Liberals line up to succeed Chretien

Prime Minister Jean Chretien's decision to retire is being called the "long goodbye" as the battle intensifies over who will succeed him. Chretien said he will leave in February 2004 at age 70 in a bid to return unity to the Liberals.

The timing is seen as a blow to leadership dreams of Paul Martin, 63, whose departure as finance minister led to a rift in the governing Liberals.

Chretien is keeping a tight rein on the party, telling Cabinet ministers they must resign if they want to campaign for his job. It was this concern that led to Martin's dismissal from the Cabinet, although Chretien said he quit.

Martin was among those who praised Chretien for dedicating his entire career to politics and his country.

Now that he is no longer in the Cabinet, Martin said: "I've been preparing for this leadership for a long time, quite clearly. I'll be campaigning."

Chretien also insists he won't be a lame duck leader during the 18 months until the Liberals vote on his successor.

Under Canada's parliamentary system, the leader of the party electing the most members becomes the prime minister.

Others expected to be in the race to succeed Chretien, in his third term, are Industry Minister Allan Rock and Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, who is also the finance minister.

Conservatives on alert

There is new urgency to decide the leadership of the Conservative party, with Prime Minister Chretien's unexpected retirement announcement.

Conservative leader Joe Clark, a former short-term prime minister, said recently he will retire once the party selects his successor next year. Should Chretien call a "snap election" in the winter, Clark said he would remain to lead the Conservatives.

Among the potential Clark successors are former Ontario Premier Mike Harris, New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord, and Members of Parliament Peter MacKay, John Herron, Scott Brison and Andre Bachand. Former Clark Cabinet minister Heward Grafftey is the only declared candidate.

In brief

-- The Ontario government is considering replacing school boards in Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton-Wentworth for passing budgets with deficits. Ontario Premier Ernie Eves ordered a review after board officials said they can't pay salaries and keep schools operating properly because of a lack of money. There are 69 other boards in Ontario that "managed to balance their budgets," Eves said. A law bars boards from going into debt.

-- Canadian zookeepers are preparing to vaccinate animals against the West Nile virus. Spread by mosquitoes, the virus showed up in the United States in 1999 and has now covered half the continent. Infected birds have been found as far west as Saskatchewan.

Facts and figures

Profit taking after a week of gains sent stock markets into retreat Friday. Toronto's exchange index fell to 6,666 points while the Canadian Venture Exchange was 1,000 points.

The Canadian dollar was higher at 64.26 U.S. cents Friday, while a U.S. dollar returned $1.5561 Canadian, before bank exchange fees.

There's no change in the key Bank of Canada interest rate of 2.75 percent or the prime lending rate at 4.5 percent.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 4, 7, 13, 25, 37, 45; bonus 33. (Aug. 17) 14, 20, 22, 41, 43, 49; bonus 16.

Regional briefs:

-- Increased offshore oil production will give the province of Newfoundland and Labrador the fastest-growing economy in Canada this year, the Bank of Montreal said. The forecast also predicts resource-rich Alberta will take the lead over other provinces next year.

-- Gail Shea has been appointed to the key post of minister of transportation for Prince Edward Island. She succeeds Don McKinnon who resigned from the Cabinet.

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