Under the Maple Leaf: Leadership woes

TORONTO, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- It's a scenario few could have imagined. But it could happen.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien has repeated his threat to call a snap election if Liberal Members of Parliament don't do as he pleases before he steps down next year.

Faithful readers will know Chretien is slowly, but surely, losing support in the party.

Dissenters -- those not in his Cabinet and those brave enough to speak out -- back former finance minister Paul Martin.

They've grown increasingly restless and vocal, pushing for parliamentary changes their man Martin has proposed.

Chretien is now trying to beat them back into line, though, by threatening to let the voters have their say sooner rather than later.

"If I lose a vote in the House of Commons, it's necessarily an election," he said

"It's not me who decides," he added, trying to minimize his role and the blood on his hands in what amounts to political blackmail. "It's the House."

While few relish the prospect of an unexpected election call, some think it could answer Martin's prayers -- to take over Chretien's job before his scheduled departure date.

Here's why:

If he wants an election, Chretien actually has to formally ask Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson to grant a writ.

Experts in parliamentary procedure argue that might not be a sure thing, though.

They say the governor-general would have to see if there's someone else who could successfully command a majority in Parliament.

Guess who Martin supporters think that person would be?

You got it.

Some Liberals think they'd have a strong constitutional case for Clarkson to consider Martin as the only viable alternative to a federal election.

It certainly wouldn't be the first time a governor-general has rebuffed a prime minister's request for an election.

Martin is still the only officially declared candidate for the party leadership convention in November.

He wisely isn't commenting on the scenario, but he's probably enjoying just thinking about it.

Gordon Campbell" class="tpstyle">British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell is still on the job.

But news from the Aloha state may change that.

It seems the Liberal premier may have been more intoxicated than he's let on when he was arrested for drunk driving in Hawaii earlier this month.

The police officer who pulled him over says Campbell had a blood-alcohol reading of 0.161, not the 0.149 Campbell himself claimed.

That's twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Police reports also reveal the premier's rented sport utility vehicle was clocked at 70 miles per hour, but the curvy coastal road in Maui it was traveling has a 45 mph zone.

Campbell apparently had to prop himself up, and his speech was slurred during the roadside stop.

"He was a serious danger to himself and to others," said Joy MacPhail, leader of the socialist New Democratic Party in British Columbia.

"People will ... question the sincerity, truthfulness and focus of Mr. Campbell."

Aloha, by the way, means "hello" and "goodbye."

That may well be appropriate in this case.

And finally, she survived Nigerian riots -- but not the beauty pageant she won.

Ottawa's Lynsey Bennett has been stripped of her crown as Miss Canada International, after she reportedly took on a part-time job in between her duty-bound appearances.

The 23-year-old made headlines when she became the first contestant at the Miss World pageant to speak out against religious violence in the event's host country.

Now, she says she's shocked by news of her dethroning.

Benett is now considering legal action.

Ah, even beauty has a price.