Posted by Barrie Examiner on 6/29/2004, 12:45 pm, in reply to "Voters call for Miller time" BY MARGARET BRUINEMAN Aileen Carroll attacked and won. Dodging the Conservative bullet the junior cabinet minister returns to Parliament Hill representing Barrie for her third consecutive term. We are the team more than anywhere else in Canada, Carroll announced to her supporters. The people of Barrie shared a lot with us. There was a reason for anger and we listened. Liberals crammed into the south-end Boston Pizza restaurant Monday night as election results streamed in on large-screen television sets. Local results were updated on an easel in the corner of the room. The race appeared neck-in-neck with local Conservative Patrick Brown at first, but the margin widened. I didnt think she was not going to win, said her husband, Kevin Carroll, entering the restaurant after the Liberal win in Barrie was declared. There was a whole different atmosphere in this election. Carroll, herself, said it was indeed hard fought. But, she added, it was a difference in philosophies that she was battling, not individual personalities. I felt this election... was the defining one. This election really has a lot to say about the Canada we want. It was more Stephen Harper and his philosophy of government and Paul Martin and his philosophy of government. Carroll, 60, has never taken an election race for granted. But this one will probably be known as her toughest fight. In fact, the election of 2004 could well be considered as among the countrys most hotly contested, resulting in a rare minority government. For Carroll it meant jumping out of the starting gate running. Carroll said a Conservative government would cut funding to Barrie businesses and volunteer organizations and derail plans to bring the GO train to Barrie. She challenged Brown about his partys position on the war in Iraq. And her website questions Browns own professional qualifications. In all-candidates appearances, Carroll has suggested Browns answers lacked depth and his knowledge of Parliament was lacking. Frequently Carroll shook her head in disapproval while Brown spoke. The plan was, of course, to win the election. But Carrolls approach clearly indicated that it wasnt going to come on a silver platter. Its a closer race this time, at the same time we have a whole lot more experience, said Lynda Murtha, Carrolls communications manager. We were incredibly organized and we had hundreds of volunteers. As the campaign went on... the all-candidates meetings were very intense. Carroll began her political career on city council like many before and since. Her first campaign in 1994 was her last unsuccessful one, losing narrowly to incumbent Mike Ramsay. She ran during a by election and won, but soon filled the post as the local Liberal candidate. It wasnt long before Carroll left her seat at Barrie council for a larger one on Parliament Hill. She was re-elected as the Barrie MP in 2000. And when Jean Chretien finally stepped down as Liberal leader, Carrolls pick as heir apparent Paul Martin got the job. Martin then gave Carroll her first cabinet post and named her the minister of international co-operation. Along with a government, however, Martin struggled with one of the biggest scandals ever to befall a federal Canadian government. Carroll maintains she knew absolutely nothing until the auditor general popped the lid off the mess. And Carroll steadfastly stood by Martin, who declared he knew nothing of the sponsorship scandal. Carroll has, all along, held herself up as a politician with high ethical and moral standards. The Platts supported Carroll as a family. Weve been supporting Aileen since she was first elected, said Julie Platt. Colin, 14, and Dylan, 12, watched the results at Boston Pizza, while their dad, Ian, worked as a Liberal scrutineer. It was what appeared on the landscape that captured Colins attention. It was the thousands of signs everywhere, he said. It looks like its pretty fair. For Dylan it was democracy in action: If we didnt have elections, it could change our lives and the way we live. The room was also filled with several who have long been active in Barrie. Former Barrie council member, Patricia Copeland, worked as a strategist on Carrolls campaign. Im a strong supporter of a local candidate who supports our area with dignity, grace and intelligence, said Copeland. This campaign was definitely a horse race, we knew it going in. William Moore, the former director of the MacLaren Art Centre, has also been a Carroll supporter. She supported the organization (the MacLaren Art Centre) and brought the message of the art centre to Ottawa. when we were much smaller, to get a sense of a national voice, politically. ID- 71736 http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=71736&catname=Local+News
CARROLL WINS BARRIE
Local News - Tuesday, June 29, 2004 @ 07:00
