Paul Martin's entry to politics brought great expectations

Thirty years ago, nobody was underestimating the significance of Paul Martin Jr.'s nomination to run for the Liberals in the Montreal-area riding of LaSalle-mard. The only one downplaying the event wasMartin himself.

As we see in this CBC Newsreport from May of 1988, the millionaire shipping magnate states he simply wants to represent the people of his riding.

Paul Martin: No ordinary candidate

36 years ago

Duration 1:44

Paul Martin Jr. is nominated to run for member of Parliament, but there are far greater goals on the horizon.

"This is the beginning of my campaign to become the Member of Parliament for LaSalle-mardperiod," the younger Paul Martin told reporters that day.

The first step?

But reporter Paul Workman tells viewers that few people believe Martin does not harbour bigger ambitions.

"Getting elected may very well be the first step in achieving something his father never could a leadership of the Liberal party," Workman says.

Indeed, Martin would go on to become the country's finance minister, when the Liberal government led by Jean Chrtienheld a majority in Parliament in the 1990s.

And Martin would eventually succeed Chrtien as Liberal leader and prime minister.

OnDec. 12, 2003, Martin was sworn in as prime minister, after winning the leadership at what seemed more of a coronation than a convention, where he hadrock stars singing his praises and, more importantly, the vote of almost every single delegate in the building.

As can be seenin this clip from the festivities, the landslide leadership victory wasthe formal start of thePaul Martin era.

For many, the highlight of the 2003 leadership convention was not the future prime minister, but the appearance of Irish rock star and activist Bono.

The lead singer of U2 gave a meandering speech honouring Martin, Canadian idealism and the legacy of Liberal global consciousness as championed by Pearson, Trudeau and Chrtien.

In the June 2004 election, Paul Martin's Liberals achieved onlya minority government.

Saddled with the fallout from scandalsand in spite of political manoeuvres that included a speech to the nation asking for more time, a no-confidence vote washeld in November2005 and Martin wasforced to call an election for Jan. 23, 2006.

Stephen Harper's Conservatives won a minority government in that election. The Tories, led by Harper, would remain in power for another nine years.

Following his own party's defeat at the polls, Martin soon resignedas party leader. Bill Graham then became the Liberals' interim leader until a convention was held later that year.

Martin remained asMP for LaSalle-mard until the the 2008 election, when he didnot run for the seat again. He had held the seat through six straight elections.