As the Gomery Inquiry unfolds, the puzzle that was the 2004 Federal Election begins to take a recognizable shape. I will attempt to put the pieces together on my own take of the election I call the ‘Stop Harper Campaign.”


On March 20th, 2004 Stephen Harper was elected leader of the newly formed Conservative Party of Canada. With a relatively short but impressive political track record behind him Stephen Harper would have little time to settle in. Paul Martin and his powerful inner circle were already planning strategy on how he could best attack the CPC long before the convention ever got under way. A history of Liberal victories over fringe or newly formed parties was becoming the status quo of Canadian Federal Elections. The basic purpose and strategy of the Liberal Party of Canada was and is to win elections at all costs. They have succeeded admirably in doing so and in all respect they should aim to win elections. The problem with this strategy is that the true purpose of governance some times escapes those trying to stay in power. They lose grasp of right and wrong and begin writing their own rules. Yet up until Chrétien’s strategic retirement in late 2003, the Liberals could run and win with little care for competition. However the 2004 Election presented several interesting dilemmas for the Grits. Firstly, adscam was just beginning to take traction with the public. Secondly, Paul Martin had been crowned leader of the Government without ever leading his party to the polls, and thirdly, a fractured political right was now united. All these issues led to a snap election based on nothing more then maintaining power. The major issues pushing people to the polls were nothing else but gay marriage, abortion and of course the hidden agenda of the CPC. Harper best summed it up in an interview with the CTV, “"Why are they attacking me? Because they can't run on their record."

Of course there was some controversy over the timing of the Election. In retrospect it was a very smart move by Paul Martin. The adscam as it is known today is revealing much more corruption then ever imagined. One thing the Liberals could not accurately predict was the level to which the corruption would be uncovered. A federal election and a public inquiry would undoubtedly delay any incriminating evidence that would implicate the current regime. Smart planning, because at this point media was speculating that the climax of the corruption storm was presently in process. Liberal strategists must have known otherwise. Given free reign at the scandal with no pending election or inquiry the Liberals were in danger of being discovered by any number of investigative sources.

Paul Martins power base had always come from his capable stewardship of the Department of Finance. However as adscam broke Martin would have to give up any personal claim to being a successful leader. He couldn’t possible take responsibility for the economic success of the 90’s well avoiding any knowledge of the sponsorship scandal. Martin was also once considered a charismatic and energetic leader, but that image was being tattered by bumbling statements refuting any involvement in adscam. He also didn’t show any direction he wanted to take the country, which was a major let down for the Liberal faithful after years of the Chrétien quagmire. All this was known by the Liberal party leadership prior to calling an election. It is now obvious that the sponsorship scandal was the primary reason to call an election. The lack of substance behind the party would matter little because they still had their tried and tested wild card; the hidden agenda propaganda.

Everyone that follows politics knew what was coming from the Liberals. In fact Harper knew it right after he was elected leader of the party. Speaking to the convention Harper identified his opponent’s strategy very clearly, "The tired, old, corrupt Liberal party is cornered like an angry rat, they are going to attack us like we have never been attacked before ... they will be this because it is the only way they can survive." With an army of tools at their disposal the Liberals managed to start spreading fear about a so called hidden agenda. The Conservatives with no party policy platform and a few less then politically savvy candidates were the perfect targets. In fact the Liberals, had they had any platform to run on and of course if they were free from a corruption scandal, would have undoubtedly taken their largest majority ever. Yet the fear mongering was struggling to overcome the vices that plagued Martins Liberals. MSM was called upon and although not as willing to cooperate as they had in the past, did eventually buy in to the hidden agenda attacks. Desperation even brought out such intellectuals as Sum 41, Kardnal Official, and Avril Lavinge in a ‘Stop Harper Campaign’. Of course the political left of society, already scared by big bad George W Bush was willing to jump on board with the Liberal tactics. Yet even with that base support the Liberals were in danger of losing power right up to election night. Those final hours showed the true colours of Martin and his strategists, with a coast to coast marathon trip. Instead of preaching a vision for what he believes Canada should become, Martin spent his final hours attacking the Conservatives for a hidden agenda and handing out ‘Stop Harper’ pins.

The outcome of the election may have been a relief to the Liberals, but their grasp on power was not as strong as they could have hoped. The Liberals had no choice but to call the election for reasons we are now witnessing. Yet their attacks on Harper and the CPC did not win them their desired majority. The result of which is undetermined, but one has to wonder what kind of political leverage they have left in their ‘Stop Harper Campaign’.