Max's Mewsings

He has repeatedly promised MPs more influence on government decisions - more free votes in the Commons and hearings on the appointment of Supreme Court Justices, among other things - but he has yet to deliver (this week's hearings on the new Supreme Court appointments were a farce). So his caucus is trying to hold him to his word on the issue of missile defence. A number of Liberal MPs are looking for a free vote on the issue in the Commons which will effectively guarantee Canada will stay out of the scheme (the NDP and the Bloc oppose it) regardless of the broader implications of that decision for the country.

Cabinet, on the other hand, seems to have a different perspective. Defence Minister Bill Graham (the former Foreign Affairs boss) has told reporters international negotiations are the purview of the executive and, therefore, there is no role for the Commons.

On the matter of nominations, Liberal MPs are nervous. They don't want to be treated with the same lack of respect as their former colleague Sheila Copps who lost a nomination battle to a close friend of the Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin refused to intervene in that battle despite the fact his friend,Tony Valeri, should have been seeking the nomination in the adjacent riding. While that was the most egregious case of mistreatment of a sitting member in the run up to last Spring's election, there were others across the country.

Mr. Martin created these problems by doing what all good Liberals do - promising the world while rewarding friends. Now he has to deal with the fallout. Good luck to you, sir.