering a pre-election
    convention, following on the heels of a pre-election budget
    (reftel A).  While Martin has reiterated that he is not
    seeking an election, the endorsement of his leadership now
    gives him a mandate to lead the party into a second election,
    whenever it occurs.  Meanwhile the Conservatives did not
    receive the bounce they were hoping for from a Liberal
    meltdown, and are faced with the difficult job of outshining
    the Liberals when they hold their first ever policy
    convention in Montreal March 17-19.  The PM expressed more
    reality than spin when he said of his Conservative foes:  &I
    don't envy them, first they,ve got to figure out who they
    are and what they stand for, and once they figure out what
    they stand for, they,ve got to figure out how to conceal it
    from the Canadian people.8  There was also some value in
    going first, and the Liberals simply had an easier product to
    sell, which they did effectively.  End Comment

    Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
    http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa

    CELLUCCI

`