Martin defends free flights

OTTAWA (December 2, 2003 Canadian Press - Incoming [Canadian] prime
minister Paul Martin says he did nothing wrong by accepting flights on the
corporate jets of his millionaire friends while he was finance minister but
admits he probably should have reported the flights publicly.

Martin said ethics rules that don't require him to publicly declare the
flights he took - some for business, some for pleasure - should probably be
tightened.

However, he said he will continue to accept such flights from his friends,
some of which he said weren't paid for after he consulted Howard Wilson,
the federal ethics commissioner.

"These are friends of mine," Martin said of some of the top Canadian
business people he has flown with, including Gerry Schwartz of Onex and
billionaire Wallace McCain, who owns Maple Leaf Foods.

"I intend to take holidays with friends."

Wilson has said Martin accepted free trips aboard corporate jets for
personal reasons and was not in a conflict of interest because the planes
were owned by personal friends.

The conflict of interest code forbids ministers from accepting gifts
greater than $200 but allows for benefits from "close personal friends."

Martin acknowledged he took five trips aboard on corporate jets between
1995 and 2002.

He flew to the Caribbean on holiday in 2002 aboard friend's jet. He also
acknowledged flying on jets owned by Power Corp.

Wilson said he asked Martin to have Ottawa reimburse Power Corp. and Onex
for the flights because they involved some Finance Department business.

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