Alberta Wants Martha Hall Findlay!

Martha Memories: Convention 2006

2006-12-11T23:54:00.000-07:00

The Spirit of Martha

2006-12-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

The Spirit of Martha

Montreal 2006

Liberal Leadership Convention

Joining David Anderson, former Minister of the Environment, and Judy Sgro, MP for York West, chanting "Martha" as we head to the main floor of the Palais des Congres.

That's me right behind them.

There's me and Rob, holding up Martha signs. Rob was the genius behind the "We love Martha" signs that became such a big hit!

There's Chris Spearman, bravely facing "competition." This photo was on the Reuters newswire, and it is one of my favourites!

Thank you Alberta!

2006-12-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Liberal friends in Alberta,

On December 3, delegates from across the country united behind our new leader Stephane Dion. But during the days leading up to the vote, delegates recognized, applauded, and rallied behind a rising star of the Party - Martha Hall Findlay. After the Liberal Leadership Convention, all the "pundits" agreed: Martha has and will continue to play an important role in shaping the future of the Liberal Party, and our country.

During the course of this leadership campaign, Martha made a very clear commitment to the West, especially Alberta, with two leadership tours (one with the Bus, the other with um...a Buick) - visiting the following towns and cities:

Sexsmith, AB Twice!
Thank you Neil Peacock, Kevin McLean, and all the die-hard Liberals up in Peace Country!
Edmonton, AB Three Times!
Countless events in Alberta's Capital City - thank you MLA Weslyn Mather, Edmonton Public Schools Trustee Don Fleming, 2006 Candidate Ron Symic for your support.
Thanks also to Mary Amerasinghe, President of the EWLPA, Harold and Shirley Knopke, and so many others.
Red Deer, AB Twice!
Thank you, Luke Kurata and Donna Herron, and so many others. Donna, your baking will bring us back for sure!
Lethbridge, AB Twice!
Thank you, Dianne King and Chris Spearman. Your hospitality and support will always be remembered.
Medicine Hat, AB
Thank you, Bev and Fran for your support.
Calgary, AB Twice!
Thank you, Rob Woodward - our Alberta Youth Chair who did a wonderful job for our campaign.
Janice and Beverly - thank you for your strong support.
Banff, AB
Thank you, Betsy, Debbie, Julita, Leslie, Margaret, and so many others!

On behalf of Martha and our national campaign team, I'd like to thank all of you for your strong support for our campaign. Now, we have an election to focus on. I am confident that Stephane's integrity and passion will resonate with all Canadians - even those darn Tory Albertans! Over the next several months, I'd like to encourage all of you to stay involved and fight hard for the Liberal Party and what we all stand for.

Sincerely,

Jung-Suk Ryu
Alberta Campaign Director
jungsuk.ryu@gmail.com

Rob Woodward

Alberta Youth Director

rob.woodward@telus.net

Democratic Greatness

2006-11-10T17:31:00.000-07:00

Oh Golly.
...American midterms....Tuesday was sure exciting! Today was even better, since it was announced that Howard Dean will be the keynote speaker at the convention. His enthusiasm and passion for politics, and the campaign process, (as is shown not only because of the recent Democratic victory, but also his 2004 Presidential Campaign) will surely add to the excitement and renewal of the Liberal Party at this pivitol convention.

In it for the long haul....

2006-09-25T11:29:00.000-06:00

While this was posted on Martha's official website- I felt it needed to be reposted here; as it is so important- given the recent withdrawls of Hedy Fry and Carolyn Bennett.

Martha’s comments on Hedy Fry’s decision to bow out and support Bob Rae

I have had the pleasure of getting to know Hedy Fry during this campaign, and she has contributed significantly to this leadership contest. I can, however, understand her decision and I congratulate Bob on getting Hedy’s support.

But what about us, the Martha Hall Findlay campaign? We don’t have big numbers, in terms of delegate intention forms or in terms of polling numbers. But we’re different. We were never expected to. Our campaign continues to exceed all expectations. The Big Red Bus has become a symbol of the renewal and rejuvenation of the Liberal Party, thanks to our message and our collective hard work and enthusiasm. We have already been making a difference, and we will continue.

The Big Red Bus will be going to Montreal.

My job, our job---contributing to the health and vitality and rejuvenation of the Liberal Party---has only started. And as of today, I now have another responsibility: despite the promise of having three women running, for the first time, for the leadership of a national party, we are down to one. I will be damned if, in 2006, the Liberal Party of Canada has a leadership convention without a single woman on that stage. For all of our talk of encouraging more women to enter politics, what would that say? I have often said that I am not running in this leadership as a woman. Now, part of me is.

Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported us so far. We’ve come such a long way, particularly for an almost completely volunteer campaign with extremely limited resources. I am so proud, as should be every one of you who has helped, of what we’ve accomplished so far, and the difference we’ve already made.

So with that, I remind everyone---when the going gets tough, the tough get going. So let’s go! Super Weekend, with all of the Delegate Election Meetings, is this weekend. Please make sure you attend. Please also call and write and cajole, if you have to, every party member you know to get out and vote – for Martha Hall Findlay and for the Martha Hall Findlay delegates. Every single vote matters.

And we really do need all the financial help we can---for the Big Red Bus to get to Montreal , and to do it right, we need gas in the tank. Please donate today. Every litre helps!

Martha

Other Bright Women in Politics- So long Ann Richards.

2006-09-13T21:11:00.000-06:00

In the mad dash to collect delegate forms for the upcoming convention in Montreal, I took pause to check the news, and was saddened to read of the death of former Texas governor, Ann Richards (D). While this has little to do with the Liberal Leadership at hand, or even Canada- but like Martha, Gov. Richards was a prominent female liberal, who became quite the political celebrity. Ann Richards served as the 45th governor of Texas, the second woman ever elected to that post. Elected as a woman, and a democrat, in Texas, in my view- is a great accomplishment. She was also the first person to ever be beat by then Texas Ranger's Manager George W. Bush (and Karl Rove)- for the governorship in 1994. While she only served one term as governor, she remained popular in the state, and with Texas democrats, until her death today, loosing her battle with cancer, at age 73. While I know little of her leadership and tenure as governor, I've been given the impression that she was a bright, independent woman: something we need more of in Canadian politics.

Blogging National Caucus / Alberta Tour: Part 2

2006-08-31T16:42:00.000-06:00

Friday, August 25

4.30 am. 4.30 am!!! After another long day of visiting various Liberals in the Lower Mainland, I had to wake up at 4.30 am to quickly get ready and take our 7 AM flight to Calgary.

During check-in, one of the flight staff had an issue with Martha's ID - "Martha Findlay," not Hall Findlay. As proof that she was indeed Martha Hall Findlay, Martha took out from her briefcase an impressive two (maybe three?) page spread in the Toronto Star that had a huge picture of her with the words "Martha's the One to Watch." I read the article before on the website, but I didn't realize that the article was so big and had so many pictures!

Winnie and I both doze off during our flight. When we arrived in Calgary, we were greeted by Rob Woodward, our Alberta Youth Chair. He's a great guy who entertains himself by making fun of me. But that's another problem that can be dealt with after this convention. (Hint hint.)

First destination: Medicine Hat. Along the way, Martha did a radio interview with Dave Rutherford on the Rutherford Show. Of course, anyone in Alberta knows how conservative Dave is, but I knew Martha could take him on. And she certainly did. One listener called in and said, "I've always been a card-carrying Liberal, and I liiike! this lady!" Our host in Medicine Hat was Roger Johnson, owner of Pasta-Bilities, a delicious little pasta place along the Trans Canada Highway. Below, you can see our crew with the World's Tallest Teepee - yes, in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Next destination: Lethbridge! We all met at Dianne King's house. Dianne is a wonderful lady and the President of the local riding association. Chris Spearman, one of our supporters in Lethbridge, gave an impressive introduction to Martha. There were some other notables there - Bridget Pastoor, MLA for Lethbridge-East, and Senator Joyce Fairbairn, who came to visit for the second time (we were in Lethbridge during our first tour).

Final destination of the day: Calgary. Rob, Janice Kinch, and Beverly Anderson did an awesome job of putting together our first fundraiser for the tour. It was held at Ed's, a cute little restaurant in the heart of downtown Calgary (across from the Stampede grounds!). More than 50 people came out to hear what Martha had to say. Martha released her agriculture policy today - you will be able to see it on our website shortly!

After what seemed to be a very long day, we made our drive up to Red Deer to stay at Donna Herron's home for the night.

August 26, 2006

Martha tried to wake Winnie and I up in the morning. Neither of us heard her. We were just too tired! Our first event was at Donna's home. She has a beautiful home and I always tell her that she looks like Glenn Close. :-) The event was very well-attended, and everyone was clearly impressed. It wasn't supposed to be a fundraiser, but we raised quite a few dollars! Thank you, Red Deer.

After a lengthy six- or seven-hour drive, we arrived in Sexsmith, Alberta - Peace River country!! This was Martha's second visit. The response after her first visit was absolutely amazing - Neil Peacock, a former provincial candidate and director of the Peace Country Tender Beef Co-Op, has been very vocal of his support for Martha and organized a fundraiser for us. The response from tonight's event? Even more astounding - everyone took a delegate intention form to stand as a delegate for Martha.

Sunday, August 26

Finally, a day of sleep at home! Our first event in Edmonton was a meeting with representatives from the Seniors Commission and the local Womens' Policy Association. Martha then went out to Sherwood Park to meet with a handful of Liberals, including Ron Symic - past candidate for Edmonton-Sherwood Park - who is endorsing Martha.

The biggest event of the tour took place in the evening. Over eighty local Liberals came out to hear Martha speak at the Palace Conference Centre. Weslyn Mather, the MLA for Edmonton-Mill Woods, came out to personally support Martha's leadership bid, which appeared in Global TV and the local papers. Both Martha and Weslyn were given standing ovations, in recognition of their public service. Bridget Pastoor (MLA for Lethbridge East) also joined us as one of our guest speakers. Picture below.

Monday, August 27

Today's agenda was great. We first drove off to Edson, but I underestimated the time it would take to get there and we were about 30 minutes late! Fortunately, all of the local Liberals waited for us, drinking their good ol' Tim Hortons coffee. Most of them were impressed! And they took a delegate intention form to stand as a delegate for Martha.

Then we went off to Hinton to meet with some local Liberals. I think Martha had her first uninterrupted full meal that day, so Winnie and I were quite pleased.

After our lunch in Hinton, we went through Highway 93 from Jasper to Banff. It was a gorgeous drive. Well, actually, Martha drove, and she seemed to enjoy her time away from her Treo and the laptop. Here are some of the pictures we took along the way...

Along the highway, we saw a huge (huuuge!) deer or elk or moose or...

Martha and Winnie with some beautiful views of the Rockies.

Martha and I standing at a marker indicating where the Columbia Icefield was in 1935.

Our final event for the Alberta tour was at Betsy's home. Betsy is Martha's sister. She has a beautiful home along the Bow River in Banff. When Betsy's assistant Debbie told me that the entire town of Banff was invited, I thought she was kidding.... Guess not! Martha was engaged in some hot-topic discussions surrounding the gun registry and healthcare with hordes of Banff residents. Some purchased memberships and made the decision to run as delegates for Martha.

After spending almost two weeks with Martha (non-stop!), I have gotten to know Martha as a truly genuine individual with so much to offer Canada, and the world. Thank you, Martha.

Blogging National Caucus / Alberta Tour

2006-08-30T20:05:00.000-06:00

I'm Jung-Suk, the Alberta Campaign Director and West Coordinator for Martha. Recently, I had the pleasure of travelling with Martha throughout the Lower Mainland in BC and through ten different towns and cities in Alberta. Due to some technical restrictions during my trip, I am uploading my entire blog on at once. I hope you enjoy!

Monday, August 21
It was exciting to be back in Vancouver. I used to live here until 1998 (I live in Edmonton now), but many things have changed. It's just a HUGE city! After an hour-long taxi ride from the airport to Surrey, I met Martha. It was great to see her. I wasn't able to catch the FLAG debate, but Winnie (another hard working volunteer for Martha from Edmonton who flew with me to Vancouver) and I joined hordes of other Liberals at a nearby pub and had a blast.

Tuesday, August 22
The real work began today! I woke up early in the morning (beautiful weather, and the scenery of downtown Vancouver from my room was just gorgeous!), met with Martha, and we went together to a roundtable discussion meeting on homelessness hosted by Senator Larry Campbell. It was very well-attended. I was sitting alongside assistants and campaign workers for some of the other leadership candidates...and I realized that I was not the most BlackBerry-obsessed individual on the planet. Whew. Halfway through the meeting, a homeless individual walked in and told us some shocking stories of being a homeless person in downtown Vancouver. What was most impressive was the fact that he was part of a collective effort to build shelters and outdoor latrines for the homeless in Vancouver. His comments drew a loud applause.

After the morning discussion, Martha, Winnie, and I walked with two of the other candidates - Ken Dryden and Hedy Fry - to a bottle depot that was created as part of an effort to assist homeless individuals - United We Can. Ken Lyotier, the founder and manager of the depot, gave us a tour of the facility.

The tour took a bit longer than we thought and Martha was a bit late to her first National Caucus meeting. Winnie and I got a brief break, so we decided to walk through downtown for a bit and catch a bite to eat at a local sushi bar. Having observed Martha in action in the past, I always recognize the need to get her food! We chipped in and got Martha a bento box, which Martha ate with delight. We were so happy!

Martha, Winnie and I sat outside the convention centre...not to discuss politics, or the campaign, but surprisingly, the Women's Caucus Debate...which was to take place in 30 minutes. We quickly brainstormed a couple of pointers before it was time for Martha to get inside, wait, and walk onto the stage! Martha, as usual, did fabulously.

After the debate, Martha attracted a bit of media attention. James McNaulty from The Province wanted to chat and write a profile on her. They had quite a long chat, so we left them and walked through downtown again. The things to see are endless!

Wednesday, August 23

Another early morning...beautiful weather! I couldn't believe how active the city was in the morning. Winnie and I both shared a scone and had some coffee before joining up with Martha and escorting her to the convention centre. After realizing how underdressed I was in comparison with some of the other "politicos" at the convention, I wore a nice suit with some black dress shoes that killed my feet. After quickly deciding to host a meet and greet reception at the hotel, we walked down Robson Street to find a printer to print off some invitations. We delivered some around the convention hall, and I made the effort to pass one off to Keith Boag of CBC fame.

At 3:30, we held a very well-attended reception. It was packed with Liberals who came to hear Martha's ideas. We were also quite suprised that Keith Boag dropped by and listened to Martha for close to two hours. I could see that he was very intrigued...and very impressed!

Later in the evening, we quickly went off to the main convention hall where hundreds (maybe even thousands) of Liberals rallied together to hear Bill Graham and the leadership candidates. Martha delivered a powerful speech (and a powerful whistle...that's another story) and was surrounded by Liberals who wanted to congratulate her on an awesome campaign. MP Judy Sgro also joined in the praises and gave me a nice hug. (We met the day before a couple of times...)

The Young Liberals of BC hosted an event later that evening at the Caprice Night Club. It was some good...LOUD ... times.

Thursday, August 24

Today was a big day for Martha. The morning consisted of a meeting hosted by Ralph Goodale, followed by a closed-door session between the Liberal caucus and all the Liberal leadership candidates. I came across Judy Sgro again! She told me that Martha did fabulously.

We also made a trip out to Vancouver Island, home to our BC Provincial Coordinator Paul McKivett. MP Keith Martin hosted an evening reception with Bill Graham who had some glowing words for Martha and her red bus campaign. The ferry ride was fabulous with some gorgeous views. She also had a good discussion with former Minister of the Environment David Anderson.

Alberta Tour Blog Coming Soon...

Greetings from BC!

2006-08-19T22:17:00.000-06:00

Hello folks. Greetings from Fairmont Hot Springs, BC.

Friday, August 18th - I had a successful meeting with the riding association in Kootenay-Columbia. It was a gorgeous day and we met at the Prestige Inn in Cranbrook. The riding association, Betty Aitchison, is a sweet, hip lady. Her and her husband, Hugh, took me around Cranbrook and the surrounding area, telling me all about the area's history. Just fascinating.

Martha presented herself in a video format - more than 10 minutes long, Martha impressed the local Liberals with her views on a wide array of issues - softwood lumber, the environment, aboriginal affairs, and many others. The crowd was VERY impressed.

Saturday, August 19 - As if one day with Betty wasn't enough, Betty and Hugh joined my family for a wonderful tour of Kimberley's old mine. We hopped onto an old train and went up the mountain that housed the mine. Betty and Hugh were our "tour guides." (Hugh worked as a safety manager in the mining site.) After our train ride, we all sat atop the mountain at Kelsey's and sipped back some beer. (No, that's not true - Betty and I had iced tea and lemonade, respectively).

Thanks, Betty and Hugh for a wonderful time. And yes - we will see each other in Montreal!

Pictures below:

Me, my mum, Betty Aitchison (President of the Kootenay-Columbia FLA), Hugh Aitchison

Betty, me, my mum on the train up the mine in Kimberley, BC.

Only one more day at Fairmont Hot Springs (this is my break from politics...but I still have my BlackBerry...). Then I will be joining Martha in Vancouver for the National Caucus meetings that will take place from Aug 21-24. Will blog as much as I can.

Jung-Suk

Martha Hall Findlay Summer Tour

2006-08-04T20:54:00.000-06:00

Alberta Welcomes Martha Hall Findlay Again!

Some events of interest:

CALGARY AB

Cocktail reception with Martha Hall Findlay

August 25, 2006 - 8:00 PM

Ed's Restaurant (202 17 Ave. SE)

Tickets $50.00 / $10.00 for youth (18-25)

Come enjoy a wonderful evening with Martha in the heart of Calgary.

RSVPs and tickets: Contact Rob Woodward (403) 990-2215 rob@marthahallfindlay.ca

EDMONTON AB

"Women Empowering Women" Fundraiser Gala

August 27, 2006 - 6:00 PM

The Palace Banquet & Conference Centre (3323 Parsons Rd - 99 St.)

Enjoy a wonderful dinner, exciting entertainment, and inspiring words from guest speakers including MLA Weslyn Mather.

RSVPs and tickets: Contact Jung-Suk Ryu (780) 722-7088 jung-suk@marthahallfindlay.ca

STAY TUNED.

Marthamania in the Toronto Star

2006-07-31T22:13:00.000-06:00

A long and somewhat dreary article about the leadership race in the Toronto Star, recovered by publishing a brief Martha-istic ray of shinshine, 3/4 of the way through the article,

It may well be, as veteran Liberal Dennis Mills believes, too early, and that a candidate may yet ignite. Mills lost his seat in Toronto-Danforth in January to NDP leader Jack Layton and works as vice-chair of a couple of Magna subsidiaries for auto magnate Frank Stronach, father of the oft-touted leadership candidate, Belinda.

He believes that Toronto lawyer Findlay, who narrowly lost to Stronach in Newmarket-Aurora in 2004 (before Stronach crossed the floor) has the most growth potential and could inspire a little magic. "Trudeau only really happened in the week (before the convention) in 1968," he said.

MacIvor argues that Trudeaumania took root earlier, over the summer of 1967, adding, "Trudeau was a watchful, shy man, and it took him a while to develop his public persona." Interestingly, she, too, picks Hall Findlay as being the most likely to ignite Marthamania. She lauds her earthy ability to talk to people about what matters. "It's that kind of Oprah thing."

Sounds good to me.
The full text of the article can be found here.

Martha-tastic in Peachland

2006-07-18T11:50:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, over 60 young liberals from the western provinces gathered at a lakeside summer camp nestled in the hills above Peachland, BC, for the annual western youth caucus, Camp Wanna be Free. The camp was well attended by three campaigns, Kennedy, Dion, and Brison- and of course, yours truly- representing Martha.

It was great to finally meet with a plethora of exclusively young liberals, and talk about the future of the party with the under 30 crowd. I never received any negative feedback towards Martha or the campaign, in fact, the number one question I received over the weekend was simply, “Where’s Martha?! I’d love to meet her!” Everyone was glad that she was running, and many people reassured me that Martha was unequivocally in their personal top 5.

Sunday morning, after a late breakfast, Martha joined the group via video message, which was warmly received. Even though Martha was not in physical attendance, many people were glad that Martha was able to address the group regardless- winning points among campers. I had the chance to talk to one of the other leadership candidate’s regional youth coordinators after the video- and like many people, she responded simply by saying, “I really like her.”

I’ll be adding pictures in the next few days, as many were taken over the course of the weekend. Until then, I’ve attached a picture of Scott Brison picking up Hedy Fry (courtesy of Sarah Turnbull) on the dock- good times.

Heads up! (Please click on picture to zoom)

2006-07-14T00:06:00.000-06:00

Pictures from the Alberta Wants Martha Campaign!

2006-07-11T17:49:00.000-06:00

With Shirley Knopke, after a fanstatic BBQ / Webcast Forum at her daughter's home in Edmonton.

With Donna Herron, our "point woman" in Red Deer who has done a fabulous job in keeping the excitement up for our campaign! She also has a beautiful home and hosted Martha during her stop in Red Deer on June 8.

That's me at the Calgary Stampede Breakfast. Martha was unable to attend, but our team had an awesome time talking to people about her!

With Bill Graham, interim leader of the Liberal Party.

With Rob Woodward, our Alberta Youth Chair, and David Swann, MLA in Calgary.

With two members of the Wildrose Liberal Riding Association (Banff, Cochrane, Canmore...it's a huge riding), and Betsy Hall-Findlay (Martha's sister!). We met at her beautiful home along the Bow River in Banff.

Ron Symic's Statement of Support

2006-07-04T20:26:00.000-06:00

Ron Symic, Past Candidate in Edmonton-Sherwood Park

"I am supporting Martha Hall Findlay's leadership bid for the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. My endorsement of Martha comes after a great deal of soul searching and first hand observations of her in both public and private forums.

"She has a plan for the future of the Liberal party, she listens, and she responds with an upfront and honest answer. Liberals need a leader with a new fresh new image and one who is capable of reaching out to all segments of Canada's diverse culture and needs.

"Martha is an amazing person, with limitless vision and powerful courage that can truly re-shape our party. I am looking forward to having Martha as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada."

Ron Symic

AlbertaWantsMartha! Welcomes British Columbia Organizer

2006-07-04T09:30:00.000-06:00

Martha Hall Findlay Campaign Welcomes Jim Tan to Coordinate Campaign in Beautiful British Columbia

Jim Endorses Martha

Jim Tan is a resident of Vancouver in British Columbia. He was so impressed by Martha that he has volunteered to act as an organizer in BC.

Here's why he joined her campaign"

"I'm glad that there is someone with the integrity to speak the truth. There's so much bureaucracy and politicking that the politicians don't listen to us. Times are changing for the Liberal Party and Canada. Martha is the right person and this is her time."

Jim mentioned that the campaign is looking for volunteers and organizers in every BC riding. Pass Jim's contact address to your friends in BC.

Martha's red bus has reached the Pacific Ocean!

Contact:

jim@marthahallfindlay.ca"

All across the country...support is growing...

2006-06-28T20:16:00.000-06:00

Alberta Wants Martha BBQ & Webcast Forum

2006-06-27T21:44:00.000-06:00

AlbertaWantsMartha Campaign Invites You!
BBQ & LIVE Webcast Forum with Martha!

Join the AlbertaWantsMartha Campaign in Edmonton and Calgary for an awesome barbeque and good drinks...

...and a LIVE broadcast from Toronto, where Martha will be joining us via webcast to discuss various aspects of her platform.

Limited seating, so RSVP quickly! This is your chance to ask the tough questions to Martha. And this is her time to talk to you about her ideas for Canada.

Both events take place on Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 6:00 PM - (Live Broadcast Starts at 6:30 PM)

Edmonton
(Guest Speaker: Ron Symic - Past Candidate for Edmonton-Sherwood Park, Past President of Edmonton's Heritage Days)
3516-114 Street
(Take 34th Avenue and then North on 114th Street)
RSVP/Contact: Jung-Suk Ryu (780) 722-7088

Calgary
51 Bow Village Crescent NW
RSVP/Contact: Rob Woodward (403) 990-2215
or Janice Kinch (403) 270-2057

Email RSVPs to:
Jung-Suk RyuAlberta Campaign CoordinatorMartha Hall Findlay CampaignLiberal Party Leadership 2006jung-suk@marthahallfindlay.ca(780) 722-7088

Check out our blog!http://albertawantsmartha.blogspot.com

Calgary Martha BBQ

2006-06-23T12:31:00.000-06:00

Sunday, June 25
6:00PM
51 Bow Village Cr. NW
Come and meet the Calgary Martha Team!

Questions?
Contact Alberta Youth Coordinator Rob Woodward:
rob@marthahallfindlay.ca
(403) 990-2215

I should post this...

2006-06-19T23:11:00.000-06:00

Martha who?

Smart, accomplished, bilingual, Hall Findlay is a winner, but in the race to succeed Paul Martin, she's clearly the underdog

Alan Kellogg
The Edmonton Journal
Friday, June 09, 2006

CREDIT: Chris Schwarz, The Journal
Martha Hall Findlay, right, meets with local Liberals on Thursday.

She's smart, accomplished, bilingual, socially progressive but fiscally prudent, a fresh-faced mother of three and former star athlete. She has no political baggage and has lived in Alberta and Ontario. In important ways, her story is the story of Canada in its fullness.

You figure these are the very qualities the Liberal Party of Canada would be looking for in a new leader as it seeks to redefine itself. She was first off the mark, announcing her candidacy as the presumed heirs apparent took a pass on succeeding Paul Martin. Parachuted into the Ontario riding of Aurora-Newmarket in 2004 to run against then-Tory (and homey) Belinda Stronach, she came within an astonishing 689 votes of beating the Fabulous Ms. S.

And yet Martha Hall Findlay continues to fight an uphill battle to avoid being tagged by pundits and politicos as "Martha Who Who," a dreamer without a hope in Hades, not to mention Halifax. If so, the youthful 46-year-old lawyer is turning heads in the party just the same -- as a serious candidate whose pluck, determination and sheer chops are not to be dismissed.

There's an appealing underdog vibe to the Hall Findlay campaign, which made a stop in Edmonton Thursday in the final days of a western swing. No chartered planes, fancy schmancy hotel suites or legions of minders for Martha. She's crossing the nation with her son and another aide in a trippy crimson RV, her smiling face -- which owes something to a younger Sally Fields -- emblazoned on the side.

The bus is a hit, she says over a morning decaf. "It has turned out to be a double benefit. On one hand, it's a response to the need for renewal in the party. On the other, it's Liberal red, pretty hard to miss. People are drawn to it. And it's allowed us to visit places in the country other campaigns simply don't get to. You can read all the literature available, and I do. But there is no substitute for being there, to listening to people. On aboriginal affairs and agricultural issues in particular, it's been invaluable."

She's got her policy positions, of course, and cautions against the party moving too far to the left, countering recent quotes from Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae.

"I'm pretty (leftie) on social and some other issues, that's for sure," she says, pointing to her support of same-sex marriage and opposition to the Tories' recent quickie Afghanistan resolution. She's been using solar power in her houses for years. In her Calgary years, she served on the board of CKUA.

"But recognizing economic realities, especially as things become more global, is essential. So is paying down the debt. I've been interested in the global governance movement and have time for what leaders like Tony Blair and Bill Clinton (represent). Without a sound economy, we can't pay for the social safety net we value. We have to be very careful in the party and understand why we lost. It's the voters we lost to the Conservatives we need to appeal to again, not the NDP. I'm in the middle of the party, and I think that is the place to be."

In fact, Hall Findlay comes very close to publicly assigning the defeat of the Martin government as a godsend, even though she admits there were unfortunate casualties, such as Anne McLellan.

"It happened to the Conservatives too. Twelve years in power is a long time, and we lost our way. In fact, if it wasn't for (the Liberals') outstanding economic record the defeat could have been far greater. We lost our confidence, we stopped listening. It's infuriating that thousands of good, honest, principled Liberals were tarred by the (sponsorship scandal), that we did little to defend ourselves. Being decisive is key. I'm proud to be a Liberal, of what we stand for."

A champion skier who won a silver medal in the 1976 national championships, she says competitive sports have been an effective teaching aide, and inspirational at that.

"When you're in the start gate, you're there alone, competing against everyone, including your best friends. And yet it is all done finally as a team, and success depends on working together. It's a dual experience, invaluable when it comes to pursuing goals of any kind."

The odds on Hall Findlay successfully negotiating the Liberal leadership slalom in first place are daunting, to understate it. A lawyer whose own firm specializes in the rough and tumble telcom biz, she says she developed a tough hide years ago. Poised to win her riding, she moved aside when Belinda Stronach crossed the floor a year ago. Yes, it can get frustrating. No, she didn't campaign for Stronach, but for other Liberals.

"This is my party. We have good policies, great principles. Whatever happens, this has already been worth it. If I listened to everyone who told me I was crazy, I never would have achieved anything.

"Yesterday a farmer north of Sexsmith came up to me with an open chequebook and told me he thought I should be the next prime minister. How encouraging is that? I believe if you offer something substantive and sincere, people will respond."

And if Hall Findlay comes up short for the leadership, it will be Liberals who are crazy if they don't nominate her for a Toronto riding run. New faces with a passion for public service are to be treasured, not trashed.

akellogg@thejournal.canwest.com
© The Edmonton Journal 2006

Alberta Cooks Off for Martha

2006-06-19T13:52:00.000-06:00

Grande Prairie, AB
JUNE 24, 2006 - 6:00 PM
McLean Residence
(6302-88 Street)
Free!!

Awesome Alberta Beef - Good company - Hear about the Martha Hall Findlay Campaign!
Call (780) 722-7088 if you have any questions or to RSVP.

Important!!!

2006-06-18T21:15:00.000-06:00

Sorry, I still haven't finished the blog about the tour. That will come, but for now:

Awesome. Just awesome.

2006-06-16T15:56:00.000-06:00

Check out our new campaign website:

http://www.marthahallfindlay.ca

Blog of the Tour Continued...

2006-06-14T10:31:00.000-06:00

June 7, 2006

4:30 pm
After our interview with the East Indian radio station winds up, we make our way to campus. Of course, it's difficult to get students out during their holiday, but I thought it was important for Martha to meet with at least a handful, anyway. Turns out, we literally got a handful - maybe one handful, but that was fine. It was a small group - one of the attendees is a blogger (daveberta) - but they certainly seemed to enjoy their time with Martha.

6:00 pm
After a morning and afternoon of running around, our entire crew and Martha decide to take some "down time." We head back to our campaign office. I realize that I didn't eat anything all day so a couple of us head into Tim Horton's to take a brief break.

6:30 pm
...yes, wasn't that brief? Our next event starts at 7 pm. This is our big event, with several local MLAs, including Weslyn Mather (Edmonton-Mill Woods), attending. I picked a strange spot for it, that's for sure. (The next day, the Edmonton Journal said that it was a unique setting for a political event). It was held in the Reed's Tea Room, located deep within the wonderful secluded setting of Fort Edmonton Park. It was a packed house (albeit the room can only fit about 40-50 or so), and everyone (and I mean everyone) enjoyed their time with Martha. Weslyn gave an excellent speech - detailing the accomplishments of women in politics - and a wonderful introduction to Martha. The entire audience engaged in a good discussion on a whole array of issues - immigration, terrorism, healthcare, seniors - and some were just "inspired."

9:00 pm
Our event wraps up. I head off to teach another class, and Martha's crew heads down for a late drive to Red Deer.

...to be continued...

Blogging for the Tour - Part 2

2006-06-12T19:39:00.000-06:00

Martha with an Edmonton Oilers T-Shirt!

HALL FINDLAY - 01

June 8, 2006

12:00 pm
After Martha's two-hour interview with Alan Kellogg, we hurry off to the LPCA Office for a lunch reception. The LPCA Office is full with interested Liberals. Martha makes some brief remarks - introducing herself, but more importantly, letting Liberals know of the reasons behind her run for the leadership. (We will get into this in more detail in a later post). Lots of Liberals agree that things need to change in the Party - both within its own membership, as well as its policies for Canadians. Carole Halko, Executive Director with the LPCA (and a wonderfully fantastic one, too!) whispers to me, "Martha is just wonderful!" Of course, I agree. We meet Harold Knopke, who is one of our committed supporters in Edmonton. Jennifer Krauskopf (who I know through the Liberal Party at the U of A) joins Martha and her tour bus.

1:30 pm
I quickly head off to prepare some final things at our campaign office in Edmonton. With a small crowd waiting for Martha's arrival, I check the clock - it's 1:45. Then I get a PIN on my BlackBerry - "Is there another way across the river?" I had instructed them to cross the High Level Bridge - silly, stupid me - and their bus is too high to go through. Someone goes out to get them. They are late, but a small crowd still waits for about 30 minutes or so to hear Martha speak. Ron Symic, past candidate for Edmonton-Sherwood Park (I was his Director of Communications), gets involved with a discussion about party renewal and inclusion and is clearly impressed with Martha's pitch to the members. I present Martha with an Edmonton Oilers T-Shirt with her name sown on the back. We then do a ribbon-cutting ceremony - and bang! Our campaign office is open!

3:30 pm

Martha and I speed down Calgary Trail and east on 34th Ave for a media interview with Radio Sangam (I definitely have the spelling wrong). This is a radio station for the East Indian community all across Alberta. The lady conducting the interview is a bit new to politics, but Martha does an excellent interview.

...to be continued...

More priase for Martha

2006-06-12T18:23:00.000-06:00

From the Toronto Star:

The best dramatic line goes to Hall Findlay. After Brison worried what the New York Times would have said had Parliament not extended the Canadian military mission in Aghanistan: "We do not establish foreign policy in this country because we're worried about what the headline in the New York Times is going to be."

She also won best audience applause.

Martha Hall Findlay: Clearly on top after the first leadership debate!

2006-06-12T18:14:00.000-06:00

Speaking Out!

Martha Hall Findlay in Edmonton

Praise for Martha:

"In this empty rhetorical net, Martha Hall Findlay scored one of the rare goals of the afternoon, arguing that Canada's foreign policy should not be tailored to the headlines of the American media."

"Of the three [female candidates], Hall Findlay is the only one who has both the necessary language credentials and the presence that frontline politicians are made of. It's too bad Paul Martin took her out of the running in the riding of Newmarket-Aurora in the last election to make room for Belinda Stronach."

"[Martha] and Stéphane Dion provided one of the few rare refreshing exchanges of a tiresome afternoon with a discussion of democratic reform. For a brief moment, the notion of a less predictable and more dynamic Liberal leadership seemed like more than just a figment of partisan imagination.

Of the 11 candidates, the two of them may be those who did themselves the most good in Winnipeg."

Alberta Wants Martha: Tour Recap

2006-06-11T23:37:00.000-06:00

Alberta Campaign Office Opening

Martha joins fellow Alberta Liberals in opening the Alberta Wants Martha Office!

As Martha's Coordinator in Alberta, I had the pleasure of welcoming Martha Hall Findlay to this wonderful province, and I organized a tour that gave her the opportunity to visit various areas - both urban and rural.

June 7, 2006

3:00 pm

I received a Blackberry PIN from Elliot Hughes, Martha's National Tour Director, that their campaign bus has arrived in Grande Prairie, Alberta. I won't be able to join them because of my classes and my teaching schedule (I run a music school). They have two events to attend to in the area.

5:00 pm

Martha's bus rolls into Sexsmith, a small town just north of Grande Prairie. She is scheduled to meet with the Peace Country Tender Beef Co-op, headed up by members such as Neil Peacock (a former provincial Liberal candidate) and Don Thompson (from Calgary). She is given a tour of Jason Anderson's farm (one of a few centurion farms remaining in the province), and her team is treated to a wonderful array of home-grown food. Later that evening, Neil sends me an e-mail - "She should be our next Prime Minister!" - he is clearly impressed and has decided to support Martha.

7:00 pm

Martha's team heads south to Grande Prairie, meeting with about a dozen local Liberals and talking with local media. From what I hear, Martha had a wonderful discussion, touching on a wide range of topics - including national childcare. They wrap up their meeting and head to a RV camp in Whitecourt to rest.

June 8, 2006

9:00 am

I quickly get ready to meet Martha. It is my big day! I haven't seen her in more than 2 months, so I have plenty of reasons to be excited. Because Elliot and Everett (Martha's son, who is part of the tour team) are new to the city, I agree to meet with them in front of the LPCA Office. From there, we will drive to the Chateau Lacombe, where Martha has an interview with Alan Kellogg.

As I drive up to the LPCA Office, I see the bus. It's an RV actually, but an impressive one, to say the least. I park out in front of the RV, and then I am invited it! Martha gives me a giant hug, and I finally get to meet with Elliot (with whom I have worked with for several weeks for the tour) and Everett. We discuss several things for only a few minutes, since Martha and her team begin to busily type away at responding to e-mails. We then drive off to the hotel.

10:00 am

Martha meets Alan Kellogg from the Edmonton Journal. He writes a great article on her that appears in A2 of June 9, 2006's Journal. He is clearly impressed! I am not surprised.

...to be continued...

Martha's Alberta Tour a Resounding Success!

2006-06-10T20:54:00.000-06:00

"Smart, accomplished, bilingual, Hall Findlay is a winner..."
-Alan Kellogg, Edmonton Journal (June 9, 2006), A2

Martha and her team toured various cities and towns across Alberta:
Sexsmith, Alberta
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Red Deer, Alberta
Lethbridge, Alberta
Calgary, Alberta

I am exhausted from the tour, so details will come up tomorrow.

An Interview with Martha: Courtesy of The Alberta Pundit

2006-06-04T23:03:00.000-06:00

Click here.

Liberal Leadership: Interview with Martha Hall Findlay
1. Where do you see the Liberal Party a year from now?

We will still be in Opposition, but we will be a dramatically different Liberal Party than now–one that will be very ready when the government falls. The leadership contest will, I hope, bring out the best in liberals across the country, and a year from now we will have re-affirmed what it means to be Liberal in Canada; we will have confirmed what our vision is for Canada; and most of all, we will have once again established ourselves as the party that Canadians WANT to vote FOR, not because we’re just not as bad or as “scary” as the alternatives, but because we have a vision for Canada that resonates most with Canadians, and we have the best policies and strategies to achieve that vision.

2. What are the most important aspects, in your view, when it comes to reforming and strengthening the Liberal Party after its electoral defeat?

First, we need to build some pretty strong bridges. There is great division in the party; there are many Liberals who have become disenchanted, for a number of reasons. Many, let’s be honest, who did not participate in the last couple of elections because of that disenchantment and frustration. I believe we need some new faces and new enthusiasm to accomplish this. But we as Liberals must also engage in the debate over what it really means to be Liberal in Canada now.

What do we really believe about the economy? About national programs vs. regional differences in delivery? About making sure that the less fortunate aren’t forgotten? About providing the best options and resources we can to our children? Universal, single tier, but efficiently delivered health care is not a vision in and of itself; it is, however, a critical manifestation of what we believe in. Good accessible education is key to Canada’s future—same comment. A clean environment—same thing. Influence and respect internationally (not because of might but because of respect for our successes at home and thoughtful diplomacy abroad)–these are all important to us as Canadians. We as a party will be stronger once we get back to why we’re Liberal in the first place, but policy isn’t enough on its own. We need strong leadership to take that message to the country as a whole.

3. Do you think that reforming the party is a matter of new leadership or new policy direction or both?
I believe it’s both. I would like to have seen, for example, more emphasis on the environment and foreign affairs (to mention only two big ones) in the last two elections, as well as in Liberal Party discussions in between. It would be great if we had the time and ability now to really focus on policy from a more grass roots level, but I’m not sure that will happen. In the absence of a separate avenue for policy debate and development, we will need to use the leadership race as the place for it. This may not be a bad thing—there’s nothing like a bit of healthy competition to bring out some vigorous discussion. So let’s do what we can to ensure that policy is a big part of this–that the leadership candidates engage in as much discussion and debate over key policy areas as possible. Once again, though, once we have some good debate and can come to some cohesive views on Liberal policies, we will need strong and enthusiastic leadership to get that message out to Canadians.

4. What advice would you give to Liberal supporters as well as candidates in a “Liberal wasteland” such as Alberta?
I lived in Alberta for 2 years recently (2001-2003), and I loved it. We were in Calgary, but I was able to get to know a few folks from Edmonton as well through being on the Board of CKUA (in my humble opinion, the best radio station there is, period.) Frankly, I don’t believe that it’s as much of a ‘wasteland’ as many assume. I’m convinced that if we, as Liberals, start engaging in more discussions with Albertans, about what you want, not only as Albertans but also as Canadians, we’ll find a lot more common ground than people think. As for advice right now: get involved in the leadership contest, and support candidates who actually care about Alberta and Albertans, not just for votes but because of a recognition of Alberta as a great part of Canada; someone who refuses to give up on Alberta but rather recognizes that there are many Albertans who would consider a Liberal alternative if we offered one to believe in, one to trust. The time is now for liberal-minded Albertans to make themselves heard.

Another Blogger Endorsement

2006-06-03T12:58:00.000-06:00

Friday, June 02, 2006

UNCLE J DECLARES LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
We need someone inspiring to take the helm of this great party. Someone from the rank and file will identify and empathize with average Canadians. Someone who can not only fluently communicate in both official languages, but can understand the people behind those languages. Someone who is young, and has refreshing ideas that we have not heard in the public forum for many years. A person that believes in the two most fundamental premises of liberalism: progress and individual liberty.I believe there is only one person, who can do the things listed above. One person who can unite our party, and bring it back to its former glory. One person who can make a case FOR the Liberal Party to the Canadian people, and can ultimately beat Stephen Harper.There is only one candidate that has given me that hope for the future; who has inspired me to hope for a strong, united Canada --- prosperous and just, generous and proud.

That candidate is none other than Martha Hall Findlay.

I wish her the best in this campaign.

Manitoba Responds to Martha!

2006-06-01T22:26:00.000-06:00

"I am glad that somebody in the Blogshpere has finally had the balls to endorse Martha Hall Findlay. I am really impressed with her campaign, she recently came through Manitoba (Brandon)where I live and I was really impressed. I will be voting for Ms. Hall Findlay and I think a large number of people from Manitoba will as well (based on the feedback from people I know who attended her reception in Winnipeg a few days ago) ."
-Posted by Anonymous...

Martha Hall Findlay Alberta Tour Itinerary

2006-06-01T22:15:00.000-06:00

Click on the picture to zoom in.

Parlez-vous francais?

2006-05-28T23:30:00.000-06:00

Click here for the report card on bilingualism.

Martha Hall-Findlay : B I spoke to her in French, she answered quickly even though she said that her French was "rusty". It's still very good.

A bilingual leader is a must!

A Blogger Endorses Martha Hall Findlay!

2006-05-28T22:29:00.000-06:00

See below...

From "A Younger Liberal"
http://rebuildingourparty.blogspot.com/

Saturday, May 27, 2006

It's Time

It's Time for this humble blogger to pick a candidate.

We are up to 7 fully registered candidates according to Elections Canada and I have heard alot from all sides.I recently had a chance to talk to Martha Hall Findlay and get some questions answered about why she is running and what her vision is for the country. I will be posting the results very shortly as I took notes very quickly and my writing is aweful. I have determined one thing though:

It's Time....

Martha has a lot of things going for her and a lot of things working against her. All these things though are what make her the perfect next leader. What impresses me the most is that she is just a rank and file member of the party. She was on the OWLC exec, a candidate, member of the party. That's it, she isn't part of the party elite, and she isn't backed by the party elite. Her national campaign director is Quito Maggi, a former staffer at LPC(O); her tour director a former staffer from LCSB at Queen's park.

She is from the general membership and so is her entire team. If you want to talk about rebuilding the party, or changing how we operate by listening to the 'grassroots' more, this is the team to be on. It doesn't get anymore grassroots then this.On the other hand there is something special to her. She has the qualities to lead, and the desire to do it. A lot of what I heard about her in the beginning was that she was just angling for a cabinet post. She isn't. She is in this for the right reason, she saw an opportunity to change something, to change our party and change this country for the better, and she's trying her best to take it.To me, the impression I have gotten so far is that we need someone to lead our army of Liberals in the next election. With harvard profs and former cabinet ministers, our only options are the party 'officer class', people so far removed from our experience that they simply can't relate to us anymore.

Martha Hall Findlay isn't part of that, she is us, so I say this again...It's Time

It's Time to stop complaing about leaders who don't listen, who are from a whole different class of party members;

It's Time to do something about about it;

It's Time for a leader who see's things our way;

It's Time for Martha Hall Findlay!

This is my big partisan rant. I'm going to try and keep my posts relatively neutral. It's important to keep the debate honest, and not just walk lock-step behind someone like we are seeing with other candidates.

posted by Younger Liberal

2006-05-23T23:24:00.000-06:00

The Martha Hall Findlay Tour Bus Heads West!

Let the countdown begin.

Martha Hall Findlay visits Alberta

June 7, 8, 9, 2006

We will be releasing the official itinerary for Martha soon!

Please e-mail jung-suk@marthahallfindlay.ca if you are interested in coming out!

AlbertaWantsMartha!

Blogger Makes a Profile on Martha...

2006-05-08T21:26:00.000-06:00

From Alberta's own CalgaryGrit
Text in red is our personal analysis of this...analysis.

Monday, May 08, 2006

The Race for Stornoway: Martha Who Who

That's Martha HALL FINDLAY.

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."
-Plato

Age: 46
Young and talented, read on.

Background: Martha won a silver medal at the 1976 Canadian Ski Championship. If she'd been an NHL goalie, we'd all know who she was but, unfortunately, skiing doesn't get a lot of media attention in Canada. Still, Martha worked her way through law school and if there's one thing the Liberal Party loves more than Toronto leadership candidates, it's former lawyer leadership candidates. Martha has run several businesses since graduation.
Her background extends far beyond her sports career. She has been a distinguished lawyer, working in several different fields, and has spent a lot of time in various parts of the world. For two years, Martha has also lived in Calgary, serving as a director of our very own CKUA Radio. Among a variety of other organizations, Martha is currently the Vice-President of Policy for the Ontario Liberal Womens' Commission.

Political Experience: While having never been elected would be considered a drawback in most races, Findlay isn't too far behind the rest of the field in terms of political experience. She came within a whisker of defeating Belinda Stronach in 2004 and one imagines that had she won, she'd be considered a very legitimate candidate. Of course, it would have also made Canadian politics a lot more boring over the past two years. Speaking of which, following Belinda's waltz across the isle, Findlay stepped down to allow Stronach to run in Newmarket Aurora.
It says a lot when a candidate steps aside for the well-being of the Party, period. Martha's commitment to the Party is strong and unwavering, and that is just what we need right now for the Party to get back on track.

Rejected Campaign Slogan: "Newmarket Aurora's finest"
Well, she is.

Rejected Campaign Theme: Anything by The Who.
Um...what?

Pros: Great bio, young, female.
Add...determined, committed, hard-working (in all aspects of her career and community involvement), well-knowledged on the issues, great leadership skills, well-spoken, good-looking!

Cons: Has never held elected office. No one knows who the hell she is.
Winning an election for her will not be a problem. And people are beginning to talk about her.

In Person: She's not as polished as some of the other politicians in the race but chatting with her at the LPCA convention last month, she certainly seemed like she had a good grip on the issues and the political process. I even know of one young Liberal, at his very first convention, who was so impressed he decided he'd support her in the leadership race.
Really? Not as polished? Certainly, many delegates at various conventions across the province are amazed with her speaking skills and her straight-shooting attitude. That one Liberal might be me. And that one Liberal might be a ton of other people.

My Take: Andrew Coyne says that Findlay has "possibly the single most impressive resume" he has ever seen in a political candidate. Admittedly, running for leader is a different ball game than running for MP and, while others obviously disagree, I do think political experience matters.
Not in Martha's case. She knows what she's talking about, and she has a solid vision for this country.

Martha is running to make a name for herself and to raise her profile. In that respect, she's probably already achieved her goal. Given that she declared so soon and was simply known as "the lady who ran against Belinda", Findlay faced the very real risk that she would become the punch line of this campaign. But that has certainly been far from the case and she has mounted a surprisingly credible campaign thus far. Given the lack of females in politics, I really hope Findlay finds her way into a Cabinet position sometime in the future.
No. Martha is running to win!

Chances: none < chances < slim
Well...you will know what I think about that.

And the bloggers just keep ravin'

2006-05-04T18:26:00.000-06:00

Bloggers are cool. Bloggers who rave about Martha are cooler.



Omar says...
My choice, of the three [female candidates] would be Martha Hall Findlay. She has impressed me every time I've heard her speak and think she has the potential to [be] an outstanding leader.

Uncle J says...
Look earnestly at this candidate, as she seems to have the whole package. Young, bilingual, female, experienced, fresh --- what more can one ask for? This is the type of person we need to inspire the generational change that will hopefully eradicate cynicism in Canadian politics for years to come.

Lois says...
Martha Hall Findlay looks marvellous so far, and I do look forward to hearing more from her.

Even, famed Liberal advisor and author Warren Kinsella says...
She is just the sort of person the Liberal Party of Canada needs: a smart, youngish woman, to lead a party that has become the preserve of older men who need retirement, not re-election.

Here's something that might interest you...

2006-05-03T17:55:00.000-06:00

Alberta Wants Martha logo.
Coming soon to a doorstep near you!

Day 2 of Blogging

2006-05-02T23:14:00.000-06:00

The campaign is picking up a lot of steam, and I can already feel the momentum! With a big campaign launch in the works in North York, Ontario, and an upcoming Western Canada tour, Albertans are getting excited - it really feels like a leadership race!

Alberta will soon be hosting Martha on her tour of Western Canada during the first week of June. Everything is tentatively scheduled, and of course, in politics, schedules tend to change over time. But, one way or another, Martha will be coming back. She will be visiting all areas of Alberta, both urban and rural, and speaking to as many Liberals and non-Liberals as she can! We will keep you posted!

From this website, here is a brief profile of Martha:

Martha Hall Findlay - This relatively unknown 46-year-old Toronto lawyer jokingly refers to herself as "Martha Who? Who?"

She is the first candidate to declare her intention to run for Liberal leader, but one of the few in the field who has never been elected at the provincial or federal level.

But Findlay has come close to being elected to Parliament.

Her name first received media attention during the 2004 election campaign when she squared off in Newmarket-Aurora against then Tory candidate Belinda Stronach.

Findlay came within 700 votes of upsetting Stronach on election night and had already been acclaimed in the riding for a rematch in the next election. Then in late May of last year, Findlay was informed that she would have to step aside to make way for Stronach who had crossed the floor to join the Liberals.

Entered Race: February 8
Based: Toronto
Age: 46
Languages: Fluently bilingual (English/French)
Political Experience: Liberal candidate 2004 federal election
Education: BA University of Toronto's International Relations Program; LLB Osgoode Hall Law School.
Quote: "My goal is to help build the Liberal Party back to one that Canadians want to vote for, in a positive way, not just because we’re less ‘bad’ than the alternatives."
Website: marthahallfindlay.ca
Fun Fact: Silver medalist 1976 national ski championship

People are Talking!

2006-05-01T14:21:00.000-06:00

Alberta is talking about Martha!

Here are what some bloggers had to say:

andrewridgeley said

"Martha has a great esprit. I've had two opportunities to meet and speak with her personally and I can attest that she's equally as formidable a candidate as all the big guys."

Cerberus said...
"As she herself said: it's actually "Martha who who". I like her spunk and audacity and her resume. I want to hear and find out more about her priorities and policies. She's going to go far and this is the first step. You heard it here first."

CuriosityKilledTheCat said...
"Why Martha Findlay would make a good leader of the Liberal Party, and Prime Minister of CanadaI believe she should be seriously considered by Liberals, because she brings several distinct plusses to the table..."

The Sorry Centrist said...

"If [the leadership] is based on the candidate who is smart, entrepreneurial, outgoing and qualified, my money is on Martha. Just me."

May 2006: The Official Opening of Our Blog!

2006-05-01T13:21:00.000-06:00

Thanks for dropping by our blog. We are Liberals in Alberta and believe that it's time to support Martha Hall Findlay for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Don't know who she is? "Martha Who Who"'s website is here.