Voting extended at Copps, Valeri showdown

One of the Liberal party's most fiercely fought nomination contests went on longer than expected Saturday night, as Sheila Copps and Tony Valeri battled for the right to represent their party in the next election.

Thousands turned up to cast ballots. With hundreds of people still in line as darkness fell, voting was extended for three hours until around 10 p.m. EST.

Results were expected before midnight.

Copps, deputy prime minister and heritage minister in Jean Chrétien's government, and Valeri, transport minister in the new Paul Martin cabinet, are competing for the nomination in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.

The riding was created when electoral boundaries were changed last year. Copps had represented the Hamilton East riding for the last 20 years.

Heading into the vote, Valeri claimed to have the backing of about 7,000 members. Copps, who was passed over for a cabinet post after Martin defeated her in the Liberal party's leadership race last fall, claimed to have just over 6,000 members.

Liberal party officials said they hired off-duty police officers to control traffic and the crowd at the nomination meeting at Cardinal Newman High School in Stoney Creek.

• FROM MARCH 5, 2004: Copps emotional on eve of nomination vote

Saturday morning, Copps began crying when she thanked her campaign organizers for all their work. "It's just been an incredible journey, a fantastic journey, and I want to just thank each and every one of you," she said.

On Friday, she became emotional during an appearance for the Kiwanis Club. Copps said that she was overtired, after working long hours to get ready for the weekend vote.

The former heritage minister also said that the nomination fight in the Ontario riding is dividing the Liberal party.

Copps has accused Martin of trying to push her out of politics by not supporting her as the candidate. The prime minister has said he's just staying out of Liberal contests involving the redistribution of ridings.

In his speech to party members, Valeri said the nomination fight has "not been easy," but he thinks voters will choose his "agenda of progress."

This isn't about personalities

"When I think about the needs of our community, I know this isn't about personalities, nor is it about who is entitled to represent the people of this community. It's not about the past, it's about our future."

Copps talked about "the true values of liberalism." She also thanked her supporters, including taxi drivers who volunteered to drive people to the meeting free of charge.

Henry Jaycek, a political science professor at McMaster University, says Prime Minister Martin would do well to watch Saturday's outcome carefully.

"If he does wind up getting a minority government in the next federal election it may be because he underestimated the force of social liberalism as represented by Sheila Copps and people who agree with her," Jaycek said.

About 30 political nomination meetings were taking place across the country Saturday in preparation for an election call that's expected as early as April or May.