Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12900 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/07 1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AE ASEC AS AR AMGT AFIN AORC AU AG AF APER ABLD ADCO ABUD AM AID AJ AEMR AMED AL ASUP AN AIT ACOA ANET ASIG AA AGMT AINF AFFAIRS ADANA AY AADP ARF ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC APEC APECO AFGHANISTAN ACAO ASEAN ADM AGAO AND ADPM ATRN ALOW AROC APCS AORG AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL
BR BO BA BM BL BH BK BEXP BILAT BTIO BF BU BD BY BE BG BB BBSR BT BRUSSELS BP BX BC BIDEN BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CA CS CO CD CR CPAS CDG CI CDC CBW CU CVIS CE CONS CH CMGT CASC CY CW CG CJAN CIDA CODEL CWC CIA CBSA CEUDA CFED CLINTON CAC CL CACS CIC CHR CAPC CM CT CTR COM CROS CN COPUOS CV CF CARSON CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CITT CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CNARC CIS
DEAX DHS DAO DCM DJ DA DR DEA DE DOD DOMESTIC DO DEFENSE DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS
EFIN ECON ETRD EAID EC EU EUN EINV EG ETTC EIND ELAB EAGR ECIN EINT ENRG EFIS ELTN EAIR EPET EZ ET ENERG ECPS EWWT EI ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ER ES EN EMIN ESENV ENNP ENGR ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENVI ECINECONCS ELN EFTA ELECTIONS ENVR EXTERNAL ENIV ESA EPA ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EUR ECUN EXIM EK EUREM ECONOMY EUMEM ERNG EFINECONCS EAIDS ECA ETRC EINVEFIN ETC EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA EAIG EUC ERD
FI FR FJ FBI FO FDA FAO FTA FOR FTAA FMLN FISO FAS FAC FREEDOM FM FOREIGN FARC FINANCE FINR FOI
GV GM GH GT GG GR GA GTIP GY GOI GZ GAERC GE GCC GOV GERARD GANGS GLOBAL GTMO GL GF GAZA
HEBRON HSTC HA HUMOR HU HO HR HK HILLARY HYMPSK HI HURI HUMAN
IQ IR IS IN IA IC IZ ICRC ID IDA IT IO IAEA ICJ ICAO IV IBRD IMF IAHRC IWC ILO ISLAMISTS IGAD ILC ITU ITF INRA INRO ICTY INRB ITALY IBET IL INTELSAT ISRAELI IMO IDP ICTR ITRA IRC IRAQI IEFIN IPR IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS INTERPOL IEA INR ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IACI INDO
JA JO JP JUS JM JAMES JOHN JOHNNIE JOSEPH
KPAO KMDR KCOR KNNP KJUS KCRM KDEM KVPR KTFN KPRP KTIP KSCA KSUM KTEX KIDE KIRF KV KTIA KN KG KFRD KWMN KUNR KISL KU KGHG KPKO KOMS KPAL KIPR KMCA KOMC KRVC KSEP KAWC KOLY KWBG KACT KFLO KHIV KZ KGIC KBCT KDRG KBTR KCFE KE KHLS KMPI KAWK KPWR KIRC KRAD KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFLU KPLS KRIM KSTH KDDG KPRV KICC KS KSAF KBIO KREC KCGC KCIP KTDB KWAC KPAI KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFSC KSTC KMFO KID KNAR KMIG KVRP KNEI KGIT KNSD KHDP KSAC KWMM KR KCOM KAID KENV KVIR KHSA KO KCRS KPOA KTER KFIN KSPR KTBT KX KCMR KMOC KCRCM KBTS KSEO KOCI KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KSCI KTLA KCSY KTRD KMRS KNPP KJUST KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KLIG KDEMAF KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KPIR KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KRGY KIFR KWMNCS KPAK
LE LY LH LU LI LO LG LA LOG LTTE LAB LT LABOR
MARR MOPS MUCN MCAP MNUC MEPP MTCRE MASS MO MIL MX MAS MEDIA MAR MI MQADHAFI MPOS MTCR MK MG MA MY MU ML MPS MW MD MARAD MC MR MT MTRE MASC MRCRE MAPP MZ MP MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MDC MASSMNUC
NI NZ NL NO NPT NATO NS NU NP NPA NSFO NDP NT NW NASA NSG NE NORAD NAFTA NG NATIONAL NSSP NV NSF NK NA NEW NPG NR NGO NIPP NZUS NH NC NRR NAR NATOPREL NSC
OIIP OPRC OTRA OEXC OREP OSCE OVIP OPAD OBSP OECD OFFICIALS OAS OPDC ODIP OPCW OES OFDP OPIC OCS OIC OHUM OSCI OVP ODC OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OFDA ON OCII
PREL PINR PGOV PARM PE PTER PHUM PO PINS PREF PK PM POL PBTS PNAT PHSA PAS PA PL PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PAK PEL PROP PP PINL PBT PTBS PG PINF PRL PALESTINIAN PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICS POLICY PROV PBIO PREO PAO PDOV PGOF POV PCI PRAM PSI POLITICAL PAIGH PJUS PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PY PLN PHUH PF PHUS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
QA
RU RS REGION REACTION REPORT RO RW RCMP RSO RP RM ROOD RFE RICE ROBERT RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL
SENV SY SNAR SCUL SP SF SW SOCI SU SMIG SO SA SR SZ SI SC SEVN SN STEINBERG SK SH SNARCS SPCE SARS SNARN SG SL SYRIA SIPRS SAARC SNARIZ SWE SYR SEN SCRS SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SHUM
TU TSPA TBIO TS TRGY TINT TPHY TN TW TH TZ TSPL TP TBID TI TF TD TT TNGD TL TC THPY TIP TX TV TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TFIN TAGS TR
UK UNSC UNGA UNESCO UNHRC UP UN USTR US UNDC UY UNICEF UNDP UNMIK UNAUS UNCHC UNCSD USOAS UNFCYP UG UNIDROIT UNO UV UNHCR UNEP USEU UZ UNCND USUN UNCHR USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS
VZ VT VE VI VM VTPREL VN VTIZ VTEG VAT VC
WHTI WTRO WTRQ WBG WHO WHA WFP WS WTO WB WI WMD WIPO WZ WWARD WITH WEU WMO WA
XS XH XR XL XG XA XM XK XD XF XI XB XV XW XQ XE XTAG XU XT XX XY XZ XC
YM YI YE YMCS
ZI ZK ZR ZU ZO ZP ZF ZEALAND ZL ZOELLICK ZB ZJ ZN ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 05OTTAWA741, LIBERAL PARTY CONVENTION WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05OTTAWA741.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05OTTAWA741 | 2005-03-09 21:48 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Ottawa

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000741

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: CA PGOV PINR PREL
    SUBJECT: LIBERAL PARTY CONVENTION WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR
    CONSERVATIVES TO TOP

    REF: (A) OTTAWA 640 (B) OTTAWA 696 (C) OTTAWA 713

    ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Liberal Party Convention finished on an
    upbeat note March 6, trumpeting the theme of "Promises Made -
    Promises Delivered" for three days.  The Liberals followed
    the model of successful American convention organizers by
    scripting an overwhelming endorsement of PM Martin,s
    leadership, keeping controversy outside the tent, and using
    big names to draw a crowd.  Of note, convention delegates
    voted 88% in favour of not holding a leadership convention,
    thereby ensuring that Martin will lead the party into the
    next election.  There was little of substance decided on the
    policy side of the convention, although there was animated
    discussion of a number of controversial issues such as
    marijuana, legalization of prostitution and gender/minority
    rights within the party.  The Liberal Party Convention will
    be a hard act to follow for the Conservatives, whose
    convention later in the month in Montreal will deal with more
    fundamental issues of party identity and values against a
    backdrop of consistently flat popularity.  End Summary

    WE ARE THE PARTY OF JOE CANADA
    ------------------------------

    ¶2. (SBU) As late as last week, media commentators speculated
    that the Liberal Party Convention would be poorly attended
    and tense as candidates-in-waiting lobbied for support and
    Martin and Chrtien supporters squared off.  But for three
    days, the Liberals put on an excellent show, amidst a festive
    atmosphere flush with youthful enthusiasm.  Reports indicate
    that 2500 delegates attended when early predictions were for
    a maximum of 2000.  The Liberal message was clear -- &we are
    the party of mainstream Canada and we are capable of leading
    the country effectively.8  This message was conveyed through
    a skillful combination of keynote speakers, policy workshops,
    an accountability session with the cabinet, and a leadership
    review, all tightly scripted to show unity and avoid public
    controversy.

    MARTIN PASSES LEADERSHIP VOTE COMFORTABLY
    -----------------------------------------

    ¶3. (SBU) A key piece of the convention was a leadership
    validation, in which 88% of delegates voted against holding a
    separate leadership convention, thus leaving PM Martin to
    lead the party into the next election.  The Prime Minister,s
    approval rating was better than predicted, but according to
    some observers it reflects a desire for party unity more than
    complete acceptance of Martin,s leadership, and they point
    out that his numbers are down from the 95% he had when he
    first won the party leadership.

    ¶4. (SBU) There was, despite this show of support, a fair
    amount of speculation about who will one day succeed Martin,
    and while no candidates have announced their intention to try
    to displace the party leader in the near future, the media
    was still willing to speculate.  The following names were
    mentioned as potential candidates for a future leadership
    challenge -- MP Maurizio Bevilacqua, MP and former Minister
    Denis Coderre, Minister of Public Works Scott Brison, Foreign
    Minister Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Immigration Joe Volpe,
    Ambassador Frank McKenna, former MP and leadership candidate
    John Manley, former MP Martin Cauchon, author Michael
    Ignatieff, and Liberal Party organizer Christy Clark.
    Conspicuous by their absence from the convention were
    high-profile Liberals such as John Manley, Sheila Copps, and
    Jean Chrtien, presumably to avert any controversy and keep
    the attention on Martin.

    POLICY ISSUES A SNOOZE
    ----------------------

    ¶5. (SBU) The policy element of the convention was organized
    around thematic workshops in which resolutions were debated
    and selected to advance to the main convention floor, with
    some Priority Resolutions going directly to the general
    debate.  Most of the resolutions that made it to the floor
    were not bold statements about new or controversial policy,
    and this lends some credence to media complaints that the
    substance of the convention was simply boring.  Among the
    policy positions adopted were:

    --    expanding the definition of marriage to include same
    sex couples;
    --    a commitment to ensure clean, publicly managed drinking
    water in the developing world;
    --    meeting Canada,s Kyoto target;
    --    increased support for Canada,s peacekeeping
    initiatives;
    --    changes to employment insurance; and
    --    the development of a national child care program.

    Civil marriage caused a brief and heated debate but the
    debate over a resolution to mandate 50% participation of
    women in executive levels of the party and government was
    even more contentious.

    ¶6. (SBU) Also of note, the Priority Resolution against
    Canadian participation in Ballistic Missile Defence was
    dropped.  Wendy Wright, an executive member of the Young
    Liberals of Canada, which sponsored the resolution, told
    POLFSN that this was because the Liberal government had
    already made this resolution a real policy so it was moot.
    Media commentators speculate, however, that they did it to
    avoid embarrassing debate with anti-American overtones on the
    convention floor.  Several delegates were visibly annoyed by
    the withdrawal of the resolution because they wanted the
    policy on the Liberal books for the record regardless of what
    the government decided earlier.  They suspect that the issue
    will return and they want their opposition firmly entrenched
    as official Liberal policy.

    YOUNG LIBERALS PROMINENT
    ------------------------

    ¶7. (SBU) Of the various convention groupings, the Young
    Liberals of Canada stood out.  The Young Liberals
    demonstrated high levels of technical organization and
    enthusiasm while actively advancing their left of center
    agenda.  They functioned as the largest single organized
    group at the convention, which was most clear in the Justice
    and Constitutional workshop where they successfully sponsored
    resolutions on legalizing marijuana and sex worker rights.
    Using cell-phones and text-messaging technology the YLC let
    their members know when their resolutions were up for debate
    and vote, and vehemently defended their legalization of
    marijuana resolution, only to abandon it at the priority
    stage in favour of a resolution on sex workers rights.

    ¶8. (SBU) Comment: The efforts by party organizers and leaders
    to convey the appearance of unity and enthusiasm, regardless
    of the problems that lie under the surface, have prompted
    some observers to call the gathering a pre-election
    convention, following on the heels of a pre-election budget
    (reftel A).  While Martin has reiterated that he is not
    seeking an election, the endorsement of his leadership now
    gives him a mandate to lead the party into a second election,
    whenever it occurs.  Meanwhile the Conservatives did not
    receive the bounce they were hoping for from a Liberal
    meltdown, and are faced with the difficult job of outshining
    the Liberals when they hold their first ever policy
    convention in Montreal March 17-19.  The PM expressed more
    reality than spin when he said of his Conservative foes:  &I
    don't envy them, first they,ve got to figure out who they
    are and what they stand for, and once they figure out what
    they stand for, they,ve got to figure out how to conceal it
    from the Canadian people.8  There was also some value in
    going first, and the Liberals simply had an easier product to
    sell, which they did effectively.  End Comment

    Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
    http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa

    CELLUCCI

`