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Martin deals major blows to Bloc
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Race
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| Contributor | User 13 |
| Last Edited | User 13 Dec 03, 2003 09:46am |
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| Category | News |
| News Date | Wednesday, December 3, 2003 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Paul Martin scooped up a defector from the Bloc Quebecois yesterday, even before taking office, as Quebec polls show the Liberals with a towering lead that could shake the separatist party to its core.
Robert Lanctôt, 40, first elected as a sovereigntist MP only three years ago, announced he is crossing the floor to the federal government, lauding Mr. Martin as a figure who can open "a new era" for Quebec within Canada. Mr. Lanctôt was quickly accepted into the fold by Quebec Liberal MPs.
Liberal organizers touted the move as a signal of changing times in Quebec, arguing Mr. Martin will be viewed as more Quebec-friendly and could make deep inroads into Bloc support, perhaps even crippling the party.
Outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was often viewed as an inflexible hard-liner who scared off soft nationalists in his home province. Mr. Martin, who supported the Meech Lake accord and hesitated on the Clarity Act, is being sold as more palatable to Bloc voters.
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