Paul Martin challenged by CBC.(Canada)(Canadian Broadcasting Corp.)

OTTAWA -- In an interview on December 19th, Mary-Lou Findlay, host of CBC Radio's As it Happens, asked new PM Paul Martin about his image problem with Canada Steamship Lines--specifically CSL's foreign-flagged ships. Called flag-of-convenience ships (FOCs) they allowed Mr. Martin (and now allow his sons) to pay a quarter of the Canadian wage rate, avoid paying taxes altogether, and to ignore Canadian labour standards, health and safety laws and environmental regulations. Experts in the field estimate that each ocean-going ships saves on average $700,000 a year from this unethical practice.

Freelance journalist and author of a book on Martin, Murray Dobbin challenged …