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CNN World Report
Canadian Public Throws Its Weight in Political Ring
Aired May 27, 2001 - 14:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: In the world of politics, opponents often engage in mud-slinging; it's part of the game. But in some cases, the voters are the ones going on the offensive.
SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: Global TV explains why the Canadian public has become more vocal and more violent, often willing to throw punches at those in the political arena.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAYMOND FILION, GLOBAL TV REPORTER (voice-over): There was a time in this country when people looked up to their politicians. During the Second World War, for instance, politicians were generally seen as trustworthy leaders. Well, times have changed. Today, politicians are targets. Cream pie attacks, and other humiliating experiences.
Of course, dealing with criticism has always been part of the job, but we are now talking about more than just that. Slandering politicians is now common, and sometimes push does come to shove.
JEAN LAPIERRE, FRM. PARLIAMENT MEMBER: In politics, you used to be part of the solution, and now, people as see you as part of the problem.
FILION: Being a federal politician is not your average 9-to-5 job. The divorce rate among politicians is very high.
GILLES LAMONTAGNE, FRM. CANADIAN MINISTER: To be a politician has a price.
FILION: Former Quebec City mayor Gille Lamontagne was a cabinet minister in Pierre Trudeau's government. He says that the job of a politician is not what it used to be in Canada.
LAMONTAGNE: There is two element that have changed: the population and the media. Both are very difficult to please.
FILION: While the prime minister had only a handful of reporters to deal with in the 1950s, today there is a pack of journalists following every move he makes, and the media is a lot more aggressive.
LAMONTAGNE: When somebody gets into politics right away, we see what is wrong with him, instead of looking at what is right with him. FILION: Richard Marceau is a young lawyer, married, with two children. He was reelected to parliament last fall.
RICHARD MARCEAU, PARLIAMENT MEMBER: You have to get involved. You cannot stay at home, watch TV and do nothing.
FILION: But at what price? An MP earns $68,000 Canadian a year; Cabinet ministers $117,000, and $142,000 for the prime minister.
LAPIERRE: Nowadays, recruiting candidates is now becoming harder and harder, and you get a lot of people that are warmed up leftovers from other sectors of the economy.
FILION: Of course, there is always the dream of having power, but many say MPs and even ministers don't have much. They're prisoners of party discipline.
LAMONTAGNE: You have to agree with the leader, you have to agree with the party, and you have to agree with the platform. So, you are caught in that.
FILION: Still, hundreds of candidates have their fingers crossed whenever an election comes around, hoping they will make a difference.
This is Raymond Filion of Global TV Canada, for CNN WORLD REPORT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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