Adams, elected to his fourth successive term as MP for Peterborough riding, says he does not see any major hurdles to implementation of many of the big platform promises of the Liberal.

"There are many big money issues such health care, homelessness and a deal for cities where the platforms of the NDP and Liberals overlap," he says. "I don't foresee difficulties in moving ahead with some of these."

The NDP and the Bloc share the same stance as the Liberals on many of the major social issues, leaving the Conservatives somewhat isolated in this area, he says.

The first step in dealing with the cities is to develop a formula for allocation of the gas tax revenues directly to municipalities of all sizes, Adams says. Peterborough Mayor Sylvia Sutherland has expressed concerns that gas tax revenues have been tied to public transit in the Liberal proposal, leaving out smaller municipalities which do not have public transit systems.

Sutherland wants to grow Peterborough's public transit system but also wants more autonomy for municipalities in the use of federal funds so that municipalities can meet their own priorities.

Issues for Peterborough include federal funding for social housing and rebuilding of an aging infrastructure.

These are issues to be worked out, Adams says. First, Prime Minister Paul Martin will meet with other party leaders and the new Liberal caucus must also meet to set priorities. He predicts the newly elected Parliament will not convene until mid-September at the earliest.

"Every party must be involved to make this work," he says. "But any party that risks another general election within a year will be severely punished by the voters so we probably won't see another one for almost two years."

Send this page to a friend

Articles may be reprinted with permission. Contact us at peaceful@axiomnews.ca or 1-800-294-0051