The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Quebec - Quebecers are locked in a divisive debate about the future of their province - and for a change the issue has nothing to do with sovereignty or language. Quebec's five-month-old Liberal government has launched a plan to dramatically reduce the influence of the province's labour movement, which has been a powerful player on the political scene in the last few decades. "This is explosive material," said Claudette Carbonneau, head of the Confederation of National Trade Unions, which recently announced plans to fight the government. Charest says he will change laws to permit unionized companies and government departments to contract work to non-union shops. He is also considering a plan to force unions in the health-care system to merge. Ottawa - Paul Martin enjoyed a quiet day at his family farm in Quebec on Sunday while supporters worked tirelessly to run up the score in a heavily one-sided Liberal leadership contest. The man destined to become the next prime minister entered the third and final day of Liberal delegate elections with a 90 per cent share of committed delegates who will attend the party's November leadership convention. One supporter said even Martin's inner circle was surprised by the crushing lead he had taken over Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, his only opponent.
