Canadian prime minister calls for national elections June 28

Published: 2004-05-24

OTTAWA (CNS) -- Prime Minister Paul Martin looked relaxed and cheerful May 23 as he and his wife, Sheila, walked across the street from the prime minister's residence at 24 Sussex Drive to Rideau Hall, home of Canada's governor general. There, in a private meeting lasting only a few minutes, Martin asked Governor General Adrienne Clarkson to dissolve Parliament for a vote to be held June 28. The request, considered only a formality, was granted and the official five-week election campaign was under way. Martin, who succeeded Jean Chretien as prime minister in December, told reporters that an election is necessary because he needs a mandate from the public to act on the Liberal government's plan for the next few years. "I am proud of our record," said Martin, the former finance minister, "but I want to do much more, so I will be setting out a plan to do just that."

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