Summary
"No one in Canadian politics has a fake smile that looks near as fake as [Paul Martin]'s fake smile," the National Post said back in the days when Martin was still trying to unseat his old boss, Jean Chretien.
Sincerity, or the appearance of sincerity, in fact, has never been Martin's strong suit, which is a killer in politics. I was one of those who dismissed Martin as a phoney and a hypocrite when his minority Liberal government was defeated three years ago, but I realize today I was too harsh. Not about his smile, which isn't great, but about his commitment to public service, which is what really counts.Instead, Martin, 71, chose one of the toughest portfolios possible -- aboriginal affairs, particularly the importance of ensuring that First Nations people graduate from high school and that they have an opportunity to become involved in the business community. The former prime minister didn't have to come to Winnipeg in the middle of a blizzard to demonstrate his commitment, but there he was in an inner-city school, where the chairs aren't comfortable and the food is plain and ordinary. There were no movie stars. Unfortunately, Martin was also smiling, but we've gotten over that.See the full content of this document
Extract
Bad Smile Aside, Paul Martin Is Now Shining
Everything might be different, if only he knew how to smile.
Former prime minister Paul Martin was in Winnipeg Tuesday to promote an aboriginal education program he started when he was forcibly retir...See the full content of this document
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