Encyclopedia > Timeline of the 2004 Canadian federal election
The following is a timeline of the Canadian federal election, 2004. More on the election in general is available in the article Canadian federal election, 2004.
Conservatives: Harper is in Kelowna and is greeted by protesters. He generates laughs among his supporters by attacking all the other major parties at once: "A Liberal-NDP coalition backed by the Bloc: corruption, taxation, and separation - all in one administration!"
Bloc Quebecois: Duceppe, comfortable with his lead in Quebec visits traditionally Liberal ridings.
NDP: Ralph Nader announces his endorsement of Jack Layton.
In an open letter, Ralph Nader warns against voting for the Conservative Party. (CBC) (http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/06/25/canada/newnader_canada040625)
Conservative Randy White told filmmakers "To heck with the courts, eh" in protest to recent court decisions in Canada, angering many.
Liberals: Martin tells voters not to vote for the NDP, because a vote for the NDP is a vote for Harper.
Bloc Quebecois: Duceppe tells Canadians that they should not fear the Bloc, because separatism is not on their agenda.
NDP: Layton spends 18 hours in Ontario. Former supporters of Sheila Copps endorse the NDP.
Alberta Health Minister Gary Mar announced that his governments intentions will not violate the Canada Health Act, and will be anounced after the election. Pundits believe this is because they do not want to effect the Conservatives' chances in the election.
The NDP anounce that they no longer support their previous platform promise of having an inheritance tax, possibly to increase support in wealthy upper class neighbourhoods such as those in the Toronto riding of Beaches-East York.
The Conservatives release press statements stating that the Liberals (and later, the NDP) are in favour of child pornography. The Liberal statement is retracted, but neither is apologized for.
The leaders of the four major political parties in this election participate in the French-language broadcast debate held at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. General media consensus is that, while Martin and Harper were attacked on their records and platforms, no leader was able to provide a serious boost to their own position.
Canada's Chief Electoral Officer, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, announces that radio and television stations, as well as websites, will no longer be prohibited from transmitting election results in areas of the country where polls are still open on election night. [1] (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1086916599122_82325799/?hub=TopStories)
Liberals: The Liberals run French ads in Quebec atttacking the Conservatives.
Conservatives: Harper holds a rally in Quebec in an attempt to blunt the impact of the attack. For the first time polls show the Conservatives in first place across Canada.
NDP: The NDP switches strategy and begins to attack Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.
Sixtieth anniversary of D-Day. All major party heads suspend campaigning to mark the anniversary. Paul Martin attends D-Day ceremonies in France. Stephen Harper and Jack Layton attend a D-Day memorial service in Ottawa at the National War Memorial.
Conservatives: Harper introduces his platform, "Demand Better." It includes $58 billion in spending and tax cuts, and increasing funding for the military and health care.
Former U.S. presidentRonald Reagan dies. All major party heads suspend campaigning after hearing of his passing to offer their condolences to Nancy Reagan, her family, and the American people and pay tribute to the former president.
Liberals: Paul Martin unveils his election platform, entitled "Moving Canada Forward." The platform promises approximately $28 billion in spending. One of the new highlights is a national child-care program like the one currently used in Quebec. Both Layton and Harper say the Liberals proposed the same program in 1993, but failed to deliver.
Conservatives: Harper proposes a middle-class tax cut. A same-sex marriage activist grilling Stephen Harper on the issue at a campaign stop in Guelph, Ontario is beaten by Conservative supporters before being escorted out by security. [2] (http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040603.elabort0306/BNStory/specialDecision2004/)
Liberals: Paul Martin was in Winnipeg, Manitoba to tour a research facility.
Conservatives: Stephen Harper addresses the Toronto board of Trade. He also announces, if elected the Conservatives may use the notwithstanding clause in the Canadian Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. The Conservatives continue to be pestered on social issues such as abortion by the Liberals, and the media.
NDP: The NDP respond to the Liberal platform stating it is "An empty health package; a broken promise; a small but good start; and a misplaced priority."
Bloc Quebecois: The BQ makes a proposal on disciplining the petroleum industry.
Green: Jim Harris calls a press conference regarding his lawsuit against the broadcasters who plan on excluding him from the national televised debates. A survey by Oracle Research says that 76% of voters say they support his inclusion in the debates. Harris appears on CTV Newsnet program Countdown with Mike Duffy, live from the Carrot Common in Toronto-Danforth.
Communist: The Montreal Gazette reports "the Communist Party of Canada will legislate a 32-hour work week (with no loss in take-home pay) and a minimum wage of $12", if elected.
Conservatives: Health critic Rob Merrifield says women seeking abortions should get private third-party counselling. Harper says this does not mean the Conservative party will work to end abortions.
Marijuana Party: Launch of the national party headquarters, 2004 campaign platform and promotions.
Conservatives: Harper unveils his platform on defence, promising to increase spending on the military, buying several pieces of new equipment. John Crosbie announces he will not return to politics, ending speculation he would stand for the new Conservative party in Avalon, NL.
NDP: Layton attacks Harper's defence policy, saying it is an attempt to appease the United States. He also compares Harper's tax strategy to those of Gordon Campbell and Ralph Klein.
CHP: Gray is a guest on the Miracle Channel public affairs program hosted by Paul Arthus.
Liberals: In a CTV interview, former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Brian Tobin makes the first admission by a top Liberal that the party is expecting to win a minority government. Martin takes his first day off from the campaign. Toronto-Danforth MP Dennis Mills, running against NDP leader Jack Layton, engages in a shouting match with Layton's wife Olivia Chow, herself an NDP candidate.
Conservatives: Harper also takes the day off.
NDP: In a speech to his supporters in Winnipeg, NDP parliamentary leader Bill Blaikie speaks out in opposition to Jack Layton's proposal to repeal the Clarity Bill. He states in a later interview that "there continues to be differences of opinion, not just between me and [Mr. Layton] on this, but within the party itself."
Liberals: Martin campaigns in Harper's hometown of Calgary, visiting the dressing room of the Stanley Cup finalist Calgary Flames.
Conservatives: Harper says Martin cannot distance himself from Dalton McGuinty's unpopular provincial Liberal government in Ontario, which he says is closely tied to the federal party.
NDP: Layton abandons a long-standing NDP policy, saying that he would not pull Canada out of NATO if elected.
Liberals: Martin promises a new deal for Canadian cities. If elected, cities will receive $2 billion annually from the federal gas tax.
Conservatives: Harper says he would give the Auditor General further power to monitor government spending if elected.
NDP: Jack Layton announces that he would repeal the Clarity Act if elected. Most of the party's caucus had voted in favour of the legislation when it was enacted. Former Liberal Intergovernmental Affairs minister Stéphane Dion publicly blasts the NDP for the reversal and their nomination of separatist candidates, a noteworthy move as the Chretien loyalist had previously been widely considered frozen out of the Martin election strategy.
Liberals: Finance Minister Ralph Goodale indicates that the Liberals will soon announce plans to for "significant" increases in spending on both Defence and Foreign Aid.
Conservatives: Bilingualism critic Scott Reid resigns from his post after he made comments that his party would overhaul the nation's policy on bilingualism.
NDP: Jack Layton makes controversial comments on homelessness, blaming Paul Martin for the deaths of homeless people in Toronto.
Greens: Following an announcement from The Broadcaster's Consortium (composed of CBC, Radio-Canada, CTV, Global and TVA) that only the four major parties would participate in the national televised leader's debates, Green Party leader Jim Harris announces he is considering legal action against the consortium.
Conservatives: Former Mulroney cabinet minister John Crosbie announces he is "seriously considering" running in the Avalon riding in Newfoundland.
NDP: The NDP introduces its election platform, including $29 billion for health care, an inheritance tax, and a repeal of terrorism laws.
BQ: Gilles Duceppe angrily rejects allegations raised by Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew that the Bloc "likes to take pleasure in its homogeneity" and does not represent multicultural Quebec.
Liberals: Paul Martin, speaking in Cobourg, Ontario, announces a $9-billion initiative to improve health care which would include money for home care, increased funding for health care, the reduction of hospital waiting lists and the introduction of a pharmicare plan for seniors.
Conservatives: Harper speaks in Fredericton where he gets the endorsement of New Brunswick premier Bernard Lord.
NDP: Layton, in Saskatoon, also denounces Martin's health care plan, pointing to his cutting of health care funding while finance minister.
BQ: Duceppe, in Drummondville, complains that Martin's plan does not involve enough money for the provinces.
Marxist-Leninist: Party announces it has 76 registered candidates.
May 10 - Arrests made in connection with the sponsorship scandal: Jean Brault, president of Groupaction, and Charles Guité arrested by the RCMP for fraud. This may affect the widely anticipated June 28 date for the election.
May 7 - Former Saskatchewan premier Grant Devine announces he will run as an independent in the riding of Souris—Moose Mountain.
May 6 - Press reports indicate that Winnipeg MayorGlen Murray will run for the Liberals in the riding of Charleswood—St. James, ending months of speculation. Incumbent Liberal MP John Harvard will reportedly be named Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. Olivia Chow announced she will run in Trinity—Spadina. If she and her husband Jack Layton are elected they will be the first husband and wife team in the Canadian Parliament.
May 5 - The contents of the Conservative Party of Canada's policy booklet are revealed. More right wing Alliance policies have been abandoned. Also, Canadian Press reports that Liberal insiders say the election will be held on June 28.
April 27 - Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew holds a press conference to announce that he's in favour of public delivery of health care claiming that he misspoke the day before when he implied in an interview that private health care delivery was an option. This recantation is seen as a move by Pettigrew to prevent his earlier statement from being used by the opposition in the election campaign.
April 26 - Paul Martin and his cabinet discuss whether or not to call a June election at a dinner meeting at 24 Sussex Drive. CTV News reports that Martin will make a decision on a spring election in one week's time but that if an election is to go ahead the writ will be dropped on May 9th with a vote on June 14, 2004.
March 10 - Sheila Copps accuses the PMO and Tony Valeri's campaign team of using fraudulent tactics to prevent her supporters from voting and to cause their ballots to be ignored. Monia Mazigh announces her intention to seek the NDP nomination in Ottawa South; the NDP had championed the cause of her husband Maher Arar after the US deported him to Syria despite his Canadian citizenship.
March 9 - Tory leadership hopeful Belinda Stronach wins her party's nomination in Newmarket-Aurora, Ontario.
March 6 - Tony Valeri defeats Sheila Copps in a battle for the Liberal Party of Canada nomination in Hamilton East--Stoney Creek. This battle, brought on by the 2004 redistribution of Canadian ridings, had been seen as an attempt by forces loyal to Prime MinisterPaul Martin to push Copps out of politics. Copps is now considering running as an independent; Brother of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, David McGuinty is chosen over Ottawa city councillor Diane Deans to become the Liberal candidate in the riding of Ottawa South.
February 6 - New Brunswick MP John Herron, currently sitting as an Independent Progressive Conservative, announces he will seek the Liberal nomination for his riding of Fundy in the 2004 election; Bloc co-founder Jean Lapierre announces he will seek the Liberal nomination in Cauchon's former riding of Outremont.
January 14 - Vancouver Island MP Dr. Keith Martin resigns from the Conservative Party to sit as an Independent and announces he will seek the Liberal nomination for his riding of Equimalt--Juan de Fuca. Former Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps indicates that she may consider running for the NDP if she does not win the Liberal nomination battle in her riding.
Québec MP André Bachand, elected as a Progressive Conservative, confirms he will sit as an Independent and not run again.
December 9 - Canadian SenatorsLowell Murray, Norman Atkins and William Doody are the first senators to decide not join the new Conservative Party of Canada, choosing to remain in the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada if the Speaker will let them. Also on December 9, Liberal leadership runner-up Sheila Copps refuses Prime Minister-designate Paul Martin's patronage appointment proposal for Copps. She will have to fight to retain her riding, as Canada's ridings have been redrawn, and she now shares it with MP Tony Valeri.
December 8 - The Conservative Party of Canada is officially registered with Elections Canada. The party's first interim leader is Senator John Lynch-Staunton, with a formal leadership race scheduled for March 2004. Three Progressive Conservative MPs (Joe Clark, John Herron and André Bachand) announce that they will not sit as members of the new party, but will serve out their terms as Independent Progressive Conservatives.
December 5 - The Canadian Alliance votes with a 96% majority in favour of merging with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.
December 3 - Member of Parliament Robert Lanctôt announced he was quitting the Bloc Québécois and joining the Liberal Party of Canada saying to the press: "After dreaming about sovereignty for 40 years, I said to myself that dreaming is fine, but at a certain point you have to wake up." Also on December 3, Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal stated that he was not going to seek re-election.
November 28 - Liberal Party of Canada member John Manley announces his retirement from politics.
November 27 - Canadian Alliance Party leader Stephen Harper fires Alliance Member of Parliament Larry Spencer as Family Values Critic after his anti-gay remarks.
September 9 - Ottawa Centre MP Mac Harb was called to the Senate of Canada leaving the seat vacant until the 2004 election. Ottawa lawyer Richard Mahoney will be the Liberals' representative for the riding in the up coming election.
June 16 - The Bloc Québécois lose two more seats, this time in by-elections as the Liberal Party of Canada's Christian Jobin replaces the out-going BQ Antoine Dubé in Lévis–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, and the Liberals' Gilbert Barrette replaces the out-going BQ Pierre Brien in Témiscamingue.
May 31 - Peter MacKay wins the Progressive Conservative leadership after forming a deal with leadership candidate David Orchard. MacKay promised a review of the NAFTA free trade agreement, and also promised that no deal on electoral cooperation would be made with the Canadian Alliance, a promise he would later break.
May 12 - The Liberal Party of Canada loses another seat through by-elections, this time to the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada as Gary Schellenberger replaces John Alexander Richardson in the riding of Perth--Middlesex.
February 5 - Pierrette Venne was suspended from the caucus of the Bloc Québécois, and on February 6 she would sit as an Independent member of the Bloc.
January 25 - Jack Layton is elected leader of the NDP at the party's convention in Toronto. Layton won on the first ballot, with 53.5% of the vote.
December 9 - The Bloc Québécois is able to hold on to two seats in by-elections electing Roger Gaudet in Berthier--Montcalm, replacing Michel Bellehumeur, and electing Sébastien Gagnon in Lac-Saint-Jean--Saguenay, replacing Stéphane Tremblay. Despite winning both elections, these elections were very close, especially since in the 2000 election these seats were won by 15 000 and 14 000 votes respectively.
August 21 - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien tells Canadians he will step down in February, 2004.
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