There were frequent rumours that Alcock would be appointed to the Chrétien cabinet, but he was passed over multiple times. His professional relationship with Chrétien deteriorated after 2000, and in 2002 he became the primary Manitoba organizer for Paul Martin's bid to replace Chrétien as party leader. In the same year, he became one of the first Liberal MPs to call openly for Chrétien's resignation. Alcock increased his public profile in 2003, after chairing a committee which forced privacy commissioner George Radwanski to resign from office after revelations of lax spending habits.