Martin defends choice of ex-sovereigntist - Globe and Mail

[Screaming Lord Byron]

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040205.wlapp0205/BNStory/National/



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Prime Minister Paul Martin insisted Thursday that the man tipped to become his right-hand-man in Quebec is no longer a separatist.

Jean Lapierre, a founding member of the Bloc Québécois, will run for the Liberals in the Montreal riding of Outremont in the federal election. He defended his spell with the Bloc, saying that the failure of the Meech Lake accord made the early 1990s “a difficult time for all Quebeckers.”

He told reporters in Montreal that the Bloc was a necessary but only temporary tool. He went on to say that felt the party had become a satellite of the Parti Québécois.

In Ottawa, Mr. Martin defended his choice, saying that his Quebec lieutenant will have “a very deep understanding” of both Canada and Quebec.

“He is not a separatist. We have discussed this at great length and he is a very strong Canadian,” Mr. Martin told reporters after a cabinet meeting. “He was with the Bloc for a two-year period and he's really not been there ever since then.”

Mr. Lapierre, who was co-chairman of Mr. Martin's unsuccessful Liberal leadership bid in 1990, has spent the past decade training as a lawyer and working on TV and radio. He worked for the CTV, TVA and TQS television networks and also hosted a show on CKAC, a popular Montreal radio station.

Mr. Martin lauded his return to Liberals ranks.

-Looks like Paul has his own Lucien Bouchard. He'd be well advised not to take any more moves out of the Mulroney playbook.