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$1:
TORONTO —
Liberal Leader Paul Martin today defended an unaired TV ad accusing Stephen Harper of wanting to put armed soldiers in Canadian cities, saying the Liberals were simply showing the differences between the two party positions.
He also defended the rest of the series of ads attacking the Conservative Leader, saying they are not attack ads because they are true.
The military ad, which was never aired but which appeared on the Liberal website, was roundly condemned by soldiers who say it paints them in a negative light.
But Mr. Martin told CTV's Canada AM "there's no attack on the soldiers. We support the soldiers."
"I support our military," Mr. Martin said. "I've probably put more money into the military than almost any prime minister.
"(The ads have) nothing to do with soldiers."
"I have increased soldiers' pay. I have a huge admiration for the soldiers," Mr. Martin said. "Take a look at what we're attacking. There's support for the soldiers."
The ad starts with ominous music in the background and declares Mr. Harper would put "soldiers with guns" in Canadian cities.
It says: "Stephen Harper actually announced he wants to increase military presence in our cities. Canadian cities. Soldiers with guns. In our cities. In Canada. We did not make this up."
Mr. Martin was asked why — after he accused the Conservatives of "drive-by smears" — his campaign was turning its guns on Mr. Harper.
"I think if you're in public life, you've got to be prepared to stand behind what you have said," Mr. Martin said in reference to comments Mr. Harper made 10 years ago, calling Canada a northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term.
"That's not an attack ad. That is: You have a set of values; I have a set of values. Let's debate."
He was asked on CTV's Canada AM whether he personally approved all the Liberal ads.
"Oh, sure, sure," Mr. Martin replied.
The Liberal Leader also said Mr. Harper's plan to establish a permanent military presence in major Canadian cities as a ready aid in emergencies (this was after the Liberals sent in soldiers to help Winnipeg with it's flood, so they have no right to complain) — the pledge at the heart of the controversial Liberal ad — would dilute the Forces and create an administrative and logistical nightmare.
"It's not me," Mr. Martin said. "[The chief of defence staff, Gen. Rick] Hillier's the one who said: 'I want to have a Canada Command. I want to be able to really have top-flight soldiers in top-flight positions with top-flight equipment.'
"You can't do that if it's spread out all across the country."
The comments were the most extensive analysis Martin has offered on Liberal defence policy in the campaign to date.
However, another Liberal MP blamed an "idiot" in the party for allowing the release of the ad.
Keith Martin says the ad was "appalling" and apologized to members of the military who were offended by it.
The Victoria-area MP's riding includes CFB Esquimalt, headquarters of Canada's Pacific naval fleet.
Mr. Martin was a member of the Reform party and the Canadian Alliance before he bolted to the Liberals before the 2004 election.
Last week he chose not to attend a health-care announcement with the prime minister, the health minister and other Liberal candidates, an absence that the Liberal Leader blamed on a scheduling conflict.
But Keith Martin — also a doctor who advocates the use of the private system as part of the overhaul of the health-care system — conceded he stayed away over a philosophical conflict.
In Markham, the Liberal Leader unveiled a proposal to inject a $180-million in support for four research and development initiatives in Markham, Toronto and Waterloo. The concept is to bring together technology firms and university researchers.
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