My thoughts are hardly as erudite or cogent as I would like them to be in this incredible moment we are witnessing. We have seen the murder-suicide (as Allan Gregg who I normally despise stated on CBC Newsworld this evening) of our Prime Minister and our Finance Minister. Who killed who is still in question, but I believe that Jean Chretien has done great disservice to his own legacy and to the strength of the Canadian government by firing Mr. Martin. That the Honourable Mr. Martin would need to hear of his own cabinet shuffle from Rex Murphy on Cross-Country Check-up and not in a return phone call from Eddie Goldenberg shows not only the contempt of the Privy Council Office in this matter but disgustingly immatue level party politics has stooped to today.

I have met Mr. Martin on many occassions and I have consistenly been overwhelmed by his astute sense of what needs to be done, his proactive desire to see it accomplished and the passion through which he gains this resolve. My only comfort today is in knowing that by his speech today, Paul Martin has assured us that we have not seen the last of his courageous and strong vision for Canada. Let the leadership race begin.

Post-script: Don't get too carried away by assigning a party label to me by this column. I was a Tory because of Gary Filmon. I have voted Liberal because of people like Paul Martin. My politics are defined by my ideals and by my passion for this country, not by the colour of a lawn sign.