Space star Garneau runs for Liberals in BQ riding

As star candidates go, this one has been closer to the real thing than most. Marc Garneau, the first Canadian astronaut in space, is running for the Liberals in the federal election.

"Space and Parliament can be kind of similar at times," Prime Minister Paul Martin said.

After listing some of Garneau's accomplishments – three space shuttle missions, 670 hours in space, chair of the Canadian Space Agency – Martin said Garneau "represents the Quebec ideal within Canada.

"His ingenious nature, his dynamism: those are Quebec characteristics that really embody this country on the national and international scene," said Martin.

Having a Quebecer with as much celebrity status as Garneau offers a much-needed boost to the Liberals, who appear to be heading for a pounding in that province on Jan. 23.

Garneau is touching down in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, a rural riding between Ottawa and Montreal currently held by the Bloc Québécois.

The Bloc looks to increase its hold on the province. It won 54 of 75 seats in 2004, and hopes to profit from anger over the Gomery inquiry's findings regarding the sponsorship scandal.

"It's time to turn the page on the sponsorship issue," said Garneau.

"It's been put out there, it's been solved. The Liberal party has taken a beating, now it's time to move on."

Garneau said it's time for Quebecers to move on from the scandal.

"I will try to persuade them that the most important thing now is to stop being anchored in the past. I understand that they were very, very angry. What I'm going to try to do now is persuade them to look at the future – at the real challenges facing us."

Martin used the announcement of Garneau's candidacy to pump up his campaign theme of touting Canada's economic performance, and wondered if that's what sovereigntists want to separate from.

Martin continues his campaign in Montreal on Wednesday.