This series documents the activities of Paul Martin from the day after his departure from the Department of Finance on June 2, 2002, to his swearing-in as Prime Minister on December 12, 2003.
In conflict with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Jean Chrétien, whom he wanted to replace, Martin left his duties as the Minister of Finance on June 2, 2002. For close to a year, he ran an unofficial Liberal Party of Canada leadership campaign, during which he travelled across Canada and garnered support. On April 27, 2003, he launched his official campaign, which ended with his resounding victory over Sheila Copps on November 14, 2003, and his swearing-in as Prime Minister on December 12, 2003.
The series includes numerous speeches given by Paul Martin while he was unofficially, then officially, campaigning to become the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. The series also reports on Paul Martin's parliamentary, political and international activities over that period. In addition, the series contains files from his political advisor, Tim Murphy, relating to the creation of the policies and key files of the future Martin government, including health, ethics, the democratic deficit, Aboriginal issues, same-sex marriage, finance, and cities and municipalities. Lastly, the series includes briefing books created by the Privy Council Office for the "Prime Minister-elect" in November 2003.
