The period between Paul Martin's assumption of control over the Liberal Party of Canada on December 11, 2003 and the 2004 Canadian election being called on May 23, 2004 saw an unprecedented period of infighting within the party.
Traditionally the Liberals have been the most unified of Canada's major parties. The Progressive Conservatives would implode regularly, having done so under Diefenbaker, Joe Clark, and Brian Mulroney, and the Canadian Alliance did so under Stockwell Day, but the Liberals had traditionally seen heated but soon forgotten leadership contests that did not harm party unity.
Many pundits have dated the split to an earlier era however, arguing that there is a clear division between the socially progressive, strongly nationalist, and stridently federalist wing of the party represented by Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chrétien and the fiscally conservative, pro-business wing of John Napier Turner and Paul Martin.
When the Liberals formed a majority government after the 1993 election with Chrétien at the helm party unity was assured by placing Martin, who Chrétien had defeated for the party leadership in 1990, in the crucial Minister of Finance role.
Martin worked hard to become the clear successor to Chrétien ensuring that most of the governing institutions of the Liberal Party were controlled by his allies. The split opened wider, however, in the summer of 2003 when Chrétien tried to curtail Martin's open campaigning for the leadership. Martin objected and quit cabinet, his influence in the party forced Chrétien to announce his retirement, however and in December Martin took over.
While the issue of the party leadership was settled at the lower levels unprecedented intraparty warfare began. Most of Chrétien loyal cabinet ministers were confined to the backbenches. Ministers such as John Manley, Allan Rock, Don Boudria, Sheila Copps, and Stephane Dion who had spent a decade running one of the most popular and successful administrations in Canadian history were reduced to minor roles, and many of them decided to leave politics for the private sector.
Some Chrétien loyalists refused to retire, hoping to remain as backbenchers. To expunge these remaining Chrétien loyalists from the party the Martin Liberals arranged to defeat them in nomination ridings. Unlike in previous elections incumbent Liberals were not backed by the party, rather in many cases challengers received unofficial support from the Martinites.
Nomination battles
The highest profile battle was in the riding of Hamilton Centre between former Deputy Prime Minister and leadership candidate Sheila Copps and Martin loyalist and newly minted cabinet minister Tony Valeri. Copps was one of the most noted representatives of the party's left wing and had been a leading Liberal for decades but lost the nomination battle, which she blamed on dirty tricks.
Other battles happened across the country as well:
- Charles Caccia the longest serving MP in parliament is forced out by Martin loyalist Mario Silva, Caccia decides to run as an independent.
- In the merged riding of Mississauga—Erindale Chrétien loyalist Steve Mahoney loses to Martinite Carolyn Parrish
- In Ottawa Centre heir apparent Penny Collenette is beaten by Martin advisor Richard Mahoney
- Ottawa South opponents of David McGuinty, brother of Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty, are given only three days to recruit voters.
- Incumbent Eugène Bellemare lost the Ottawa—Orléans nomination to Marc Godbout
- Incumbent Ivan Grose lost the Oshawa to Louise Parkes
- The merged riding of Welland Tony Tirabassi was defeated by John Maloney
- Incumbent Joe Peschisolido lost the Richmond nomination to Raymond Chan
- In Burnaby-Douglas, Martin supporter Bill Cunningham was directly appointed by the party leader without allowing a vote; the entire riding association resigned in protest
- Steven Hogue, a Chétien supporter, was disallowed running in Chrétien's former riding of Saint-Maurice—Champlain because Martin wanted women to be nominated in "winnable ridings" in Quebec;
- Lisette Lepage is forced to run in Bloc stronhold Charlevoix—Montmorency because she (as well as two other women) were denied the chance to run in the Liberal-safe riding of Beauport as it was reserved for Martin loyalist Dennis Dawson
Effects
The expulsion of the most of the members of the left flank of the Liberals have meant that the party has moved much further to the right. On close issues like last years same-sex marriage vote the outcome would have been different with the new group of Liberals.
The infighting has also embarrassed the party and hurt it in the polls combined with the sponsorship scandal the party has fallen markedly in the polls and now looks unlikely to form a majority government.
The fighting has also exacerbated internal party differences and if the party falls in the next election and Martin is seen as a failure another round of bloodletting could insure as the Chrétien wing tries to retake control of the party.