APPENDIX (1)
Delivered-To: hueglinj@cogeco.ca
From: "Gray, Stacey" <GrayS@parl.gc.ca>
Subject: Statement and letter
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 13:43:29 -0400

STATEMENT BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOE CLARK
LEADER OF THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF CANADA

NATIONAL PRESS THEATRE
OTTAWA, ONTARIO

TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2002

I AM PLEASED TO MEET YOU TODAY WITH BRUCK EASTON, THE RECENTLY-ACCLAIMED NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF CANADA.

WE ARE CIRCULATING A LETTER I HANDED TO MR. EASTON EARLIER THIS MORNING, BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE CAUCUS MEETING. I HAVE JUST INFORMED CAUCUS OF THE CONTENTS OF THE LETTER.

THIS IS NOT A WALK IN THE SNOW. IT HAS TAKEN LONGER THAN THAT. SINCE THE HOUSE ROSE IN JUNE, I HAVE BEEN REFLECTING ON HOW I MIGHT BEST SERVE MY PARTY AND COUNTRY.

IN ADDITION, I WANTED SOME HARD DATA, SO WE COMMISSIONED THE LARGEST PUBLIC OPINION POLL WE HAVE TAKEN SINCE THE ELECTION. CAUCUS REVIEWED THOSE POLLS THIS MORNING. THEY ARE A TREASURE TROVE OF INFORMATION, WITH GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS ABOUT THE PARTY AND ABOUT ME.

FOR MY PART, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I AM WIDELY TRUSTED AND POPULAR. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT WE CANNOT TRANSLATE THOSE QUALITIES INTO VOTES FOR THE PARTY.

FOR THE PARTY ITSELF, THE BAD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE NOT YET BUILT A CRITICAL MASS OF CANADIANS WHO TREAT US AS THEIR FIRST CHOICE IN AN ELECTION.

AGAINST THAT, THE EXCELLENT NEWS IS THAT OUR VOTER POOL - OUR POTENTIAL VOTE IN THE COUNTRY - IS LARGER THAN ANY OTHER PARTY IN OPPOSITION, AND THE GAP IS GROWING.

WE FACE TWO POTENTIAL ELECTORAL CHALLENGES.

THE FIRST IS A SNAP FEDERAL ELECTION, IN WHICH MY EXPERIENCE AND ASSERTIVE STYLE ARE AN ASSET, PARTICULARLY IF THE OPPONENT IS THE UNTESTED PAUL MARTIN.

THE SECOND CHALLENGE IS AN ELECTION LATER WHEN, I BELIEVE, A NEW LEADER WOULD SERVE US BETTER.

I HAVE PROPOSED A MEANS BY WHICH I WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO LEAD IN AN EARLY ELECTION, AND WE WOULD HAVE TIME TO RECRUIT AND CHOOSE NEW POTENTIAL LEADERS.

IN EITHER SCENARIO, THE PARTY HAS TO BECOME MUCH MORE FOCUSSED ON BUILDING ON OUR STRENGTHS, INCLUDING ATTRACTING THE WIDEST POSSIBLE RANGE OF WOMEN AND MEN ABLE TO CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION OF THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS ITS CONFIDENCE.

THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IS AT OUR NATIONAL GENERAL MEETING, IN EDMONTON LATER THIS MONTH. I DO NOT WANT THAT MEETING DISTRACTED FROM ITS WORK OF BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE.



For further information: Stacey Gray (613) 797-0660
Bill Rodgers (613) 761-0650