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The Alliance
Canadian MP bitches about marching "in goose step" with Americans
2001-09-22
  • By Jane Taber National Post
    OTTAWA - There has been much talk this week of the spirit of bi-partisanship in the House of Commons, in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

    Hardly. This is what happened yesterday afternoon in a near-empty chamber: Pat Martin, an NDP MP from Manitoba, caused an uproar among Alliance MPs when he talked about Canada marching in "goose step" with the Americans. "We are hearing now from frustrated Americans that if Canada does not fall into a goose step with the United States in its current exercises they will re-consider allowing plants to continue manufacturing in Canada," said Mr. Martin.

    "This stuff about Nazis, they're just sensitive because I call them Nazis all the time."
    Several Alliance MPs -- Scott Reid, John Duncan and James Moore -- demanded that he retract the word "goose step" for its obvious Nazi connotations. Mr. Martin refused. "Complete goose step means mirroring them [the Americans]. This stuff about Nazis, they're just sensitive because I call them [the Alliance] Nazis all the time," said Mr. Martin. He said the Liberals were not upset by his remarks. So, why did he use that term? "Well to fall into complete goose step doesn't invoke brownshirts to me or jackboots," said Mr. Martin. "You look up goose step in the dictionary and it can mean dance steps."
    • Posted by:Fred Pruitt

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