Paul Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Martin
|
|
|---|---|
Martin in 2011
|
|
| 21st Prime Minister of Canada | |
| In office December 12, 2003 – February 6, 2006 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General | |
| Deputy | Anne McLellan |
| Preceded by | Jean Chrétien |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Harper |
| Leader of the Liberal Party | |
| In office November 14, 2003 – March 19, 2006 |
|
| Preceded by | Jean Chrétien |
| Succeeded by | Bill Graham (interim) |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office November 4, 1993 – June 2, 2002 |
|
| Prime Minister | Jean Chrétien |
| Preceded by | Gilles Loiselle |
| Succeeded by | John Manley |
| Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development – Quebec | |
| In office November 4, 1993 – January 24, 1996 |
|
| Prime Minister | Jean Chrétien |
| Preceded by | Jean Charest |
| Succeeded by | John Manley |
| Member of Parliament for LaSalle—Émard |
|
| In office November 21, 1988 – October 14, 2008 |
|
| Preceded by | Riding established |
| Succeeded by | Lise Zarac |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin
August 28, 1938 Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse |
Sheila Cowan
(m. 1965) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents |
|
| Residences | Knowlton, Quebec, Canada |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto (BA, LLB) |
| Profession |
|
| Signature |  |
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin (born August 28, 1938), also known as Paul Martin Jr., is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the 21st prime minister of Canada and the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2003 to 2006.
Paul Martin is the son of Paul Martin Sr., who was also a well-known politician. Before entering politics, Paul Martin Jr. was a lawyer. He then became the president and CEO of Canada Steamship Lines in 1973. He held this job until he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for LaSalle—Émard in Montreal in 1988.
Martin ran to become the leader of the Liberal Party in 1990 but lost to Jean Chrétien. Despite their disagreements, Martin was appointed Minister of Finance after the Liberals won the 1993 federal election. As Finance Minister, he made big changes to Canada's finances. His policies helped to get rid of the country's ongoing budget deficit by cutting spending and changing government programs.
In 2002, Martin left his role as Finance Minister due to disagreements with Prime Minister Chrétien. Chrétien later announced he would retire, leading to a new leadership election in November 2003. Martin easily won this election and became prime minister the next month. In the 2004 federal election, the Liberal Party stayed in power, but as a minority government. This was partly because of an issue called the "sponsorship scandal" that started in the late 1990s.
During his time as prime minister, Martin's government signed the Kelowna Accord. This agreement aimed to improve living conditions for Indigenous peoples. His government also reached an agreement with the provinces to increase funding for healthcare. In addition, same-sex marriage became legal in Canada under his leadership. In 2005, other parties in the House of Commons voted that they no longer trusted Martin's government. This happened after an investigation (the Gomery Commission) shared new details about the sponsorship scandal. This led to the 2006 federal election. In this election, the Liberals lost to the Conservative Party led by Stephen Harper. This ended over 12 years of Liberal rule.
After the defeat, Martin stepped down as Liberal leader. He chose not to run for re-election in 2008. People have different opinions about his time as prime minister. However, his work as Finance Minister is generally seen as very successful. Today, Paul Martin is known as a global diplomat. He continues to work on international projects, like those that help global health. He also advises on economic issues in Canada.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Paul Martin was born in Windsor, Ontario, in 1938. He grew up in both Windsor and Ottawa. His father, Paul Martin Sr., was a politician who served for 33 years as a Member of the House of Commons. His mother was Eleanor "Nell" Alice Adams. Paul Martin had one sister, Mary-Anne Bellamy, who passed away in 2011.
In 1946, when he was eight years old, Paul Martin got polio. His father also had polio when he was young. To help him learn French, his parents sent him to a private French-language middle school in Ottawa called École Garneau.
Martin later studied at the University of Toronto. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and philosophy in 1961. He was part of the Young Liberals group during his time there. He then went to the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and received a law degree in 1964. He became a lawyer in Ontario in 1966.
On September 11, 1965, Martin married Sheila Ann Cowan. They have three sons named Paul, Jamie, and David.
Business Career
In 1969, a company called Power Corporation gained control of Canada Steamship Lines (CSL). In 1970, Paul Martin, who was 32 at the time, joined the CSL board of directors.
Becoming President
CSL faced financial difficulties in 1972 and 1974. On November 22, 1973, Paul Martin was named president and CEO of the CSL Group. He worked to improve the company's financial situation.
Early Political Career (1988–1993)
In 1988, Paul Martin was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Montreal area of LaSalle-Émard. He was re-elected easily in every election until he left politics.
In 1990, Martin ran to become the leader of the Liberal Party. He lost to Jean Chrétien in a difficult contest. This created some tension between the two men and their supporters for many years.
After the leadership race, Martin helped write the Liberal Party's election plan, known as the "Red Book." The Liberal Party won a large majority in the 1993 election.
Minister of Finance (1993–2002)
After the Liberals formed the government, Prime Minister Chrétien chose Paul Martin as the Minister of Finance. At that time, Canada had one of the highest budget deficits among the G7 countries.
Martin made significant budget cuts to reduce the deficit. These cuts helped the government save money. By 1998, Martin introduced a balanced budget. This was a major achievement, as it had only happened twice in the previous 36 years. By 2002, Canada's financial ratings were restored to the highest level.
During his time as Finance Minister, Martin helped lower Canada's debt compared to its economic output. In 2001, he was recognized as one of the top world leaders by the World Economic Forum.
Martin also worked with finance ministers from all provinces to discuss the future of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). He led a public discussion process that resulted in major changes to the CPP. These changes helped prevent a pension crisis.
While his work as Finance Minister was praised by businesses, the budget cuts also led to reduced government services. This was especially noticeable in healthcare, as less federal money went to the provinces.
Working with Jean Chrétien
Prime Minister Chrétien and Paul Martin often had disagreements while they were in office. It was known that Chrétien had not forgotten Martin running against him for party leadership in 1990.
Even after the Liberals won the 1997 election, many people in Ottawa thought Martin wanted to take Chrétien's job. Martin gained support from those who disagreed with Chrétien. By 2000, Martin had gained a lot of control within the Liberal Party.
Becoming Prime Minister
The disagreements between Martin and Chrétien became very strong in 2002. Martin left the Cabinet, and John Manley took over as Finance Minister. Soon after, Martin announced he would run for leader of the Liberal Party.
Over the summer of 2002, Martin traveled across the country to gain support. His team prepared to challenge Chrétien's leadership. In the fall, Chrétien announced he would step down in the spring of 2004. This led to a leadership convention in the fall of 2003.
Paul Martin easily won the leadership election on September 21, 2003. He received 93 percent of the party delegates' votes. On November 14, 2003, he was officially declared the winner. He became prime minister almost without opposition.
Prime Minister (2003–2006)
As prime minister, Paul Martin's government faced challenges from Quebec separatism and public anger over the sponsorship scandal.
Economic Policies
Martin's government made investments in Quebec, including a project for Bombardier Inc.. In 2005, he also worked to provide financial support to Canadian cities and communities.
Healthcare Funding
In September 2004, Martin and the leaders of the provinces agreed on more funding for healthcare. This plan promised $18 billion in extra money for the provinces over six years.
Equalization Payments
Martin also changed the equalization program. This program helps the federal government share money with provinces that have less ability to raise their own funds through taxes. This ensures that public services are similar across the country. This was good news for provinces that needed more support.
2005 Budget
The 2005 federal budget was presented on February 23, 2005. It included new spending for the Armed Forces, the environment, and a national child-care program.
Public hearings about the sponsorship scandal caused the Liberal Party's popularity to drop. Opposition parties threatened to force an election. To avoid this, Martin asked Canadians to let the investigation finish before an election was called. The Liberals then made a deal with the New Democratic Party (NDP) to get their support.
In May 2005, a Member of Parliament named Belinda Stronach left the Conservative Party to join the Liberal Party. This changed the balance of power in the House of Commons. With her support, and the support of an independent MP, the government survived a key vote in May 2005.
Social Policies
Same-sex marriage was a very important issue during Martin's time as prime minister. Martin had previously voted against same-sex marriage in 1999. However, he changed his view in 2004, saying it was a human rights issue. After various court rulings, the government proposed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage across Canada. The Civil Marriage Act passed in June 2005, making Canada the fourth country in the world to allow same-sex marriages.
In November 2005, Martin's government reached an agreement called the Kelowna Accord. This agreement aimed to close the gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians in areas like health, education, housing, and economic opportunities.
Foreign Relations
In February 2005, Canada decided not to join the American National Missile Defense Program. Martin's decision was praised by many. His government continued to work with the United States on border control and defense.
Martin also worked to expand the G8 group of nations into a larger group of twenty, called the G20. He was the first chairman of this group. He also worked to build a stronger relationship with China.
Fall of the Government
The first part of the Gomery Report, released in November 2005, cleared Martin of any wrongdoing in the sponsorship scandal. It did place some blame on Jean Chrétien for not overseeing things properly, but noted Chrétien had no knowledge of the scandal.
The NDP and other opposition parties introduced a motion to say they no longer trusted Martin's government. This motion passed on November 28, 2005. This meant the government was defeated, and an election was called for January 23, 2006.
Some people described Martin's time as prime minister as sometimes unclear or hesitant.
2006 Federal Election
Before the election campaign began, polls showed the Liberals were ahead of the Conservatives. However, the Liberal lead did not last. A police investigation into a leak of tax news brought the sponsorship scandal back into public attention. This hurt the Liberals' support.
Martin's performance in the televised debates was not strong. He sometimes seemed flustered. The Conservatives and other parties kept calling Martin and the Liberals corrupt.
On January 24, 2006, after it became clear the Conservatives had won the most seats, Martin admitted defeat. He announced he would resign as party leader. He said he would continue to represent his riding but would not lead the party into another election. The next day, Martin officially told Governor General Michaëlle Jean that he would resign as prime minister. Martin remained prime minister until Stephen Harper's government was sworn in on February 6, 2006.
Supreme Court Appointments
During his time as Prime Minister, Martin chose two judges to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada:
- Rosalie Abella (October 4, 2004 – July 1, 2021)
- Louise Charron (October 4, 2004 – August 30, 2011)
After Prime Minister (2006–2008)
Paul Martin chose not to become the Leader of the Opposition. He stepped down as the parliamentary leader of his party on February 1, 2006. Bill Graham was appointed as the interim leader.
Martin officially resigned as Liberal party leader on March 18, 2006. At the Liberal convention in Montreal, Martin gave a farewell speech. He thanked Jean Chrétien and asked the Liberals to unite. Stéphane Dion was chosen as the new Liberal leader.
In his last years in public office, Martin focused on projects to improve education for Aboriginal peoples. He also worked on protecting the Congo Basin rainforest. In the 2008 federal election, Martin did not run for re-election to Parliament.
Retirement (2008–Present)
In late 2008, Martin published his memoirs, titled Hell Or High Water: My Life In And Out of Politics.
Kofi Annan (who was the Secretary General of the United Nations) and other international leaders asked Martin to help African countries grow their economies.
In 2009, Martin became co-chair of the Congo Basin Forest Fund. This fund works to address global warming and poverty in ten African nations.
In September 2022, Martin attended Elizabeth II's state funeral.
Since retiring from Canadian politics, Martin has advised the International Monetary Fund. He also works with the Martin Family Initiative, which helps First Nations youth. He lives in Knowlton, Québec.
Honours
_ribbon_bar.svg){kind=small}
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
|
Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.) |
|
|
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal |
|
|
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for Canada |
|
|
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Canada |
|
- He received the title "The Honourable" and "PC" (Privy Councillor) for life in 1993.
- His title was upgraded to "The Right Honourable" for life when he became Prime Minister in 2003.
 |
|
A large cargo ship in Canada Steamship Lines is named "Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin" after him.
Honorary Degrees
Paul Martin has received many honorary degrees from universities:
| Location | Date | School | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
 Quebec |
November 1998 | Concordia University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
 Ontario |
June 2001 | Wilfrid Laurier University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Ontario |
14 June 2007 | University of Windsor | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Quebec |
30 May 2009 | Bishop's University | Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) |
| Ontario |
28 May 2010 | Queen's University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Ontario |
18 June 2010 | University of Western Ontario | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Ontario |
3 June 2011 | University of Toronto | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Ontario |
16 June 2011 | McMaster University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Ontario |
13 June 2012 | Nipissing University | Doctor of Education (D.Ed.) |
 British Columbia |
Fall 2012 | University of British Columbia | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Ontario |
1 June 2013 | Lakehead University | Doctor of Laws |
| Ontario |
2013 | University of Ottawa | |
 New Brunswick |
2013 | University of New Brunswick | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
 Israel |
2013 | University of Haifa | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) |
| New Brunswick |
2014 | Mount Allison University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
 Nova Scotia |
October 2014 | Dalhousie University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
 Manitoba |
27 May 2016 | Brandon University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Quebec |
7 June 2017 | McGill University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Ontario |
9 June 2017 | Trent University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Ontario |
14 June 2019 | Carleton University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
 Alberta |
19 October 2019 | University of Lethbridge | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Ontario |
19 June 2020 | Brock University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
Images for kids
-
Paul Martin's signature
See Also
- List of prime ministers of Canada
