“If you have 40 priorities, you don't have any.”

- Prime Minister Paul Martin, CTV Question Period, January 4, 2004

56 PRIORITIES

1. New Deal for Municipalities and Cities (Toronto Star, May 24, 2004)
   "Our new government made it clear that addressing the needs of cities and communities was a very important priority for us."
2. Healthcare in General (Address to the Empire Club, April 16, 2004)
   “Health care is this government's number one priority.”
3. Healthcare Wait Lists (Leader’s Debate, Ottawa, June 14, 2004)
   “My vision of Canada is one of a country where health and the reduction of waiting times are our number one priority.”
4. Home-care Program (Toronto Star, May 27, 2004)
   “‘You have your priorities, and they are our priorities, and how can we work together,’ he said, listing off common priorities like reducing waiting lists and establishing a home-care program.”
5. Education (New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, January 21, 2004)
   "We have two major national priorities in this country, health care and education."
6. Healthcare and Education in Africa (Toronto Star, November 25, 2004)
   "’Canada has a role to play in Africa, and we certainly have a role to play in French-speaking Africa,’ he said. ‘And we want to do it with governments that really want to succeed, like Burkina Faso. Because their priorities, health and education, are our priorities.’"
7. Stronger Economy (Toronto Star, September 24, 2003)
   “The priorities, I think, are pretty clear: They are health care and education and how do you build a stronger economy.”
8. Canada’s Role in the World (Globe and Mail, March 5, 2004)
   “Health care, education, Canada's role in the world. Those are the priorities of Canadians and they want to see that their government is effectively taking charge and that's what we're doing.”
9. Environment (Ottawa Citizen, April 7, 2004)
   "I also think Canadians share our priorities. I think Canadians feel that health care and education and the environment are the priorities and I will have no difficulty debating any other party leader on those issues."
10. Western Alienation (National Post, May 8, 2004)
    "If Western alienation is as bad then as it is now, I will regard myself as not having succeeded.”
11. Aboriginal People (Address to the Empire Club, April 16. 2004)
    “Five areas we will pursue as overriding priorities. These – health care, learning, Canada’s aboriginal peoples, our communities large and small, and our role in the world – are areas in which quite simply we must break new ground.”
12. Childcare (Toronto Star, July 21, 2004)
    “Coming out of Rideau Hall yesterday, the Prime Minister listed five immediate priorities for his new cabinet ranging from health care, child care and a new deal for cities to the environment and native issues.”
13. Foreign Policy in General (Ottawa Citizen, April 2, 2005)
    "I'm just very focused on the issues that concern me, and that's where the concentration comes: health care -- which I've done, the files on child care, cities, aboriginals, foreign policy and the environment. I campaigned on those because I feel very strongly about them. They drive me and I totally drive them."
14. Protecting the Arctic (CTV News W-Five, December 27, 2004)
    “Our foreign policy, making a fundamental difference in terms of manifestation of our sovereignty. Protecting the Arctic. Those are the agenda items that Canadians want to see us deal with. And that's what we're dealing with….”
15. Making Parliament Work (Montreal Gazette, August 25, 2005)
    "Our priority will be to govern, a Parliament that will work," said Martin, rattling off a list of priorities ranging from cities and the environment to daycare, health and education.”
16. Equalization (Globe and Mail, November 17, 2004)
    “He said the Liberals ran their 2004 election campaign on more resources for health care, equalization, child care, cities and aboriginal people. All of these are the issues that we campaigned on.”
17. Tax Cuts (Globe and Mail, November 17, 2004)
    “And to the extent that tax cuts can be brought within that after those priorities have been met, clearly we will do so.''
18. Agriculture (Winnipeg Sun, February 9. 2004)
    “Martin said health care and agriculture are the top priorities of his government.”
19. BSE (Windsor Star, January 12, 2004)
    "Our priorities are well set out. Certainly beginning with BSE and the whole question about the respect of the Canadian passport, the question of contracts in Iraq and softwood lumber."
20. Canadian Passports (Windsor Star, January 12, 2004)
    "Our priorities are well set out. Certainly beginning with BSE and the whole question about the respect of the Canadian passport, the question of contracts in Iraq and softwood lumber."
21. Canadian Contracts in Iraq (Windsor Star, January 12, 2004)
    "Our priorities are well set out. Certainly beginning with BSE and the whole question about the respect of the Canadian passport, the question of contracts in Iraq and softwood lumber."
22. Softwood Lumber (Windsor Star, January 12, 2004)
    "Our priorities are well set out. Certainly beginning with BSE and the whole question about the respect of the Canadian passport, the question of contracts in Iraq and softwood lumber."
23. Federal-Provincial Relations (Edmonton Journal, November 16, 2003)
    “Martin has promised to make relations with the provinces a ‘top priority’ of his government.”
24. Governing (Globe and Mail, April 6, 2004)
    "Our priority is to govern."
25. Clean Water (Toronto Star, January 7, 2004)
    “Clean water is a national priority.”
26. Replacing the Sea Kings (National Post, April 29, 2003)
    “I’m saying it’s going to be a priority. I would move on it as quickly as possible.”
27. Equipment for Canadian Forces in General (Paul Martin Gagetown Speech, April 14, 2004)
    “Properly equipping the Forces has been very much the focus of our government.”
28. AIDS funding (CP Wire, May 14, 2004)
    "Martin defended the recent spending spree in Canada and overseas. He said $170 million in funding for AIDS projects in Africa is a priority for all Canadians.”
29. Affordable Housing (Toronto Star, May 17, 2004)
    "It has always been one of my priorities"
30. Debt Servicing (Speech to the Laval Chamber of Commerce, May 17, 2004)
    “Servicing the debt remains a priority.”
31. Fisheries (Paul Martin Press Release, August 13, 2003)
    “Paul Martin says rebuilding fish stocks must be a top priority.”
32. Third World Poverty and Pandemics (Paul Martin Press Release, June 4, 2004)
    “I am confident that we will further mobilize efforts to address poverty and health pandemics in developing countries. These are key priorities for Canada.”
33. Research and Development (Kitchener-Waterloo Record, October 2, 2004)
    “Research is a ‘very, very high’ priority for his government, the prime minister said, one of its top five priorities.”
34. Global Terrorism (Ottawa Citizen, November 9, 2004)
    “Martin said Canada must fight global terrorism, ‘the No. 1 plague,’ and must ensure the security of Canadian citizens.”
35. National Sovereignty (Global National, December 25, 2004)
    “Our priorities, our defence priorities are in our country, which is why we've brought in the first national security policy of the country are, in fact, the protection of our coasts, the assurance that our border with the United States is going to be secure so it can be open for trade, and protection of our sovereignty in the Arctic.”
36. Canada-US Border (CTV News W-Five, December 27, 2004)
    “Our priority is the defence of the Arctic. Our Arctic sovereignty. It's the defence of our coast. It's the protection of our open frontier, the border with the United States. That's where I'm going to put our money.”
37. Intelligence (CSIS) (PMO Release of Martin Statement, February 24, 2005)
    “On defence priorities such as those outlined in yesterday’s budget. These include: strengthening the security of our common border, bolstering security at points of entry, reinforcing our coastal and arctic sovereignty, increasing support for intelligence, expanding our armed forces and increasing our capital investment in helicopters, trucks, aircrafts and ships.”
38. Expanding the Armed Forces (PMO Release of Martin Statement, February 24, 2005)
    “On defence priorities such as those outlined in yesterday’s budget. These include: strengthening the security of our common border, bolstering security at points of entry, reinforcing our coastal and arctic sovereignty, increasing support for intelligence, expanding our armed forces and increasing our capital investment in helicopters, trucks, aircrafts and ships.”
39. Prosperity (Speech to Canadian-China Business Council 2004 Gala Dinner, Toronto, December 6, 2004)
    “Our agenda as a government is broad, we are active in many areas, but in everything we do we are guided by one imperative: ensuring that Canadians and their values prosper now and in the future. That is what connects our actions, our priorities, our pursuits: Building prosperity today, enhancing it for tomorrow.”
40. Improving Jobs (CBC, The National, December 14, 2004)
    “What my priorities are, this country has a phenomenal opportunity ahead of it. I am so enthusiastic, so optimistic about what we can do and I want to focus on those priorities. That's why I want to make sure we stay out of deficit. That's why I want to make sure we improve jobs and improve the quality of life in our cities. If you see the difference Canada can make, we've only scratched the surface of what we can do going ahead. It's just that's what we've got to focus on.”
41. Peace in Sri Lanka (Ottawa Citizen, January 18, 2005)
    "Canada's No.1 priority is to see the peace process works and our No. 1 focus here is to see humanitarian aid gets through."
42. China and India (Toronto Star, January 24, 2005)
    “Martin explained the breakneck pace of his journey to meet leaders in this region is a function of the need for Canada to catch up. ‘The time to do it is now, not to do it in 10 years from now,’ Martin said. ‘So if you're asking me is it urgent? Yes, it is urgent. Absolutely, because I don't want to do it when they will have become great powers; I want to do it now.’”
43. Windsor-Detroit Border Crossing (Windsor Star, January 28, 2005)
    “Martin stressed the Windsor-Detroit crossing was ‘the single most important crossing in Canada’ and called it ‘the priority.’”
44. Money for Newfoundland (Globe and Mail, February 4, 2005)
    "We've established priorities here this morning," he said. "Those are . . . that money has got to get in the hands of Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans.”
45. Same-sex Marriage (CBC Newsworld, June 16, 2005)
    “It’s a priority. We want to get it through.”
46. Immigration (Montreal Gazette, September 26, 2005)
    “Martin told the business audience yesterday that reducing taxes is still high on his list of priorities – along with a host of other proposals, including a new immigration plan.”
47. Urban Transit (Kitchener-Waterloo Record, October 13, 2005)
    “Martin said his Liberal government considers urban transit ‘an absolute priority.’"
48. Human Rights Concerns with China (CP, September 8, 2005)
    “Paul Martin says human rights will be the top priority when he meets with the Chinese president.”
49. Opportunity to succeed (Kitchener-Waterloo Record, October 29, 2005)
    “The No. 1 job for this country's leaders is ‘to make sure every single Canadian has an opportunity to succeed,’ he said. ‘The ability to get a good education, decent health and a chance to fulfil their dreams. Then, if we can say it for Canadians, we can say it for the rest of the world,’ he said.”
50. Peace in Sudan (PMO Press Release, November 9, 2005)
    "’Promoting long-term peace throughout Sudan remains a key priority for Canada,’ said Prime Minister Martin.”
51. Prosperity in New Brunswick (New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal, December 7, 2005)
    “My only goal as the prime minister is to make sure that, in fact, we do everything we possibly can to make sure New Brunswick does well.”
52. British Columbia (Vancouver Sun, December 10, 2005)
    "The truth of the matter is that British Columbia has been tremendously important to me since I became prime minister."
53. Banning Handguns (Liberal News Release, http://www.liberal.ca/news_e.aspx?id=1142, December 8, 2005)
    “By banning handguns and enforcing a comprehensive policing effort – driven by the priorities of the provinces and municipalities – we can get these weapons off our streets and help to stop gun crime.”
54. Democratic Deficit/House of Commons Reform (Calgary Herald, October 19, 2003)
    “We are going to proceed with House of Commons reform as quickly as we can.”
55. Pacific Gateway (Vancouver Sun, December 10, 2005)
    “These are British Columbia issues and I'm making them a priority.”
56. Transportation Infrastructure (Letter to the Council of the Federation, December 23, 2005)
    “I agree with you that transportation infrastructure is another key national priority.”

Paul Martin says, “If you have 40 priorities you don’t have any.”

He’s right.

02 January 2006 Stephen Harper lays out key priorities for Canada

02 January 2006 POLITICIAN PAUL MARTIN: ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE

02 January 2006 Harper Lays Out Five Key Priorities for Canada (News Release)