Martin tries for conciliation with Chretien loyalists, signals June 28 election

This arrived in my email without a link.
It is by Alexander Panetta, CP.

OTTAWA (CP) - Paul Martin scrambled to heal a deep rift in his party with an election fast approaching but some veteran Liberals remained stony after his message of conciliation.

It was too little, too late, they said of the prime minister's tribute to his predecessor. "People rose to their feet when (Martin) said Jean Chretien's name," said one Liberal who attended what was likely the last closed-door caucus meeting before an anticipated election call for a June 28 vote.

"He said he was going to run on the record of the past 10 years of good Liberal government and the record of the past 10 years."

[. . . . ] "Good Liberals, many of whom were feted here today, were basically told 'Get out because you're not wanted.' That hurts people,' " said former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps, who lost her Hamilton seat in a nomination battle.

"It would have been more genuine if the people who had not wanted to leave had not been pushed out. There are so many of them that were pushed out that it makes it somewhat disingenuous."