I am feeling incredibly betrayed by Stephen Harper.
This is more of the same crap that the Liberals have been serving out for 12 years and which made my blood boil. The lies, the deceit, the arrogance. I couldn’t wait to vote those bastards out and vote in some integrity and honesty. But this! This is a betrayal of my confidence in Harper and the Conservative party.
I am a Garth Turner supporter, I pushed for a Conservative win, defended Harper and the Party to friends and relatives, put an “oh-my-God-that’s-a- big-election-sign” on my front lawn for the benefit of my neighbours, and railed against the Liberals.
Now? I don’t know what or whom to trust in anymore. I am completely disgusted and discouraged. With a single stupid act Harper has extinguished the hope we all had for real change.
You were supposed to be better than this.
Words like that were all around me today. The email above was typical of scores that came through to me. I heard the same, hours ago, at the drugstore checkout in Milton, as I picked up a things for my trip to Ottawa tonight. Dressed in jeans and ski jacket, the cashier and customers in line agreed I must “be trying to keep a low profile, given what’s just happened.â€
Of course, the issue is Stephen Harper’s first cabinet, which included a floor-crossing Liberal from Vancouver and a party organizer from Quebec who has never stood for election. Constituents wonder how I, an avowed democrat who spent months and months knocking on doors to get elected, feel about a cabinet minister who has never even tried to get a vote. And they wonder, after I said any MP who turns coat on their party should have to be re-elected under their new colour, how I now stand on the issue.
Of course, I could take the easy way out. I could tell you that the prime minister never called me to ask my opinion. I could tell you he didn’t discuss any issue about the cabinet with me. I could confess that I am not on Harper’s speed-dial list – and all that would be quite true. But I am not out to duck anything. I am a Conservative MP, in times of criticism and controversy, as well as in the times of triumph. That means I also have to accept responsibility.
So, to those who saw these moves as hypocritical and politically crass, I ask two things. First, assume Harper had a plan, knew the risk he was taking, and gambled he was doing the right thing. I have no idea if he did or not. Nor does anyone else. Time will judge this move ruthlessly. Second, help me fight for changes to the system that will put an end to both political treason and unelected politicians. We need legislation to force a by-election when an MP switches parties, forcing him or her to go back to the people for support. And, we need an elected Senate – something Conservatives promised during the campaign, and which is a century overdue.
If you agree, then please say so. Send me a note. Start a petition. Come to one of the Town Hall meetings about to be announced in Halton. Let’s turn some justified emotion at what happened this week into constructive action which brings about change.
By the way, I drove back to Ottawa tonight, not to escape the burning torches and raised pitchforks outside my office on Main Street, but because I am meeting with the prime minister tomorrow. Now is the time for me to make it clear to everyone why I am here. And what better place to start?
Many of you will know I have two goals – to empower and raise up the position of MP, and to represent the middle class to Parliament. I do the first in the hope that more independent, free-voting and respected politicians can restore dwindling faith to the whole system. I do the latter because it’s time average hard-working families finally got the same attention as special interest groups.
I will try, at first, to get my government to champion these causes. If it does not, I will champion them myself. How will that happen? Well, just watch me.
But first, I’m heading up that stone staircase just outside the House of Commons lobby, and past the men who guard the prime minister’s office. More later.
24 comments ↓
Garth, you can certainly add my name to your list. I can maybe/possibly be made to see, from a purely business point of view, those 2 appointments as Harper hiring the best people for the job – it happens in the business world everyday.
However, the last election proved that the Canadian electorate are getting more involved/engaged in the process. Raising the national voter turnout from 60.8% to over 65% is no small feat.
The biggest problem that I see with those 2 appointments is that it gives more fuel to the arguement of “why should I even bother to vote? – they do what they want anyhow”. Harper needs to explain to this Canadians. He cannot and should not let this issue fester.
From a personal point of view, I feel so sorry for Emerson’s campaign workers. I can only imagine how betrayed they feel right now.
Thanks for listening and good luck today with the PM. (he’s going to need it!)
Hi Garth, I had a weird vision through the campaign that you would win, but that one day throughout your position in Parliament, you would have to sit as an independant if you were to serve your constituents as promised. Not sure why really. But Harper’s first 2 moves did not go over well to anyone in Canada. While your answer to it on this blog is well scripted changing the subject back to what you are going to do for Halton, it must be hard for you to accept what has happened after your views on what B.S. did. You’ve a been a stand up guy throughout this whole process…..but a politically crazed world can change people.
Garth,
The events of this past week clearly show that once people are in power, they become no better than their predecessors. Stephen Harper had no need for Mr. Emerson, except to get one more vote in favour of the Conservatives in the House of Commons. That’s all. Garth, you have demonstrated time and again that you were running for office to improve conditions for the middle class and to restore a moral sense of authority that’s been missing from Parliament for way too long. I feel sorry for you that this reconstituted Reform/Conservative Party misled you and at the first opportunity has turned out to be no better than the Liberal Party. Garth, to reach the personal goals that you set out for yourself and your constituents is going to be an upwards battle all the way. I hope you have a sturdy stomach, because you will not get much help from your party.
Well done Garth. We grassroots Conservatives need representitives like you to stand up for our principals.
My support for Steven started when he refused to accept back into his caucus Jim Pankew. At that time I was VP of the Saskatoon/Humboldt PCs and he was my extremely anti first nations MP.
Having placed many of the “oh-my-god-its-big elections signs” I understand the ire of comments in the email you posted.
Thankfully the reason I put up the signs with ever more speed as the election end approached was due to understanding of what you were all about.
I must admit that I began helping because of the blue on the signs, but each day increased the level of assistance due to my conviction that you are bringing the voices of my family and myself to Parliament.
Take those voices with you today when you meet with Mr. Harper. Let them embolden you to say what needs to be said with the knowledge YOU have our support.
Go get em!
This kind of talk is one of the reasons I voted for you!
If people would put their partisan rhetoric aside and untwist their panties for a second they might be able to appreciate the logic of the move. The one extra vote Emerson gives is meaningless – even with the NDP they don’t have a majority. Could it possibly be that there IS no shadiness going on and Harper could be telling the truth when he says that recruiting Emerson and the other guy were solely to make sure two of the largest municipalities in the country were represented in Government? I’ll bet you dollars to doughnuts that if there was a Lib or NDP in Toronto that was less a Liberal and more an MP they’d have been recruited as well. And why not? If it was in your constituents’ best interests to abondon the partisan nonsense and have a seat at the table where the decisions are made wouldn’t you consider it?
Fun discussion at Andrew Coyne:
Tiberius Caesar? Roman senators?
Et tu Brutae?
Well I don’t think “Emperor Stephen†has called for the Christians to be thrown to the lions quite yet!
Nope, no roman crucifixtions either.
No send ups from the “Life of Brian (Mulroney?)â€:
“Always look at the bright side of life.†sung in two step from the crucified on the cross.
(Aside: Something extremist Muslims might want to consider that Christians have endured without resorting to arms of violence.)
Maybe throw a couple of democratic gladiators in the ring to keep the mob entertained.
Truly delightful, AC you do keep us laughing.
Oh AC, in fact your killing me!!
Has it ever occurred to us maudlin commentators that we say we live in a hackneyed democratic system and thus we occasionally get hackneyed political decisions, that are systemic in nature and not necessarily personality related.
If the problem is the system and the system needs fixing, then on the way to fixing the system, some surface evidence decisions look crappy. The Fortier and Emerson appointments look that way.
I would like to hear from our new PM Stephen Harper the longer term game plan in addressing the “democratic deficitâ€; rather than the short term pot hole, which has put a wheel out of alignment in the democratic chariot. Being the policy wonk that PM Stephen Harper is, I am sure he has got his battle plan laid out; but isn’t ready to reveal all yet, as the troops are readied for battle.
I think I will take a wait and see approach; as the ink is still drying on the “Oath of Officeâ€.
I don’t think he has had 13 years in the office of government to make one rush to judgement.
Further, I haven’t seen the Government Whip endorse the concept of:
Not respecting confidence votes.
In the words of the Genie to Yago the parrot:
Calm yourself.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/inf …
Yes, it is all legal and so on.
Some people I’ve chatted to in my riding basically are saying its just returning the Belinda Stronach favour and uncermoniously suggest: “Just stick a fork in the Liberals.â€
It has been said before revenge is a dish best served cold.
While I am reluctant to be so crass; I think I can recognize ‘Liberal lifeboat’ talent shopping.
Moreover, if voters have long said that there is a democratic deficit then the problem is systemic as the above hyperlink suggests. Then you have to look beyond the headline and apparent ‘hypocrisy’. Well if you are going to get to an elected Senate, which Paul Martin even suggested in the campaign then you need some all party talent to get there.
As to Mr. Fortier, he says he is going to election next time out. OK hold his feet to the fire on that one.
After $500 billion in federal debt I think every voter understands the notion of debased currency.
Well if PM SH is purchasing some legislative elbow room; that doesn’t mean I can’t accept a little short term pain for long term gain.
If this behaviour becomes a HABIT then I would be concerned.
If the federal patient is just upgraded from the intensive care unit to critical care; who said the next dose of medicine had to taste good?
I’m going to wait for the longer term strategic roll out of democratic renewal before I start lobbing grenades and making comparisons to Tiberias Caesar. That latter appellation may well be directed to those formerly advocating:
NOT OBSERVING CONFIDENCE VOTES IN THE HOUSE.
Seeing as AC raised the subject of Tiberias perhaps contemplate the word of Calgacus said in respect of legions returning to Briton:
“….beyond us lies no nation, nothing but waves and rocks and the Romans, more deadly still than they, for you find in them an arrogance which no reasonable submission can elude. Brigands of the world, they have exhausted the land by their indiscriminate plunder and now they ransack the sea. The wealth of an enemy excites their cupidity, his poverty their lust of power. East and West have failed to glut their maw. They are unique in being as violently tempted to attack the poor as the wealthy. Robbery, butchery, rapine, with false names they call Empire; and they make a wilderness and call it peace.â€
Just a comment to Micheal who thinks Emerson was brought in to bring in one more CPC vote:
Mr. Emerson has a BA, MA, and PhD in Economics; he has worked as Deputy Minister in two different departments; he has worked as CEO of a billion dollar private firm; etc., etc. Plus, he’s had experience in the softwood industry, where we currently have a small disagreement with our American friends.
No knock on Garth, but if you can find someone else in the Tory backbench with those credentials, then by all means, shout it from the rooftops. I can’t, and I think Harper showed some steel and some brains in drafting someone whose Liberalism was skin-deep, but whose talent goes clear to the bone.
I don’t object to the idea of him putting himself in front of the electorate again, but why not give him some time to see if he can deliver on what he’s attempting to do? If he were to say “I’ll have a by-election in two years – you can toss me out then if you think I’m not doing a good job”, I’d be satisfied. Would you?
Garth says: If you agree, then please say so. Send me a note. Start a petition.
I thought I had said so by voting for the Conservatives. I thought I knew where they stood on Senate appointments, and I thought I understood from the reaction to the Stronach affair.
We should hardly have to start a petition asking the Conservative Party to do what they said they would do.
I enjoy your blog.
Do you have any plans to provide at least some of your experience and ideas to Stephen?
I can understand some of the cynicism, however, the media were making a huge deal out of the fact that the 3 major cities (unlike my backwoodsy Edmonton, which is larger than Vancouver) didn’t elect any Conservatives. This was a novel way to address that. As to the Senate appointment, the mechanism for an elected Senate is not yet in place (except in Alberta) and so a vacancy has to be filled by appointment. I have no problem with this or with Messieur Fornier having a cabinet post. This has been done a number of times in the past without any uproar and to suggest that SH should not have done it since he campaigned of an ethics platform is disingenuous, this is not an ethics issue. Having Mr. Moore as the PS for the Public Works portfolio is an excellent way for a young MP to get his feet wet in question period representing that portfolio in the House of Commons.
Mr. Emerson is emminently qualified for the position and if news stories that are coming out today are to be believed, may have an agreement on the softwood lumber issue near at hand. The Pacific Gateway portfolio is also extremely important to the future of our economy and to have an economist in that portfolio is a boon to the Government. BTW, Mr. Harper did indicate during the campaign that he would reach out to other parties for cabinet representation, so he is just keeping his word.
All in all, since the crossing was not done to benefit Mr. Emerson personally (as opposed to Ms. Stronach) but was done for the benefit of the Country, I applaud PM Harper for having the courage to make these moves, having to know that there would be negative reaction and do not hesitate to call him Right Honourable.
Ho hum….my, my, you are so principled Garth. Could you be Jesus reborn? I will be moving to your riding just so I can vote for you..seriously, no, seriously….I really mean it….
Garth – I hope you don’t mind some visits from people who don’t live anywhere near your riding – I live in Tory Blue Alberta so at least I am on the right side.
While I respect your opinions and your right to voice them (that is what we Conservatives call “free votes” for any of you Liberal/NDP people out there), I do have some concern with how your commenting on this is being spun in the news hungry media. I am sure you have come to understand that they are in a feeding frenzy right now having been virtually shut out of any leakage. They are extremely upset that they found out about the cabinet appointments at the same time as we all did. They do not like that and it is payback time. I would ask – Conservative to Conservative to keep this in mind when you discuss your thoughts with them. You and Myron Thompson have become their only sources and therefore they are using you as evidence that all is not well with the new government.
I know that you totally understand what is happening with them, but I also know that many, many voters in this country only listen to 30 second sound bytes and read headlines and that is how they formulate their opinions.
Good luck with your political career – lets hope it is a long one and thank you for giving an Albertan the opportunity to express my opinion.
I for one don’t like all these new people coming in here and telling us faithful readers what to think. hey Garth – so we don’t get drowned out (and it seems it’s coming from western conservative faithful for some reason) how about making the leave a comment function for subscribers only?
Mike, are you suggesting censorship? Although I live in the west, I like to think that my opinions have some value. I respect that you have a different opinion, but it is healthy to listen to different takes on a situation and not shut them out. I think that as a parliamentarian, Mr Turner should hear different opinions and get a feel of what the rest of the Country thinks. BTW, if the government does not move on an elected Senate and ethics and accountability laws I will then condemn Mr Harper and join the Reform Party II and not before.
[...] ving Harper embrace a floor-crosser like Emerson is affecting his support, you should read this post by a Conservative MP which contains a lette [...]
A few comments from Beyond the Rockies on the mess Mr Harper has created. First, on the protagonists – David Emerson is simply a power hungry egotist, albeit a reasonably bright one, who saw an opportunity and took it. He doesn’t understand the importance of integrity and will ultimately pay the price. Ditto for Fornier. Sad, crass, infuriorating in both cases. But Harper!! Bloody hell!!! The self righteous eye rolling about cleaning up government and bringing accountability to Ottawa! The fact is that many Canadians held their noses and voted Conservative because they had decided it was worth the risk in order to do exactly that – clean things up and bring some accountability to the process. Harper’s actions will ensure that group will now look elswhere to register their dissatisfaction.
Dr Keith Martin is often grouped with recent “floor crossers” in Ottawa, but that is unfair. He did the right way, in my opinion. He was a member of a party, campaigned on the basis of his and his party’s policies and values, and was elected. Then the party changed underneath him, amalgamating with the PCs and electing Stephen Harper as leader. He felt he could no longer associate with the new party and particularly its leader, and announced that he would sit as an independent until the next election, and then run as a Liberal, which he did, and was elected easily a few weeks ago. This is someone who has sat as a Reform MP, an Alliance MP, an Independent, and now as a Liberal, all in the same riding, and it is because his electorate admires and respects his honesty and integrity as well as his values and beliefs. He has never allowed the party system to thwart his efforts and we need more people like him in Canadian politics.
Shame on Stephen Harper for grinding any hope that Canadians might have had for a new kind of politics in Ottawa. Disgraceful!
I’m sure you will find lots of ‘friends’ who will support you while you slag the party you supposedly support. With unproffessional behaviour like yours it’s no wonder you were passed over for cabinet, oh well, if you say nasty things about Harper you know you will always get lots of airtime to stroke your ego.
There is a vast difference between respectfully disagreeing with your party and throwing a public hissy fit. Next time, before you hop on your high horse of self-righteousness, you might want to consider the long term effect on the Conservtives, if you ARE a Conservative, that is.
Mr Turner,
I don’t think that your bravado is required at this time – at least when a young government is trying to set a course. Your discourse only augments the Media hype propogated from the Liberal side. If Stephen Harper can take the pressure then surely you can also and hopefully you will be able to turn your considerable experience into an asset.
Garth:What you saw last monday was what
Canadians haven’t seen in Chretien and Dithers for 13yrs. so I can understand people, the Media, NDP and Liberals not recognising agressive leadership. I’m amazed that you missed it though!This
type of leadership is not necessarily
winning friends but does get things accomplished and it will for the good of the country. Give success an opportunity! Stay connected….enjoy.
Harper and the rights of voters – Emerson’s way out for the PM?
By now Harper must be wondering if the “superficial criticism†he anticipated is stronger than he thought it would be.
Given the “legs†this story has, Harper must be seeking for a way out this mess he and Emerson – along with a few (now hiding in the bushes?) Tory advisors – have created. His choices are rather limited.
Should he tough it out and wait for it to blow over?
Should he ask his newest and bestest buddy David E to resign and run again?
Try something else (like: I thought he was Tory all the time; I am horrified to learn that he was a Liberal. Somebody should have told me that! Must I do everything around here? No – maybe that would not work).
But today Emerson gave Harper the opening he needs:
In the press: “Emerson bridled at the comparison. “If you’re equating the Grewal situation with mine, I take great offence,†he told reporters. But he said he would abide by the findings of any probe by the ethics commissioner’s office. “If I’m found to be guilty of wrongdoing I will leave,†Emerson said.â€
Well said, David!
Why not speak to the PM and suggest that:
• you would voluntarily have the facts – all the facts and nothing but the facts – laid before the Ethics Commissioner;
• you would agree to an accelerated hearing by the Ethics Commissioner, with a result expected by no later than, say, March 31 (after all, the facts are few);
• you would not act as cabinet member until the finding; and
• if the Commissioner finds against you, you will resign and the PM will hold a by-election by, say, May 15.
Of course, Emerson should run in that by-election.
What an honourable way out of the dilemma he has helped create.
Good man, David.
By KevinB on 02.09.06 2:18 pm said: “I don’t object to the idea of him putting himself in front of the electorate again, but why not give him some time to see if he can deliver on what he’s attempting to do? If he were to say “I’ll have a by-election in two years – you can toss me out then if you think I’m not doing a good jobâ€, I’d be satisfied. Would you?”
Exactly why would anyone want to give him time to do what? He was clearly put into a Conservative cabinet to continue his Liberal work on the Security and Prosperity Agreement, the plan for Fortress America 2010, which Martin signed with Bush and Fox in March 2005. Maybe Garth can expand on what that means for those who don’t know.
If the people of Vancouver Kingsway wanted a Conservative rep they could have voted for one. They clearly wanted the Liberal agenda brought forward, they clearly accepted Mr.Emerson’s speak of I’ll be in the Conservatives face blah blah, but in their face and on their team has a totally different meaning!
Democracy is not being displayed in these actions. I have just read Mr.Harper’s new code of ethics and it certainly is well written, too bad the meaning is lost on the Emerson deal and the Fortier appointment. Anyone who isn’t interested in putting in the time to attend candidate debates, talk to the electorate and offer themselves for public examination before the vote shouldn’t be fast tracked into a cabinet position. It is an insult to the whole process and to all those who made the effort to stand during the campaign.
I would like to know what floor Mr.Emerson crossed since the House won’t be sitting until April? I would also like to know what precedent is involved to allow this process. I hope Garth has some answers, as my letters to other Conservative mp’s and Mr.Harper have so far gone unanswered.
Dear Garth,
I am happy to see a Conservative standing up for what is right. Stephen Harper has betrayed Preston Manning’s Vision for a reformed political system, Harper must go.
It is the height of hypocracy that Harper accepted the Liberal turncoat. It is ffffffing outrageous!