Harper questions Martin's commitment to Canada
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 4, 2006 | 6:28 PM ET
CBC News
Following an announcement on immigration, Harper raised the issue of loyalty to Canada. He said Canadian Steamship Lines, the company owned by Martin's family, registers its ships in foreign countries and avoids paying Canadian taxes.
"I don't know any party leader in the history of this country, other than Mr. Martin, who ever aspired to be prime minister who ran his life under the flag of Barbados and Liberia and tried to avoid paying taxes in this country. That's Mr. Martin's record on his love of Canada."
Harper was responding to comments made by Martin on Tuesday, who said that when Harper discusses Canada, it's to talk about what he views as its failings.
"I see a Canada I'm proud of, a nation I believe to be a model to the world, but Mr. Harper speaks of how our country comes up short in his eyes," Martin said during a speech Tuesday.
"Mr. Martin has questioned my patriotism," Harper said Wednesday. "The fact is Mr. Martin lived a good deal of his professional life under the flags of other countries and Mr. Martin constantly tried – and was successful, I gather – at avoiding paying taxes in Canada. That's the record.
"Mr. Martin wants a debate about patriotism. I'll put the facts in front of the Canadian people and they can judge."
But Martin said Wednesday his attacks against Harper aren't personal.
"I'm not quite sure why he makes it personal. It's not. It is a fundamental difference in value systems."
Martin also made no excuses for how he ran his former company. The company is now being run by Martin's three sons.
"I am very proud of having started with a small Canadian company which today builds most of its ships in Canada, has probably built most of its private ships in Canada in the last number of years, has the majority of its employees who are Canadian and has its head office in Canada. Yet it operates around the world.
"In fact, I think that's what we want to see Canadian companies do."
