Liberals lining up for race to succeed Chretien

The date and place for a leadership convention to choose the successor to Prime Minister Jean Chretien is being decided as the race heats up for his job.

The Liberal Party executive committee is meeting this weekend in Montreal to confirm details for the convention expected late next year. Chretien, 68, plans to retire in February 2004 after three terms as prime minister.

Chretien is also expected to lift a ban on campaigning by Cabinet ministers -- an issue that cost former Finance Minister Paul Martin his job in a rift with the prime minister earlier this year.

Martin, who remains in government as a member of Parliament, has been openly campaigning and is the front-runner to succeed Chretien.

Others expected to run against Martin are Industry Minister Allan Rock, Deputy Prime Minister John Manley and Heritage Minister Sheila Copps. They have been unable to organize and raise money since Chretien imposed the ban in June to keep them focused on their duties.

Party president Stephen LeDrew said the drafting of rules for delegate selection, fundraising, campaign spending limits and disclosure of campaign donations will be referred to a special committee of the executive for discussion.

Taxes not going up

Taxes won't be raised nor will there be any new ones to help pay for the renewal of Canada's health care system, Finance Minister John Manley said.

"We are on a program that we announced before the election in 2000 that we have legislated to reduce taxes," he said.

A Senate committee report on health care is expected Friday, and a major report on health care from former Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow will be released next month.

Romanow said there has to be more money directed to health, and there had been reportes the government might raise the 7 percent goods and services tax.

Names in the news

-- Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay's fate in the Cabinet will be decided by Prime Minister Chretien after federal ethics counselor Howard Wilson wrapped up a conflict of interest investigation Friday. There are reports MacAulay ensured that federal money and loans were given for several projects and enterprises run by friends.

-- John Snobelen admits he spends much time as a cowboy at his Oklahoma ranch while still a member of the Ontario Legislature. The Toronto Star published a photo of him riding a horse at his rural spread near the Texas border, causing critics to say he should be at home in Toronto working for the taxpayers who elected him.

-- Dimitrios Pilarinos was sentenced to two years of house arrest for trying to bribe former British Columbia Premier Glen Clark with free home renovations. In his unsuccessful bid to get a casino license, Pilarinos has suffered enough and lost his job, home and family, Judge Elizabeth Bennett said, rejecting a jail term. Clark resigned over the issue and was acquitted of breach of trust and accepting a benefit in August.

Regional briefs

-- A U.S. law firm has been hired by the government of Newfoundland and Labrador for a court battle with the tobacco industry over paying for health costs related to smoking. "This lawsuit is not just about recouping the province's costs," Premier Roger Grimes said. "It is about making tobacco companies accountable." The firm Humphrey, Farrington, McClain and Edgar of Independence, Mo., has taken the case. Also in the province, a 17-day strike by doctors ended Friday.

-- Snow is returning to parts of Canada. Calgary had a white Thanksgiving weekend last week with several inches of unexpected snow. Winnipeg and northern Ontario also had some snow.

-- A streaker fell flat on the ice at a Calgary Flames NHL game Thursday and had to be carried off on a stretcher. The unidentified man, wearing only a pair of red socks, climbed over the glass, slipped and hit his head on the ice. Charges are pending.

Facts and figures

Canada's dollar has advanced to 63.56 U.S. cents while a U.S. dollar returns $1.5733 Canadian before bank fees.

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

The Toronto exchange index was higher Friday at 6,326 points while the Canadian Venture Exchange was lower at 902 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 2, 14, 23, 36, 46 and 47; bonus 25. (Oct. 12) 6, 18, 23, 24, 28 and 46; bonus 38.

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