Dawn broke over the frozen capital this morning. Five am, and I am walking my dog on Major Hill’s Park, across the street from my little apartment. Steam is rising from the few hunks of water left unfrozen on the Ottawa River, and this golden glow is starting to envelop the unbelievable spires of the Library of Parliament.
This morning I am proud to be a member of Parliament, even after the mess I went through yesterday. I reflect as I walk past the statues in the park on what the prime minister and his guys had to say to me last night. Those were tough moments, but I have come to the realization I had no choice. I cannot stand and support something in Ottawa that I would not in a Town Hall meeting in north Oakville. Not even when it is the PM asking. Or demanding.
Anyway, I have made my point and it’s time to move on. I’m just one MP and I won’t change the system. My job is not to tilt at the windmills sprouting up all around this town, but to represent the people who sent me here. Funny, it all seemed so simple driving up on Monday morning…
David Emerson has his own decisions to make, so does Stephen Harper, so do I. So, back to the business of being positive.
Today Esther is finishing off booking a series of Town Hall meetings across the riding, because I want to get some serious input on what the first Conservative budget in 13 years should contain. I spoke with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty yesterday, and he is now expecting a report from Halton. Actually, I would like to make it a report from the Middle class. For sure, the GST cut will be in there, and hopefully the capital gains tax deferral we promised during the campaign. But I sense people want to go a lot further.
So, the Town Halls and the web site input and the survey I’ll be sending out will be asking for ideas and support for those concepts I campaigned on. For example, single-income families where one spouse stays home with a child should be able to split income and drop to a lower tax bracket. Retired couples with one person on a pension and the other with little or no income should be able to do the same.
We need better encouragements for people to save for retirement, with RRSPs for stay-at-home spouses, and a lifetime retirement savings plan in after-tax dollars. How about the ability to deduct a portion of rising property taxes from family income, to stifle the impact of this unfair tax on unrealized capital gains? We need a family tax return, treating families as economic units which, of course, they are.
These are among the ideas we talked about in Halton during the campaign and now, as government, it is time to push them forward onto the national agenda. Middle class folks need a break in this country since they are the real engine of the economy, paying the taxes, paying retail, never complaining, and getting no favours. Our middle class is an accomplishment worth celebrating – folks there should be hopeful, prosperous and optimistic. And surely this is the right government to advance their cause.
So, Jim Flaherty will have our report – and I welcome input from everyone. If you have an opinion, let me know. Leave a comment. Send a note.
Of course, what the government does not do in the budget I am prepared to table as a private member’s bill in Parliament – a Middle Class Act hat I have been working on for some time. I hope to speak for the folks who sent me here to do just that – those who may have houses, but no savings, who are in the top marginal tax bracket, but go paycheque-to-paycheque, and those who contribute every day to our country without so much as a tip from the hand of their government.
Over the coming six weeks I will also be rolling out the Digital Democracy initiative – making some major changes to this web site so it allows people everywhere to vote along with their MPs in Parliament, offers interactive discussion boards on major topics Canada faces, allows disabled people full web access, and helps make it tough for the decision-makers to ignore voters.
And, yes, I will be making good on my personal commitment to the democratic process, tabing a private members bill forcing an MP who turns his or her back on a party to go back to the people for support. It’s time we put voters back in charge. And it’s a shame it ever came to this.
So much for week one, eh?
293 comments ↓
Has anybody thought about the possibility of Stephen Harper’s appointment of Micheal Fortier, and the defection of David Emerson could be related? Did the Conservatives use David Emerson as a screen to slide Mr. Fortier into Parliment?
The GST cut is a must, and it would be great politics for you guys to cut it to 5% right away. The Capital Gains deferral is as big as it gets, so if that goes through, we’ll all be satisfied.
The one other thing I think we all want to see addressed is the federal double-dipping on gasoline. Remove the fuel tax, or exempt gasoline from the GST.
You want imput here you go: most taxation is immoral so cut cut cut privatize everything possible including education healthcare etc.
It’s nice that you belong to a party that will read and repsect your town hall recommendations on the budget, especially after all your wonderful PR work you have done for them in the media.
you are quite within your rights, ( and it is even your
duty ) to speak out against the appointment of
of Emerson to the cabinet! i am still in shock that
so soon after his election Harper would
even consider accepting Emerson into his cabinet!
and even more shocked by Harper making a Senate appointment
so soon! no matter what spin Harper puts on these
appointments, they stink to high heaven!
ow well, as the French say….plus ca change……
Wow a politician with integrity!?!? LOL
Garth, I support your actions and urge you to continue to speak and vote your conscience in the House and elsewhere.
Regarding the Fortier appointment, I think that is even MORE disturbing because he did not even get elected by anybody but Harper himself. Doesn’t that justify a political reaction by the mainly Liberal-appointed Senate? I mean, if Fortier can’t be held accoutable by the Opposition in the House of Commons doesn’t that mean that it becomes the RESPONSIBILITY of the Senate to block or seriously challenge any Public Works legislation brought forward? Just a thought…
Stephen Harper approached David Emerson to cross the floor and join the Conservatives, and he also made the decision to appoint Fortier. So what this means is you went against the Decision of your leader at a critical time. Harper feels he had good reasons for doing what he did and required your support at this time. The issue of crossing the floor could have been dealt with at a later date. I doubt that you will end up in a renovated washroom, as it appears you are doing some grandstanding, however I suggest all that will happen is you will be ignored by the other members.
Having seen your interview on CTV I was saddened by your apparent lack of view to the big picture for Canada! Less partisanship would allow for the best to be drawn into positions of leadership. Yes, work for democratic reform. Is it just for you to require that people (including MPs) live by laws that have not been enacted? Your job is to see that laws governing behaviour are enacted. If you don’t like it change it! Your negativity is not helpful.
Mr Turner
How do you expect the Government, of which you are a part, to get down to business when you take the opportunity to go before the media and keep the distractions of the week front and center? I just don’t see how this helps you, your party or the people of Canada.
Military disability pensions should be brought into line with the equivalant disablity pensions union members receive,
Appearing before a pension board of political appointees who allow little in put from Doctors is like something out of a WW2 movie. These jobs should be picked at random from ex military personnel and just not those of officer rank who know military life and its trials and tribulations.
Gar
Garth, since you’re asking…
how about a small tax exemption (say the first $100-200) on deposit interest taxation.
It seems pretty mean that if you get a CRA interest payment because they didn’t process your taxes quickly or if you’re saving for a reno or a house deposit outside of Home Buyers Plan you get dinged at the marginal rate – I’m going to have to pay on both scenarios in the outgoing tax year.
But if you had the same money in stocks, which lower middle class/newly married couples won’t do, you get $1000 exemption on dividends. Seems unfair to me!
I’m from Toronto so if you get this through you can claim to be representing Torontonians since the Toronto media doesn’t seem to like the idea of Jim Flaherty doing it
I AM NOT FROM YOUR RIDING, HAVING SAID THIS, YOU AS A INDIVIDUAL SEEM TO REPRESENT MY OPINIONS AND VALUES AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY WELL DONE!!! YOU ARE A MAN OF TRUE PRINCIPALS AND STRONG ENOUGH TO STAND UP TO WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.
IF I COULD I WOULD MOST CERTAINLY VOTE FOR YOU…KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND DON’T BACK DOWN UNDER THE PRESSURE…YOU ARE RIGHT…TO DO ANYTHING LESS WOULD JUST MAKE YOU ANOTHER CORRUPT ELECTED OFFICIAL…
HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU IN THE NEWS..WHO KNOWS PERHAPS YOU WILL SUCCEED…REMEMBER EVEN FROM THE BASEMENT A VOICE CAN BE HEARD….
The best way to help the Middle Class would be to retain the Income Tax cut put in place by the previous government and to increase the Basic Personal Tax Credit from $8648 to $20,000. It is ridiculous that people living below the poverty line are paying income tax. This would give a big boost to the Middle Class as well. There is every reason to believe that the increase in tax yield will make up for the lost tax receipts at the lower end of the income scale, as long as your government does not go through with its proposal to reduce GST, which is simply bad economic policy.
Congratulations on speaking out against the hypocrisy of the Harper government’s first few days. Obviously, Stephen Harper is not one to lead by example, and if this is a preview of the next years then the Conservatives need more members willing to speak their minds like you did with the Emerson appointment.
Garth JUST WHO YOU GONNA LISTEN TO?
When you have all these warm and fuzzy townhall meetings just who are you going to listen to? This imput stuff is all BS. You have to lead not follow.
I think you had an awesome first week. Anyone who takes a stand on principle and gets shit on by their boss (who is clearly in the wrong) is pretty much a superhero in my book. I don’t live in Halton, but it’s almost worth the move to be represented by the last honest politician.
You must feel like Henry Fonda at the beginning of “12 Angry Men”, except that you have over 100 angry people to deal with, not just 11.
Cogratulations on your stand Mr Turner. You are a true supporter of democracy. Keep up the good work.
Mr. Turner:
You may have some dissidents leaving comments here but I fully support you and your stand for democracy in Canada.
Some may call it grandstanding, I call it integrity. Your constituents are lucky to have someone who speaks the truth and tries to live by it.
You got sucker punched by your leader, as did many of us Albertans who put our faith in him to change this system. Boy, we got a change allright. But not the one we were looking for.
If you want to flip Harper the bird the next time you see him, feel free to do so compliments of one pissed off constituent of Calgary-Nosehill.
I applaude your integrity but mostly your standing up to principle. I am sure others in your caucus feel the same but will just play the politically game. Thank you for standing up and hope that basement washroom is at least well renovated. LOL
I can see that the tory spin machine is jumping into motion. Attack the messenger and avoid the issue.
You guys have the mentality of Scott Reid and Ernie Eves. What’s next “repteliant kitten eater from another planet”?
Get a life you hacks. You are so inside the beltway that you will only hear your own echo. Give it up
Rock on Garth!
You that man! Put that mighty analytical brain to work, along side your ear to the ground and shake up that tax system!
I was one of the many who desired a change in government, mostly because of the Gomery Commission relevations, but also because of the actions of Belinda Stronach. She made a selfish decision and obviously did not consider the wishes of the constituents who elected her.
To have this repeated by Mr. Emerson’s appointment is far greater and an outrageous Conservative betrayl of principle.
I was taught at a very young age, and this is something I still live by:
Principles only mean something when they are inconvenient.
Mr. Turner, you have embodied that phrase this week, and for that I commend you greatly. As a life long Conservative, I was greatly saddened by the appointments. I have been following your comments with much interest, and I thank you for having the integrity to say them honestly. I still believe that our Conservative government will achieve change and progress for Canada, but progress is only as valid as the intentions behind it. I believe you understand that, and I hope you continue to fight for that. Thank you again.
You really impress me. It is too bad that politics has to be this way. I think many had hoped that Harper would do business differently.
I think it’s deplorable that Harper and his “communications team” would give you a brow beating for basically sticking to election promises.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t thrilled when the Conservatives took power, but strangely enough Emerson’s jumping ship indirectly gave me some confidence in the party. Not because Emerson betrayed his campaign staff, voters, and former party, but because it brought out the Conservatives that are actually genuine about improving Canadians opinion of politics. People like yourself and Myron Thompson, willing to break party line and call a spade a spade is what will do that. Harper’s latest moves will do the opposite.
Next time they decide to sidestep democracy for whatever reason I suggest pulling them into YOUR office and demanding that they explain themselves to you and the Canadian people properly; not spend a week literally running from the press rattling off classic brush-off lines such as “I’m really later for a meeting†(Ambrose), or “I’m caught in trafficâ€(Emerson). Also you might want to mention to Harper’s media people that ignoring reporters is like trying to put out a fire with a barrel of jet fuel, they will be badly burned.
Keep up the inspiring work Garth, don’t let the powers that be get to you. Remember, while PMO officials might want you to stick to the party line, Canadians don’t.
Looks like not too many people are ready to drop yesterday’s subject yet, Garth.
Personally, I think there are two sides to this story. Neither Emerson nor Fortier are in this for the money, but because they feel they have an important contribution to make. Let’s give them and Harper a chance.
If it’s not too much to ask, could you think twice before treating the MSM to their next field day.
I voted for you, but also for the Conservative party because the other two choices are between Tweedledum and Tweedledee – socialism-in-a-hurry or socialism-by-stealth.
Uh Garth, one guy can make a difference.
See: Chuck Cadman
Its bad enough that the liberal party have put their spin on this, But must you continue as well? Your comments were unwarranted and childish. Give the Conservatives(of which you ARE a member) a chance. Get on with the job!
I have seen the flak you have received from your colleagues and it is truly unjustified. You are first and foremost a MP representing your constituents of Halton – they sent you there and are accountable to them before your party, which would rather you toe the party line.
You have spoken your conscience and taken heat, but you will win always respect for standing up and doing the right thing.
By the way, I am a life-long Liberal but also a voter who admires integrity and sincerety in a non-partisan way across the political spectrum. Too bad for Canada there are not enough MP’s of your ilk in Parliament, irrespective of their party allegiance.
Keep speaking from your heart, Mr Turner.
Mr Turner, you have clearly demonstrated why we have been in opposition for 13 years. Unlike other PM’s, Harper is doing what is best for the nation and the party. He is not doing this for himself. Historically, Harper has proven himself to be both prophetic and brilliant when it comes to policy and strategy. I for one am not anxious to be back in opposition for another 13 years!! Have respect for your new CEO’s decisions and the millions of people who have waited patiently for this.
I think the message has been heard. The announcements of cabinet positions of ex-liberals and non-elected members will have an impact on those of us “nervous conservatives”. Now the parlimentary secretary for the Francophonie is Anglais. It seems that one bad anouncement follows the other. Needless to say it will become increasingly difficult to implement an agenda that continues to be on the defensive. I voted conservative for change. I don’t like what I am seeing,
That being said I wish you luck with your tax incentives and implementing your program of change.
I am now a sceptic..
I am not a conservative. However, I just wanted to say, Mr. Turner, that our country needs more politicians of integrity like yourself. Harper’s appointments of Emmerson and Fortier are disgraceful, and your courage to say so in the face of censure by your own caucus scores you huge points in my book! If you were running in my BC riding, my vote would be for you. Keep up the good fight in parliament.
Mr. Turner,
I applaud you for standing up for what’s right – even though it isn’t the most popular thing to do. Integrity seems to be a rare thing anymore and I’m encouraged to see that you have brought some to Parliament Hill.
What is more unfortunate than the earlier this week in cabinet is the smug dismissal of those involved of doing something that is counter to what they previously believed in (or at least what they told the public). It is an insult to the people who had put their faith in a Conservative Government to change the way Ottawa does business. I’m afraid this may become an indicator of what to expect from our new “accountable†government.
Stephen Harper and the Conservatives got elected, in part, to clean up Ottawa and to change the way the politics operates in Canada. The moment they get in, those promises get trashed. Now, people say that you should have supported Mr Harper because he knows best, and that complaints should be saved for another time.
Wrong, if these broken promises are allowed to slide by, what is the next one to go? Who will have the “moral” authority to challenge that one?
I agree with Kerry at the beginning of these comments, the Emerson saga is obscuring the far more egregious abuse of power that the Fortier appointment represents.
I’m so proud of you…as corny as that sounds. I used to be a conservative, but I have been wandering aimlessly for years now trying to find something to believe in. I couldn’t vote Conservative in the election because I just don’t trust Harper. I see that I haven’t been let down. My only wish is that I lived in your riding. You would have my vote. It’s funny to me that you are ‘getting it’ for being the very man that Harper claimed he was….interesting what power can do.
Garth, I’m in awe of your integrity. Keep up the good work. Although I’m not in your riding I feel you’re representing me.
Feedback:
1. Cut the GST asap.
2. Cut capital gains tax.
3. Allow income splitting (I hadn’t thought of this before you mentioned it – it seems like an obvious thing to do).
Hint: While you’re roundng up the required 155 votes for anything you propose…
Keep in mind that there won’t be a single MP of any party that doesn’t know that conversations with you aren’t private. That you’ll run for microphones and your blog.
That anyone with a legit contrary point of view might end up seeing your take without a fair presentation of their take.
Cheers for your courage to pay attention to your conscience. Please keep it up, we are with you.
On budget and economy, Canada would do a lot better if the small private enterprises get a fair deal from financing institutions – if they use more conscience than computers!
Way to stand by your beliefs! I am a Conservative but have always had reservations about Stephen Harper. I did with reservation vote Conservative in the last election, desperately hoping that their government would be different. I am feeling taken aback and taken advantage of and I cannot wait for the opportunity to not vote for Stephen Harper in the future. The party needs a leader with integrity; Stephen Harper is not that man.
Oh yes, pee all over your leader and party in public and then back to business. Enough with the sack cloth—you had every right to argue your point in caucus, indeed you had a responsiblity to. Going public and sounding so sanctimonious is something entirely different.You are a self-serving phoney.
I am so disgusted with you – hope you stay in the washroom for a long time and take Myron with you. YOU ARE A TROUBLE MAKER.
There needs to be an equalization between the indexing alloted to CPP and OAS and the rates athorized by provincial,regional and municipal governments on energy, and property assessments. Otherwise seniors on fixed and indexed incomes will fall further behind every year and be forced to sell their homes. Good Luck with this one, I have been on this for months and months to every politician in Canada. They are all so busy pointing the finger in the other direction, they are blind to the thumb pointing back at themselves.
Bravo Garth!
Thank you for standing up for what is ethical. On day One our new Government seems to care a little less about democratically elected parliament. Both Mr. Emerson and Mr. Fortier need to be “duly elected” before they can really claim to represent the Canadian Government.
Vijay
As someone who was greatly impressed with Stephen Harper in the election campaign, and as someone who was leaning conservative, I applaud your show of character in what must be a difficult situation. I was quite hopeful a week ago, and now I’m quite disappointed by Harper and the Conservative party in general. Frankly, they look like a bunch of amateurs who are in over their heads. I applaud your show of courage and I think you do your party – as well as the Canadian people – a great service.
Garth – good on you! I am a former resident of HH now living in TO – what has happed with Fortier and Emerson is making us a laughing stock – I am not a PC supporter but do support you wholly on your stand – too bad that a lot of other elected members do not have the courage and they complained about Ignatieff being parachuted in!
This just out on the wires, and on the front page of yahoo.ca:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20060210/ca_pr_on_na/tories_turner
Mr. Turner,
as a party you can not say one thing one day and after the vote is taken say the opposite,Your party blasted the Liberals for their inept governing(Gomery)and just in a few days in power do the same.You should be commended for standing up for what you told the people
(who elected you)what you would do.We wonder why people do not want to vote because once in power every party is the same and we see this every day.it is just nice to see someone stand up regardless of the consequences
Mr. Turner – Kudos to you for showing some backbone. The days of political partisanship and rigid party politics are over. When will the idiots in Ottawa understand that most Canadians don’t particularly care about party loyalties. We just want to see some honesty and forthrightness for a change.
You know Mr. Turner, if enough Conservatives crossed the floor and joined the Liberals, there would be a Grit minority and Mr Harper would be calling the moving van again.
You could get a Liberal cabinet post(even PM) and all of Parliament would be in shock!
Of course this is only a scenario but it could happen.
Changing parties requires voter approval or there will be NO stability in government.
I urge you to persue this matter before it gets out of hand.
Garth… while I fundamentally oppose almost everything you stand for (you did deliver us the GST in the first place) I applaud your courage on the Emerson issue.
But I also suggest that Canadians are pretty stupid believing Harper’s claims about “ethics” in government.”
Hi Garth Well you actually give me hope that there are some principles left in politics. Congratulations on your stand. Being in your integrity is far more important than being in a nice office best wishes Trevor
I am intrigued by some of the reaction to your stand–I suspect some of the people who are chastizing you for raising this issue are the same people who were ready to kill Belinda Stronach when she crossed the floor. The only true test of character is when you stand up for a principle even though it may not be in your best interest. As unpopular as your stand may be with some Tories, I appreciate that there are still elected officials are willing to practice what they preach.
Garth,
Your efforts to express your views, and those of YOUR constituents are what Parliament should be about.
The days of the iron fisted PMO and a Prime Minister angrily riding herd on his MPs should be long gone.
That they are not, is a sad commentary on Stephen Harper as he now enters the “bubble” which is the Prime Ministership.
Harper, shown during the campaign as fairly open is not surrounded by his appointed pratorian guard and RCMP guards.
He should depend on his MPs to tell him what people are thinking and saying.
If he won’t, his term in power will be deservedly short.
TIZ
You all want to know how we spend our tax dollars? Take a peak at this report on timber resources across the entire province of B.C. et. el, wood volumes, who’s corporately hot, who’s not, mill numbers, whats left to cut, everything is in this report. It was done for the BC Trade development Corporation of which he was then president in 1991, 1992.
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/D…021/RC021_3.pdf
This website contains the report with information on forest industry prepared for our “honorable” David Emerson and explains how and why our “honorable” David Emerson got so rich as a CEO dolling out shares to himself with Canfor. He had intel no one else had.
It reminds me of university professors who get genious from the odd student only to take it to the markets to pad their wallets with untold millions. Its the same conflict of interest we allow even now, unknowingly….
Honorable Emerson had intel that only a few were privy to as deputy finance minister of BC in 1984.
It wasn’t fluke that led him to the only survivor as President and CEO of the Western and Pacific Bank of Canada in Vancouver (now the Canadian Western Bank after he successfully merged his bank with another one to make a killing in self appointed CEO shares. This is where he made millions and moved right back to Government for more intel.
As some will recall, the BC Trade development Corporation was a big part of the Federal Liberal trade missions back in the 90’s. Remember those? There were all kinds of reports done on our resources here and what we had to offer. Honorable Emerson sat on information few had anywhere in the world with this region.
His involvement with banks and Canfor, and the Vancouver airport were all about money. Honorable David Emerson has been a Fed government researcher since 1974. His intel through to the 80’s led him here and its no surprise that his background, his ambitions and his dealings have made him a millionaire many times over, and at the taxpayers expense, as this is about as blatant a conflict of interest as it gets.
Honorable Emerson’s directorships included : Teresen Inc, Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada; Vice-Chairman of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives; Chair, British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.; and Chairman and Director of Genus Resource Management Technologies Inc.
Each directorship relates to what he knew from government intel, and reflects where these same corporations headed. Teresen did extremely well under his advice.
He was right on top of coordinated market research and drafted major reports on the food industry in China, drafted energy sector briefing notes used by Premier Harcourt during Team Canada’s 1995 trade mission to China, with follow up to identify energy projects suitable for pursuit by BC companies.
Why did he have a chinese vote? (40% of his riding is Chinese) Ever heard the slogan “vote for the Republicans, their good for business.” Honorable David Emerson was synomymous with this term in Chinese, only it was “vote for the Liberal, good for Business”.
Honorable David Emerson has enough intel on RAV, Gateway and Whistler to make millions more. It should be no secret as to how many conflicts of interest he really has and I hope you’re the kind of MP that cares to find out and act appropriately.
To the Honourable Garth Turner:
Congratulations on winning the riding of Halton. You now have the task of representing people with views that are like yours and many that disagree with you.
You obviously chose to run in a political party that has the same challenges from across Canada…diverse views and the need to come to consensus within a team to represent all Canadians.
However my opinion is that you actually chose to run in the wrong party. Your views are much more closely alligned with the NDP. They whip votes so no member can have dissenting views to the leader- but you would be in tune with them on the NDP floor crossing proposal, the NDP clean up corruption package, the NDP same sex marriage stance, the NDP vision that government should play a big role in people’s lives.
The NDP does not support tax cuts as you do but you could provide a voice and leadership within that party to change their views.
With respect, since floor crossing is not un-paliamentary , the NDP would be all the better to have you join their cause. Or, if you want the taxpayer to pay the $500,000 it would cost for a by-election you could run again as an NDP in Halton and from the comments on this board I believe you would be elected.
Best of luck to you. LIke Mr. Emerson who became disillusioned with the Liberal party so made a free will choice to serve his constituents under another banner you could do the same thing as your discontent with the Conservative leader is now a matter of public record.
God speed in your choices.
I think what you’ve done is the right thing. While my political views are not he same as yours (actually quite different), I still think that parlimentary ethics should come first, as if someone is not ethically sound, then anything that person does can be questioned.
You shouldn’t care about what your leader, or the leader of any party says. You were elected by the members of your community who believed that you were the right person for the job.
Democracy allows for dissent, and if there isn’t any dissent, then it’s not democracy.
As a resident of Halton riding, I am extremely proud of your principled stand on the switching of Parties.Keep up the good work Garth!
Garth, why don’t you seriously think about running for the position of Leader of the Liberal party? Let’s face it, your future with the Conservative party is limited at best. Now, the Liberals are looking for a new leader, and the Liberals are looking to change their image, from crooks to upstanding citizens. This is your opportunity Garth. You can rebuild, mold this party into your version of an ideal political party. This is your chance Garth to be the next Prime Minister of Canada. I’m sure the people of Halton will support you, and the rest of Canada will also see the advantages of having you as the PM. If you decide to do this, you can count on my modest financial backing as well. I want to finally see somebody run this country that has integrity and an agenda to help the the tax-oppressed middle class. So let’s hear it from you guys out there…Do you want Garth to be the next PM or not?
Good for you. You belong with that rare breed who stand-up for your beliefs in the face of certain backlash. People biting their tongue when it comes to personal values and beliefs has led to many negative outcomes (the Liberals could have used a guy like you years ago). Walk with your head held high and know that you are supported by the people.
I am disappointed in you for not looking at the bigger picture. The time to air differences is in caucus not in the press. You mouthing off does not help get Ottawa straightened out–all you are doing is helping the liberals and NDP maybe you are thinking of running for the liberal leadership –is that the reason you are undermining your caucus. Shame on you for not giving it more thought before you aired your differences in public.
How about a tax to address the increasing concentration of wealth in this country? A 2% inheritance tax on estates valued at greater than $1 Million would focus some attention and alleviate that issue somewhat. This would not have a signficant impact because people with that kind of estate would probably structure their affairs to avoid such a tax. Hopefully, plugging some loopholes could reduce this avoidance.
For the record, Stephen Harper is not Garth’s “boss”, the people of Halton are his boss.
Good for you Mr. Turner! It’s nice to see a politician who speaks his mind and feels the same way I do regarding Stephen harper’s controversial cabinet appointments. By the way, I hope you read the article that Scott Brison had in the National Post about the same appointments.
Mr. Harper has shown contempt for one of the fundamental principles of responsible government-namely, the concept that the cabinet MUST be responsible to the elected members of the assembly. What he did also contradicts comments he made earlier about the Senate and unelected cabinet members.Gee, he’s only been in power a few days and already he’s put his foot in his mouth…….
You could’ve said you’re against floor crossing and left it at that. It’s one thing to criticize your boss in private but quite another to do it in the national media.
Garth,
I dont live in your riding. In fact, I live in the riding of David Emerson. I wish you were in my riding. Even though, I am not for the Conservatives platform and philosophy, I respect people like you, who has principles and stand up for his principles, tremendously. You reminded me of the late Chuck Cadman.
It’s sad that Harper, who styles himself as a champion of freedom, integrity and honestly has brought out the worse side of the Liberals.
Luring Emerson with a cabinet post undermines our voters’ right. The most precise right of all.
Worse, appointing M. Fortier to the Senate so he can have a cabinet post flies in the face of democracy and denies the hardworking members who spent so much of their time and effort to build this party.
Partisan politics aside, this is wrong. Because it encourages cronyism and breeds culture of entitlement — the very stuff that your party campaigned against.
But, let me end this by saying “hat off to you.” Honest policians, regardless, of political affilliation are a rare breed and always welcome.
I must start by telling you that I am a Liberal voter in Oakville, and I feel proud of your principled position on the Emerson affair and hope that position extends to the Fortier appointment as well.
Your stance reaffirms my personal belief that politics and principals are not mutually exclusive! Although your Party ran on a platform that held “accountability†as the top priority, their first official act was to absolve a politician of his ultimate “accountability†to those who elected him!!! Ironic isn’t it?!!!
Mr. Turner, you may have dashed your chances of ever going anywhere within your Party ,and this is again another sad note on the “democratic†process, but you have no doubt restored whatever little faith people have in politicians.
I’m LOL at all these comments. Lets punish Emerson, throw the book at him and tar his behind!!!Make him go back and face the anger of his riding just like Stronach and Brison. Oh! I’m sorry! they were re elected by their outraged constituents. For god’s sake grow up people and join reality!!!
Garth you have created a monster! look at all the posts, now people are recruiting you for the NDP and Liberal partys wow you must really be a strong Conservative. You must be ticked pink to be loved by the socialists and commies.
Prime Minister Garth Turner!
I am skeptical of all politicians at this point in time. Yes, I am one of the hard working middle class who pay all the taxes that upper and lower income people get away with. No, I am not complaining, however, I do wish there was an immediate way for all Canadians to provide Prime Minister Harper with instantaneous feedback on his decisions. Seems like a satelite hook-up that enabled Canadians to push a button on a special hand-held unit that sends a collective non-lethal shock to Mr Harper’s groin area. Bet he would institute a new “Won’t be doin THAT” again policy when it comes to underhanded and unethical political appointments. Just a thought…
A breath of fresh air
Bravo!! I am a long time Reform supporter from Alberta. I have been greatly concerned as the Reform degenerated into the Alliance and then The Conservative Party. If Harper wants to keep the Liberals out of Ottawa, he has to show integrity (something they never have). As far as the person who sugested privatizing everything, he obviously knows nothing about how big business works.
* * * Back to the subject at hand – THE BUDGET….
i’m worried that income splitting is unfair to single people, who are already the sole income earner for their family, and now have to bear a proportionately larger share of the tax burdern. and at the risk of sounding insensitive, why should we pay people to stay at home? our economy is stronger if mothers get out of the home and work. that’s indisputable. i can accept that some make the personal choice to stay home for a while – my mom did and i appreciated it, but i think income splitting will encourage lower income spouses to leave the job market altogether. i think it would be more fair to collapse the multiple tax brackets we have, and get everyone on a flat tax system – then you wouldn’t need to income split (and if you wanted to allow the transfer of credits from one spouse to another, i’d have no problem with that).
these tax proposals seem very targeted towards the typical conservative base, rather than the population as a whole. it just seems unfair.
i think it would be useful to push for an hst in all provinces with a pst. it would be great if we could get it down to 10%, even if we had to eliminate some of the exemptions currently in place for the gst.
just some thoughts of a halton resident…
“I reflect as I walk past the statues in the park on what the prime minister and his guys had to say to me last night.”
Are you going to cry now, little Garthi Baby? Or, are you going to prance in front of a few more cameras?
Don’t forget your makeup and hair coloring gel, you demagogue.
Garth,
I don’t know you, but let me say how proud I am of you for taking a stand against the appointment of David Emerson. I voted for your party this election and was hoping to finally see a new day dawn on Canadian politics. I do admire what Stephen Harper has done bringing back the Conservatives to power…in the end I really do believe it will help rebuild Canada into a better more “common sense” place to be. More personal initiative and empowerment, less governemnt. But I must say I am so disappointed in the mis-steps taken so far. I agree with you, if you want to be a Conservative, then run for it! I know that if the MP I voted for had just switched sides, I would be some upset. What a hypcorite. Where are your principals? Even with the very best of intentions in mind you have to say NO! I realize that Stephen Harper probably had the good of the country at heart in making the decisions he did, but after taking such a high road on ethics and corruption during the election, this looks BAD, and remember perception is reality! He had better quit hiding and come out and start to explain himself. I think he’s digging a deeper hole than he first thought possible. The mainstream media, after cosying up to the Liberals all those years, doesn’t appear to be in his corner now. They almost seem to be rubbing their hands together on this one and saying “we can get him”. I watched Mike Duffy’s program yesterday and man, the CTV crew is not going to kind. He has got to get ahead of this before it’s too late. I, like you, am more sad than anything right now. I expected better. I feel like Stephen Harper has broken my trust somewhat and now he has to earn it back.
Mr. Turner,
I have never voted Conservative but was not dissapointed with the election results. After every change in government, I start out with the naive hope that this one will be different. This time a new speed record for disillusionment was set by Emerson being sworn into cabinet. So far, you seem to be the only member of your caucus to take a principled stand. Good for you- I would even consider voting for you if you were in my riding!
I admire your stand. I am not in your riding. I voted Conservative. I have contacted my member David Tilson and suggested that if he has INTEGRITY, he should be standing by your side.
Wasn’t Mr. Harper selling the notion of integrity in Government….good thing there is not another election, there’d be no party left to vote for!
Well done!
Already trying to be the center of attention eh Garth. Perhaps YOU should have run as an independent since you don’t seem to be much of a team player. It is one thing to suggest that you aren’t comfortable with Emerson’s move and another to publicly rail against your party and its leader. I hope you do get a rat infested office in the basement – perhaps you can get along better with the janiters than your political peers.
Garth, thanks for your independent thinking. If anyone wants to add their comments about Emerson, you can go to:
http://www.recalldavidemerson.com/comment
Keep the pressure on David Emerson Garth. You have my support. What Stephen Harper has done is just increase the level of cynicism in the electorate. As for the people who a slaggin you, I bet they had steam comming out of there ears when Belinda Stornach crossed the floor. What Emerson has done is no different then what Stronach did. They where both enticed to cross the floor by cabinet spots. To criticize when one party does it but say that it is alright when another part does is the ultimate in hypocrisy and those slagging you should be ashamed of themselves. Stephen Harper was elected to clean up the ethics mess of the last government. However he is starting down the same slipery slop that Trudeau, Mulroney and Chretien have done, promise to clean things up but then do the same old thing. As Brian said there’s no whore like an old whore.
I appluad your stance on David Emmerson. Steven Harper has nundermined the credibilty of the Conservative Party by this appointment and the message on which he campaingned.
On the topic of the budget I would like to be able to move money from my RRSP to my RESP to invest in upgrading my education. Similarly – If my kids get scholorships I would like to be able to transfer their RESP funds to an RRSP.
Hope that makes sense.
I agree with Michael, the Liberals deserve you.
Are most of these comments coming from delighted Liberals?
We sure could have used you in the Reform Party in 1993 or 1997 or 2000. However, it’s better now, even if our leader does not have populous bone in his body
Did you have these same ideas while you were in the Mulronwey Gv’t?
If you don’t yet know who you work for Garth, Your leader is nothing more than a puppet plant and is about as U.S. corporate bought as it gets if anyone doesnt’t know what Harper did from 1998 on, check out the links:
http://www.morefreedom.org/
Nothing speaks like Harpers favorite. Check out campaigns…
http://www.answers.com/topic/nation…izens-coalition
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/10/15/ncc031015
http://www.nupge.ca/news_2003/n27ja03a.htm
This one has some interesting links.
http://web.archive.org/web/20020802…/new_page_3.htm
These links are excellent.
One of my favorites. Good old history, but its a cut and paste.
http://www.stephenharpersaid.ca/pdf/ncc.pdf#search=‘www.national%20citizens%20coalitio n’
Mr. Turner- in retrospect: You have said that you are going to champion those issues and policies that you ran on for the people of Halton.
You ran as a Conservative-but did you run on the Conservative policies that you are now opposing?
Would it not have been far more ethical and principaled to have run as an Independant?
You have good ideas – that is so – but so do your caucus members. Are you principalled enough to listen to their ideas and the ideas of the Prime Minister?
Are you principalled enough to realize that many of your personal ideas do not reflect the beliefs or goals of the people of Halton?
Thee are many who are now musing that you are part of the old Joe Clark/David Orchard Red Tory clan whose mission was to keep the right divided so the Liberals would always be in power.
Perhaps this whole excercise was to find traitors within. Time will tell…
Meanwhile, there is billions of wasted taxpayer’s money to find and corruption within our government.
Perhaps you could help with that mission?
Sorry Garth, you blew it. It’s not about your principles. The party discipline which PMSH encouraged is what got the party elected to power this time. This approach is what will enable the party to properly serve Canada and make the changes required. The powerful and entrenched Liberals are in the tree all around you. Wake up and embrace the big picture here. It’s the future of our Country. PMSH can’t and won’t be absolutley perfect and please everyone all the time. His strategic decisions will sometimes even be controversial and hurt some feelings but being the leader is a very difficult task. You have some great ideas to promote and I was enthused by your zeal to do that but it will be very difficult to now run up-hill after shooting yourself in the foot. No wonder your wife is upset. Your big mouth and quest for the spotlight have ruined a good thing. Sorry, buddy.
Garth, I must say I have great respect you for having the guts to speak out on Emerson affair.
Regards
A lifelong Liberal in Toronto.
Well Thanks for Helping Us NOT to get a resonable return on our Income Taxes via Federal Grants to shore up Our Region just because of You wanting to get a Federal Pension or run for an undemocratic process to be Prime Minister as your past run against Kim Campbell. Gary Carr Knows You Well too.
Looks like Mark Bonokoski got You Pretty Well on page 3 the day after election of the Toronto Sun where You used to work before Linda Leatherdale
Huh? What are you talking about? — Garth
I will look forward to seeing your proposal re: MPs. The concern I have is that I don’t want to lock my MP into a party caucus. In my opinion, the parties already have too much power. I would much prefer weaker party lines a la the US Senate, where people rotuinely vote cross-party and no-one goes apesh**, or the UK and the loose fish there.
I think we have the same goal, a stronger, more responsive democracy. I will be intrigued to see how your proposals accomplish this.
Congratulation, a politician that finally stands up to principals and has balls to say so. I hope your conversation with PMSH was not only one sided and you frankly told him how Canadians felt about his turncoat policies. Maybe you should sit as an Independent and keep fighting for principals. You truly represent the PEOPLE.
If Emerson was really “Captain Canada†as we are told, he didn’t have to sit as a conservative, he could have sat as an independent and Harper could still have appointed him to his Cabinet. If he had done that I don’t think we would have the uproar we have now and I’m quite sure you could have accepted that. Good Luck.
Sir, your honesty and desire to do good in politics will be the end of you in politics!
It was your duty to express your views (which I share) publically. I am equally pleased that you decided to move on. We are too good at washing our dirty laundry in the open.
We have the potential of really making a difference for the “middle class” and you can play a big part in that.
Don Weisbeck
Mayor, Brooks, Alberta
I like your beard.
Garth,
The voter has given the CPC a minority and now it is up to the CPC to implement what they presented to the voter during the campaign.
You got your point across. You got your name splashed about. You got your photo in the media. When do you plan to get down to some serious business and do something for the voter? The voter is not willing to pay the high tax anymore. REDUCE TAX.
Dear Mr Turner,
I live in your constituency in Millcroft in Burlington. I voted for you in the last election (even though you were wearing that corny leather suit jacket straight out of the 70’s in all your pamphlets.)
All I have to say is this:
WAY TO GO on your stance in the Emerson fiasco!!! I am very glad I voted for you and know you will stand up for your constituents!!
Keep up the good work!!
Greg Morton
I wish we had more politicians like you Mr. Turner. My MP, Gary Goodyear, is a fellow Conservative but he seems more interested in pressing his lips firmyly against Mr. Harpers hind quarters than standing up for Canada. Keep up the good work, plebians like me sure appreciate it.
Thank you Garth for being the honest politician that all voters want. Please continue the fight for integrity in goverment.
There are ways to encourage certain individual spendings – example: anybody buying a “green”/hybrid car should be allowed not to pay GST or pay max.1% GST – it’s for the good of all of us. The same with people investing in any house renovations (especially, the external ones) or in planting trees and bushes in their front-yards. We all benefit from that – the GST on any perennial plants should be no higher than 1% again, maybe just none. Schools should be encouraged to organize exchanges of students between diffrent provinces – again, all costs involved in such exchange should be free of GST because it’s important for all of us to see young people growing to know their country.
These are just examples of the areas where removing or minimalizing taxation will benefit many people and individuals at the same time.
I looked up your page only because of your civil courage in expressing your opinion on the new, controversial, ministerial appointments. I do not support Conservatives, but since your party is in for a while, maybe at least some good can be done.
Unfortunately, it seems that you are alone with your courage to voice your point of view – it doesn’t promise very democratic reign by your Party
Anyway, good luck!
On the main page of Petition Online the Recall Emerson Petition has taken over as the #1 most active petition in circulation.
http://www.petitiononline.com/petition.html
Looks like it will hit 10,000 in the next few hours.
Some of the comments in support of Mr. Harper’s decision are disturbing – single-minded followers goose-stepping with the commander, mindlessly defending the indefensible.
Your stand was admirable, Garth, and I’m proud that you’re from my riding, and that I voted for you. Ultimately I think Mr. Harper (and his mindless followers) did –enormous– damage to the credibility of the Conservatives, at a time when much of Canada is basically testing the waters with them, and your comments actually surprizingly undid some of tha damage: It made me reconsider that it isn’t the entire party that pursued such a foolish line driven by hubris and extraordinary (and misplaced) arrogance, but rather it was a very small few who perhaps made an isolated error in judgement.
You humanized the Conservatives a bit, and I’m actually a bit more tolerant than I would have been about this whole disgusting event.
I doubt Stephen Harper has much punishment or marginalization in store for you, as Halton represents on of the few critically important beachheads of the Conservatives. He’d be tearing off his nose to spite his face.
I don’t necessarily agree with you politics, Mr. Turner, however, you were right to stand up and say that what Mr. Emerson is doing is wrong. At least the Conservatives have one good man in caucus…
NEVER NEVER NEVER stop trying to change the system! I, for one, want many more people like you to challenge the conventions of Parliament. There are some serious flaws here, highlighted recently by the atrocious behaviour of Mr. Harper and Mr. Emerson.
Keep in mind that Ms. Stronach’s crossing came after losing a leadership bid and with a government on the brink of falling – not a mere two weeks after being elected for another party, as Mr. Emerson did! How can he pretend to represent the people of his riding when only 8,000 voted for Conservative ideology (third place, mind you) while 20,000 voted for his former party’s?!
Shame on him and good for you, Mr. Turner.
Keep up the good work. I look forward to reading about your endeavours in government – even if it is on the bathroom walls.
As an aside, if you decide to re-run as a Liberal, Garth, you have my vote. Seldom have I really paid much heed to the local candidate, but in this case I’m really impressed by what you’ve done.
And to those “party faithful” who are on the attack: These small-brained looking-for-a-mission attack dogs are the sort of people who kept the various incarnations of the Conservatives marginalized for so long, and they’re the ones who will quickly relegate the big-C to irrelevance again if their voice gets too loud.
Before jumping to conclusions so soon about the Conservatives & Stephen Harper, give the man & his party some time before you want ‘your money back’. There are reasons why Emerson was asked to be put in the position he is… he is a very intelligent man with great credentials. Possibly Harper was looking to find the right man for the job and wanted some experience for the position.
I voted for Garth and am not sad that I did… I think it is one thing to express yourself, which is great to do in a democracy… but it snowballed a bit into a spectacle.
On one side, I agree with Garth, on the other side, Mr. Harper did not get to be the leader of the party for his good looks… he is an intelligent man with the ambition to get a lot of things done. Just wait and see before you all go ape…
Mr. Turner,
While I am not a fan of the current incarnation of the Conservative party, I am plesantly surprised by what I read in your blog.
Your stand on the party-switching does make sense – switching parties is the same no matter what.
Tax-wise, I applaud your idea to allow single-income families to split their total income. Besides leaving more money in the pockets of the middle class, it will encourage more stay-at-home parents, which may help with some of our larger societal issues.
To sum up, I will be watching your actions with cautious optimism. May you be as true to your word as I hope you are.
Mr. Turner,
I admire you for your stand and hope pressure and party don’t change you. You seem like a good man and a good politician.
It’s too bad conservative policies are what they are as I would have voted for you if you were in my riding.
If you can knock some sense into your caucus about the necessity for more aggresive support of the Kyoto accord and subsidies for home power generation via solar, wind, etc then I would mind supporting you as the next PM.
Again to echo what has already been said more than once: It’s all starts with one man making a choice to do the right thing.
I appreciate the integrity shown by Mr. Turner as he supports the resignation of Emerson and a by-election to give the voters an opportunity to decide if they approve of his crossing the floor to get a cabinet post.
This intergrity was the kind I thought a Conservative government was supposed to support. I guess political opportunism is considered unethical only when Conservatives are in opposition.
It is an essential feature of parliamentary representative democracy that a member be free to cross the floor at any time – we elect people, not parties. Your proposal would further weaken the already decayed Canadian parliamentary system by increasing the power of parties at the expense of members and voters in ridings. The consequence of crossing the floor is determined at the next general election by the voters concerned. Among others, I believe that Winston Churchill crossed the floor twice in his career.
In particular David Emerson was clearly out of place in a Liberal party led by anyone other than a fiscal conservative such as Martin was believed to be before his outrageous financial performance in the last government. Emerson is a man of great integrity and ability, and will be an enormous asset to the Conservatives. He must have been holding his nose since late last spring at the floundering behaviour of his PM and fellow ministers, and would have been offended to the core by the Liberal spending spree over the summer and pre-election period.
I got a new slogan for the Conservative Party and its neocon cronies all over this board calling Turner’s actions “childish”. Wait for it:
Sit Down And Shut Up. For Canada.
Blah, blah,blah
who cares what insignificant blatherings a misfit M.P. from Ontario has to say. The fact that the Globe and Mail sees fit to provide a link to this crap is a sorry reflection on their editors.
I give my vote to the PC’s this time round. I voted Liberal in the past and felt that I wanted to give Steven a chance.
Wow, what a mistake. Garth keep up the battle. If I was in your riding I would vote for you.
Although you may be ostracised by your party, you are more effective for your constituents to continue to sit with the Conservatives. You stand taller than your colleagues for your integrity and forthrightness.
The right to vote is one of the keystones of a democracy. A citizen casts his vote to express his support for a political mandate that fulfills his/her hopes and dreams for a better life. Transferring votes from one mandate to another without the consent of the constituents hijacks that support and devalues the right to vote. It sets a bad example for the next generation that the fundamental tenets of democracy can be so easily disregarded.
Digital Democracy initiative – I’d like to know more about this and whether or not David Christopherson in Hamilton Centre is going to implement this technology.
I find your strong principled stance on a legal constitution position, a bit much. Mr. Emerson was duly elected as an MP. Mr. Emerson did not do anything that other parliamentarians didn’t do n the past (one of them Winston Churchill). Mr. Emerson did not cross to prop up a dying scandal ridden government. Mr. Emerson did not cross to take advantage of possible leadership contention. Mr. Emerson crossed to give his services to a government in an area where he is best qualified at great personal expense (and his family’s). Also, Mr. Emerson probably saw that the Liberal caucus was going through internal problems and his services would probably be best used in supporting ALL of his constitutents.
Mr. Turner, it’s not always black and white! Are your stating that a political party is the only (or strongest) voting criteria for a constituent? What about the candidate? Should an elected MP not only represent his political party’s views but also his riding’s views? I would hope that you, sir, would be a MP representative to ALL your consituents (no matter what political party they support)! Given the fact that 30,000 of the 97,000 eligible voters voted for you – I would hope that you would represent ALL and not just the conservatives!
You say that you want to propose a private member’s bill for such an incident. Well consider the NDP example: The NDP and Jack Layton took Bev Desjarlais’s constituents NDP voice in June 2005 – and she had to sit as an independant with no voice in the NDP caucus. So was that right?
Finally, I’ve got a suggestion for those can’t see past the surface media driven frenzy – why not just elect 308 independant and a PM. Then, PM can then choose the best people (MPs) for his cabinet.
How much on this blog discuss the topic you posted it on ? Most of the entries here are either Halleluhia or to Hell with to you. Do you honestly believe you will ever get far deep to get input to things other than what you bitched about publicly?
And I had high hopes that you were a seasoned parliamentarian to provide leadership to this young party?
Thanks for not backing down! Forget what the party officials must have been saying and hold your head up high knowing that thousands of people back home in Halton are proud of your courage and conviction. You couldn’t have made a better first impression.
I respect the risk you are taking with your opinion David Emerson and Harper’s other cabinet choices. After campaigning based on acccountability, integrity, transparency, and moral authority, Harper has chosen to toss those values aside. Let’s see how strong his minority gov’t really is, and how long it will last. You have my support!
Mr. Turner–I wish to salute you on what you did re. the Emerson situation. Although I did not vote for the PC candidate in the Soo, what you did the past few days shows me that you are a man of principle, one who reminds me of myself. Once again, thanks for expressing what is, for most people, the obvious.
Can you QUIT now with the melodrama about yourself and your greatness and start doing what you are paid for: a Parliamentarian to propose and debate laws for the betterment of the lives on ordinary folks ? Stick to the meat and potatoes issues and be done with your piety !!!
Please keep on telling it like it is, Garth. You may be just one MP, politicians like you are rare. Some of the greatest changes in the history have taken place because one person had the courage to to be honest and speak out.
Thank you!
Well Garth, it appears you biggest fans are all Liberals, or Liberal supporters. Of course you know that these folks aren’t really admiring your “principled stand” as much as enjoying the fact you are completly clueless about what Mr. Harper is trying to do.
Remember, those singing your accolades above were singing them for Paul Martin just a few weeks ago (so muc for principles) and Jean Chretien before that.
Look at your new fans Garth. Is it really good news to be admired by such people? If you ran as a Conservative in their riding Garth, you would lose to the Liberal. Your principles wouldn’t hurt you….but they certainly wouldn’t help you against a Liberal.
Admit it Garth….your not upset about Harper’s actions with regards to cabinet, you’re upset because you haven’t grasped the reasons he’s done it.
Don’t sweat it Garth……a lot of people have not been able to figure Stephen Harper out, but it would be foolish to underestimate him. What he’s done was for the good of the country. If we had to take a page from the Liberal Playbook……then we must hold our noses and do it for now. We’ll make the changes when it is possible to do so.
Until then….get off your high horse, and stop pretending your resentment is based on principle. You’re an egotist who loves the spotlight, and the Liberals now know it. You can expect a lot of attention in the coming Parliament.
Of course……that’s all you were looking for in the first place isn’t it.
We live in the Niagara Falls riding, sure wish I could E-mail Rob Nicolson..
but NO e-mail address? Please relay my disgust to him over this whole matter of Fortier and Emerson.
Thankyou, for holding their feet to the fire…YOU are a man with ETHICS.
Thought we were voting for that, this time around?
Congratulations on your stand Re; Mr. Emerson, We need more M.P’s like you. Your concern for middle class tax cuts and senior benifits are welcome news. I would suggest you keep your eye on Mr. Flaherty, don’t let him do to Canada what he did in Ontario.
The Harper Government is all ready showing it’s true colors, back room deals and sleazy appointments. Harper is a wanta be Republican from Alberta Texas and how anyone could “swallow with gusto” anything the guy says is hard to imagine. Thankfully only about 36% of Canadians did. You’re in the wrong party Garth!
Garth,
I am amazed at the number of people dumping on you! Over the last year or two, I have not heard one person say that they DID NOT want to see Ottawa cleaned up. Not one, that did not want to see more politicians with a conscience. Not one, who did not want more politicians to stand up for their convictions.
And yet, many of these same people are now screaming that you should have sat down and shut up! To that I say….bull@#$%. I would suggest that your standing up for your beliefs will, in the next election, gain you many more votes than Stephen Harper will gain in light of his ‘flip-flop’ on the same issue!
Many have said it, but I will repeat it again. If I lived in your riding, you would have my vote undoubtedly; I support men of conscience and decency!
Bruce.
I agree with your stand on the Emerson issue. I haven’t seen anything in the first week of the Conservative Party reign of power that we haven’t seen in the Liberals for years. As usual it appears to be a whitewash of the old issues. My 19 year old son (who shouldn’t be cynical as this was his first federal vote)told me last night it looks a lot like the last couple of months with the name changed. Thanks for standing up to the powers to be (who aren’t known for wise decisions). I didn’t vote Conservative but at least someone in the party is brave enough to stand up and say what he feels. Enjoy your office wherever it may be.
I would sooner have 125 competant MPS running government then 125 people that simply belong to one party. I do not think this is the first nor will it be the last time that a person is appointed from across the floor to act on behalf of the Government. whether it is in the house of commons or as an appointment to a commission or a diplomatic post we have seen many prime minsiters reach out and ask for their help. In the case of David Emerson he was working on the soft wood deal. the only acceptable deal with this issue is a total refund of all duties that have been collected then I have to say well done in rejecting any offer other then that.
Bob rae has been appointed by Liberal Prime Ministers, as have Ed schreyer, (SP), Ujhal Dosanjh jumped parties, as did Keith martin (he went independant, then liberal, how convenient. In all cases we could ask that they resign and run again (at who’s expense?)
Ian Waddell (THE NDP Politician) who has probably got more pensions for his time as MP and MLA and wants another pay cheque is bellowing about this now.
IN reality you need to stop and ask yourself, is my office in the rat infested basement a good deal if we get a quality person to help administer the government in an honest and fair approach. I would say “enjoy the basement”. Lets get on with important issues such as eliminating tax havens (RRSPs) and other tax havens for those that can afford to put money away and have a flat tax system so that all people can use their money in a manner they chose versus what some politican thinks should be used for.
Far too many people have made far too much money off the average middle class person, using their money to invest for profit (someone in all cases has to make money off other peoples money). but this would destroy an intire industry as well as problably put half the lawyers and accountants out of work.
so lighten up somewhat Mr. Turner, you probably would not have gotten a cabinet position anyways.
Obviously your political experience did not introduce you to the concept of being tactful. No parliament, be it Liberal or Conservative, has acted in the romantic way that you envision: where MP’s such as yourself are permitted to be as brash, outspoken, and distracting as possible.
Unfortunately, you’re proving to be a distraction, and the nation looks to you not for what positive changes you may propose, but for your next sound bite.
As a Halton constituent I wholly support your position on the David Emmerson situation. There should be a rule against crossing the floor without a by-election.
Garth;
Some of the posts here claim that Harper is not doing this (being PM, making MPs toe the party line, etc.) for himself but really for the good of Canada. What a crock! The only person I’ve seen doing “this” for the good of Canada is you!! The rest of them — Harper, Emerson, Fortier in particular — are simply jumping onto the good old garvy train. Emerson morphed from a “cash cow” to a pig at the trough overnight, just as one would expect from an ex-CEO.
Keep their feet to the fire, Garth, and send them all a dictionary so they can look up the meaning of the words “principle”, “integrity”, “accountability”, and “democracy”. Unfortunately, as Emerson so clearly stated, they obviously don’t care.
I appreciate your comment about rising property taxes. This should most certainly be a tax deduction for home owners. Property taxes are entirely based upon unrealized capital gains and are a major burden on new home owners who must stay in the same house for many years in order to see a return on their investments.
>And I had high hopes that you were a >seasoned parliamentarian to provide >leadership to this young party?
>By Ron on 02.10.06 2:52 pm
I have copied Ron’s comment above, and to him and others I would say this….
By standing up and demanding the party to remember their commitments to do the right thing, you are perhaps providing the VERY “LEADERSHIP TO THIS YOUNG PARTY” that Ron says he had high hopes for.
To those who seem to think Harper’s actions are inoculous, and serve Canada well, I suggest we take it to the next logical step. Why elect 308 members? Why don’t we just elect the Prime Minister and he can the select the other 307 people he would like to have! Surely if you see nothing wrong with appointing 1 or 2 members of government, you will be equally comfortable with appointing them all! I see lot’s of comments regarding Emerson representing ALL his constituents. Well, consider this. Perhaps the reason he was elected in his riding was because his constituents wanted a strong, opposition voice to the Conservatives. If so, how well are those individuals represented? Or is that portion of his constituents not part of the ‘ALL’ of which everyone seems concerned?
This issue is not about David Emerson and/or Micheal Fortier. Both could be good men who may turn out to be excellent conservative members, but that is not the issue! The issue is the manner in which it was done. Yes, it was legal. Yes, it was Mr. Harper’s perogative to appoint who he saw fit for Cabinet, but it WAS NOT a pricipled decision! It directly violates issues and policies that Stephen Harper put forward as Opposition leader!
Stephen Harper’s appointment of David Emmerson and Michael Fortier reinforce Canadian’s cynicism toward our democratic process and leaders. Mr Turner, Canadians are counting on you to continue speaking stridently for integrity and authenticity in our political discourse and against a politics of convenience and expediency. Thank you–you are a model for how all our representatives in the House of Commons should conduct themselves.
“my personal commitment to the democratic process”
What a crock of BS! Perhaps you can inform voters which other policies, adopted by a majority vote of the Conservative Party, you plan to vote against? Or do you only believe in Democracy when you don’t have to follow the democratically-determined result?
The appointment of a politico from Quebec does not disturb me. As the Conservative party is now the government of all of Canada, not just those who voted for it, and as Quebec represents such a large part of our community, I believe that Prime Minister Harper must do as much as he reasonably can to ensure that the Quebec presence is fully represented in voice and experience within the government. Would we really want the Conservative party to innocently do something stupid, with serious ramifications in the Province of Quebec, just because we had not made every effort to be in touch with the citizenry of that province? I think we want to make sure we act in the best intersts of all Canadians, and I say that as a westerner.
Opportunistic as it may have been, I didn’t argue with Belinda crossing the floor. The fact that she sat with the Conservative party and later decided that the party was taking a political line too divergent from her own, after she actually worked with the party made it somewhat palatable. If any member finds that after making a legitimate effort, they are no longer able to reconcile their personal views to that of the party they represent, I actually believe it is incumbent on them to change parties, otherwise the conflict of daily policy debate and planning within their current party might be compromised. This however is not the case with David Emmerson! He campaigned voiciferously against the Conservative party and the ideals it represents. He has broken ranks with the party and the electorate that he represented and campaigned on behalf of without even attempting to work within his party. By default he is admitting that his entire campaign, in fact all of his words and actions, were a fraud! He is not saying that he can no longer work with the Liberal party and cannot support the direction they are taking. He is saying he never did! Emmerson is telling us that he meant none of what he said in the election. Does the Conservative party really want someone like this, so sorely lacking in principled motivation to be one of them as they attempt to reshape Canadian politics and the image it now drags throgh the mud? He has a responsibility to stay with those who elected him, until as such time, after making the reasonable effort to work things out within Liberal ranks, he advises the Liberal party that he can no longer work with them, and at that point he may choose his new political home. I would not at all dispute his right, and perhaps even his responsibility to do that, to maintain his own honesty and integrity. Or does it matter any more?
Actually I have voted Conservative since 1957. I would vote Libertarian if anyone was on the ballot. I cannot vote for socialistic parties and I certainly cannot vote for knowm thieves. Harper’s actions on his first day may have been required but his process showed lack of maturity in the application of politics.
These two things stole his limelight and gave food to the “trained seals” (Trudeau term)of the media which is mostly left wing and pompous.
However it escapes me the reason you went to the press with your opinions without having first sat down with the boss and his PMO cronies to get your
concerns thrashed out. If not to your satisfaction then go and speak out publicaly. I believe you have damaged your ability to get your issues moved forward. Have you ever worked in management in a large corporation?
I’m sure you get my meaning about that.
Bruce Missen,
Sorry to hear that you mistake leadership with limelight and grandstanding !!!
A Conservative MP can show leadership to all by behaving like an MP and not a common political animal like you and me!!! Garth need not launder his spoiled clothes in public to feed and score political points on by the likes of you Libs and Dippers….
If we had all voted GREEN, we would not be discussing integrity issues or corrupt governments! Vote Green next time for accountability and honesty.
Emerson spent his campaign railing against the Conservatives and their policies, and vowing to be their worst enemy. Polls have shown that most of his constituents were voting for the Liberal Party, not for Mr. Emerson. Yet after losing he instantly wallows into a Conservative cabinet post, suddenly a member of the Conservative team (and a member of the Conservative Party).
The soliciting of Mr. Emerson (remember the bruhaha about Grewal being solicited, when in actuality Grewal may have been the one to make first approaches), and then acceptance and assigning of a cabinet post is extraordinary, and there is NO comparison to historic events: Someone getting fed up with their party over years of power, and then crossing the floor to defend his constitutents, is one thing, but doing it RIGHT AFTER THE ELECTION to step into a plum position is despicable, and if it’s so defensible then surely he’ll handily win a byelection. His constitutents deserve better.
If he is the best man for the job, and he has embraced the Conservative platform, then let him prove it to his electorate. We are supposedly, after all, a democracy.
Maybe he’s stuck in traffic though, and just can’t make it to the elections office.
What a mistake Mr. Harper has made. I had such high hopes for this government, but instead it’s just more of the same cronyism and back-room deals for power. After all of those hopes, it now looks like this will be a very short lived government (after which all the die-hard Conservatives can bitch and complain about how it’s all Ontario’s fault…somehow).
Garth,
Weren’t you in the cabinet that brought in that “unfair tax on unrealized capital gains” to Ontario with “market value assessment”? Shouldn’t you come clean with the voters resign and run in a by-election? Oh right I forgot you lost the election and had to move and run in a different riding where people didn’t know you to get elected. Keep up the good work on the defection.
David
That was a privincial government initiative, not federal. — Garth
Garth, I’m sorry, you worked so hard at getting elected, I know you mean well, but I can’t help thinking you’re something of an idiot. A dim bulb. Help me understand how someone so blithe, so naive becomes an MP.
The PM had a talk with you and now you write it up all weepy like in you *online* diary … Come on man, get it together!
Good for you for standing up for what you believe in and for not being afraid to state your opinion. I wish all politicians were like you; ethical, with strong intentions of good voter representation. You are well aware of who put you into your postition.I wish that you were the conservative in my riding.
Good for you GT;
Ignore fools like Harper, Johannes and Ron, who are willing to sacrifice principle for power.
It’s time to consider your option to sit as an independent. Cadman proved one princpled independent can change a lot.
How about a deduction for mortgage interest. If the US can do it why can’t we? Sure, the rates are fairly low right now, but prices are moving up and it’s getting harder to maintain a home. Middle class families would greatly benefit from this deduction, even if it’s just a portion.
Garth, you will notice that those who are criticizing you are but a very small minority.
You new web site looks excellent.
You attitude is superb.
If we wanted backroom deals and floor crossings by career opportunists we would have voted for the Liberals.
Keep at it.
Your blog this morning where you use terms such as “My job is not to tilt at windmills”, “time to move on” , “back to the business of being positive” do not diminish the damage you have done to the Conservative image. You can not be Brutus one day and Mother Teresa the next. To disclose your discussions with the PM and his team in such a manner suggests that you really don’t understand the situation Harper and the team are facing. Harper knows he has a very small window of opportunity to show what his government, including yourself ( I think) can do. One, maybe two years. He knows that the Liberal machine and the media will do everything to derail any successes he may achieve. The dilema they face is to either take the high road and probably not succeed before the next election or to address some vulnerabilities they face; inexperience on the softwood lumber file, no meaningful representation in urban centres such as Montreal, Vancouver, minimal experience in Quebec, etc. Harper then had to decide whether to take an ethical political option or a hard nosed business approach. Harper knows that if he fails, the Conservative movement will be back in the wilderness for many years to come. For the Conservatives to push through for a majority in the next election, he had to take the heat he is getting, He is not dumb and knew the consequences. What he did not expect was to have MP’s like yourself, shooting from the hip with comments like being relegated to a toilet cubicle, etc. This plays well into the anti Harper media campaign that has gone on through two elections and hounded previous right of centre leaders. You must wonder why you are getting some much friendly attention from CTV, CBC, and the parliamentary press gallery. Watch out when they no longer need your damaging comments. Now that you have taken the Brutus like approach to your leader, don’t try to say that it is time to move on or back to business being positive. The die is cast my friend. Keep up the attacks on Harper and broadcast your personal conversations with your colleagues to any one who wants to listen. At least be consistent. Enjoy your brief chance at governing. Your ill conceived comments will come back to haunt you and your colleagues. Mark my words!
(Wish there was a way to edit one’s last posting…here is mine again, with small corrections)
Garth, you will notice that those who are criticizing you are but a very small minority.
Your new web site looks excellent.
Your attitude is superb.
If we wanted backroom deals and floor crossings by career opportunists we would have voted for the Liberals.
Keep at it.
As an NDP voter, we may not have a lot of common political ground, but you have earned my respect by saying something that clearly needed to be said.
Keep up the great work, and keep expressing your true opinions. Your decision to offer your own opinion, instead of toeing the party line, is both courageous and refreshing, and the type of action needed to get Canadians believing in their political system again.
Garth, for God’s sake, put the Conservative Party logo back on your web site! At least a link, my man! You’re starting to come off as petulant.
Please note the link to Prime Minister Harper. — Garth
suck it up buddy, act like a man.
Mr. Turner.
First off. I would like to comment that I am not from your riding but you certainly seem to representing my needs awfully well.
I’d like to thank you for the integrity you showed taking a stand the way you did regarding the Emerson/Fortier affair. If only all politicians could show the same integrity perhaps we would all be a little less pessimistic about the process as a whole.
As a stay at home mom of four children I urge you to push the efforts of income splitting. My husband makes a very good salary and we remain paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet. Saving for retirement and education are included in our budget, but it can be very difficult at times. I also applaud your efforts to push the RRSP contributions for stay at home moms. I have been out of the work force for 13 years caring for my family and the agenda you are promoting speaks volumes to me, and indicates you value what our contributions are to the future of Canada as well!!
Do not become dissallusioned with the political “game” Mr. Turner. We need more people like you in Parliament representing us!!
In our current electoral system we vote for individuals not parties. David Emerson and every other MP is free to do what they believe is in the best interests of their constituents once elected, including changing parties. To reduce an MP’s freedom to change parties is to increase the power of party leaders at the expense of individual MP’s.
Emerson could always sit as an independent and vote Conservative on confidence motions and the net number of guaranteed Conservative votes would be the same. There is no truly defensible reason to restrict an MP’s choice to change parties during a term. Emerson can represent BC and Vancouver at the cabinet table until the next election and the voters in his riding can pass judgment on his decision in the next general election.
As a former softwood lumber CEO David Emerson is the best MP in Canada to hold the international trade portfolio. He has the best background to move the softwood lumber file forward and protect Canadian jobs and businesses. Harper made the best choice for Canada when he courted David Emerson.
lots of liberal/soicalist egging you on.It seems to swell your head. Keep it up ,and you soon will be a has been!History repeating it self.
Until sometime this century, the British system demanded that MPs selected to be ministers had to win a by-election no matter what, just because they were going to be in the cabinet. That may be extreme, but it’s a point of reference for your idea of manditory elections under the circumstances you speak of.
Who would have thought that Richard Gwynn of the Toronto Star would be the first writer to GET IT!!!!(today’s star)
For those of you too young to remember, Turner has made a career of showboating.
Funny, no cabinet or secretary post and Bingo!!! Typical historical Turner!!!
From Oakville – bravo to you Garth Turner re: Emerson
You may indeed have lots of time in your miserable garret/office to reflect upon your ways. At least you can take comfort in knowing that your ethical position is correct, and that you were correct in making it public. If more people in your position stood up and said so, Canadian politics would again be honourable (I’m pretty sure it used to be), and the Conservative party would have the high ethical ground.
The party could lay claim to being less corrupt during the election campaign, but now it seems that’s only because they had not been given the opportunity for a while. Now Mr. Harper seems to be making up for lost time, with his handling of Emerson, Fortier and Menzies.
Please stay the course, and stay vocal about your position. Perhaps those who need to hear it will eventually hear the reminder of what politics is supposed to be about (and what the Reform/Alliance/Conservative party, above all others, was supposed to be about).
Garth wrote: Over the coming six weeks I will also be rolling out the Digital Democracy initiative – making some major changes to this web site so it allows people everywhere to vote along with their MPs in Parliament”
Um, Garth, if the people are going to vote along with their MPs, let me ask you one simple question:
What the hell do we need MPs for?
If you’re so gung-ho for democracy as you define it, why do we bother with the mess of electing MP and governments? Why not decide everything by electronic referenda? Isn’t the will of the majority paramount?
If an MP isn’t allowed to use his/her judgement and decide what bills to support or not support, what’s the point of having free votes? And, if the MP is allowed to exercise his/her judgement over what bills to support, why can’t he/she decide that he/she can do more for his/her riding by being in government as opposed to the opposition?
Where do you draw the line on using your judgement?
I’d really like to see you answer this; I suspect doing so will make you reconsider your criticisms of Messrs. Harper and Emerson.
While I respect, and to some extent share, your concerns about the cabinet appointments, I can’t see the reasoning behind your response. What have you actually accomplished? Do you believe you’ve made it more likely that changes to floor crossing rules will be made as a result of creating a public stink? Do you believe you’ll now have more influence on your caucus colleagues? Most importantly, do you believe you’ll now be better able to represent your voters? From down there beside the washroom?
Sorry, while I respect your principles, I can’t for the life of me see how you’ve advanced either the case for reform, or improved your ability to represent your voters.
As someone who has NEVER voted conservative in my life, I just wanted to mention how much sense you make!
“Those who may have houses, but no savings, who are in the top marginal tax bracket, but go paycheque-to-paycheque, and those who contribute every day to our country without so much as a tip from the hand of their government.” describes me to a T.
We made the choice to have one parent at home with our young kids and would love your income-splitting concept. As it stands today, most things are based on the higher income.
I was disgusted with the whole Emerson affair — while not really surprised since I find Harper rather slimy overall. I respect the stand you took. If only this election had really placed folks with integrity in a position of power…
Anyhow, you can now say that even a middle class left-leaning Oshawa NDPer who voted for Sid Ryan the past two federal elections agrees with some of your proposals :-}
If you really want to get the PM’s attention why not switch to the opposition (Liberals presumably), resign and run for re-election. I suspect that the electorate in your riding would emphatically tell Mr. Harper what they think of his Emerson move. No better way of demonstrating the principle you are trying to enunciate and…..you might even end up with a better office.
Garth, when you were campaigning you took it upon yourself to tell voters that the CPC policy was not to welcome floor crossers even though you knew your leader publicly stated that he was against such a law and had voted against it in parliament. You are mad because this was your PERSONAL opinion and you offered it as policy, now you’re wearing egg on your face!
As someone who lives in a riding where thousands of jobs have been lost in forestry and thousands more are hanging in the balance (including mine!) if Mr. Emerson can bring about a more expedient resolution than power to him! Are you in a position of solve the softwood dispute quickly?
When Harper announced Fourtier’s appointment he made it clear that he would be going to an election but that option is not currently available YET. Hello, Accountability Act? This was very good for Montreal and Public Works but it seems that you are too short sighted to see that.
I would think that you would at least wait until parliament sits and the changes that HAVE been promised are realized (or not) before having hysterics in the media over perception.
For God sake you are behaving like a scorned spouse, letting it go on in the driveway for all the neighbours to see instead of taking it inside and resolving your differences.
I don’t begrudge your feelings regarding these two cabinet positions, wasn’t overjoyed myself, but your grand standing for attention is beyond belief. Is being in the media that important to you? Perhaps you should heed some of John Brydon’s comments that you just heard in your latest interview.
I am not opposed to a by-election outright but just coming off of one PLUS with the likely situation that we are going to have another one within the next year or so (maybe even in a few months) don’t you think it may be prudent to wait? Pass a few IMPORTANT laws, solve a few problems first?
I know in your world that if your leader somehow manages to woo 20 more MPs from other parties to cross the floor then we should have 20 by-elections. With a minority parliament as small as this one we may as well just have another general election, forget about parliament sitting at all, right?
Again, admire your personal convictions, but it is time to move this out of the driveway and work on it inside like adults. If you are not willing to do that then perhaps you should consider becoming an independant yourself?
Dear Garth,
I applaud you for standing up for what you believe in. This is such a rare characteristic these days. We need more people like you in Parliment.
Mike
You appear to be the only member of your party who deserves to be called “Honourable.” Thank you for taking a stand against the egregious and thoroughly hypocritical judgement shown by Stephen Harper this past week. As for the vermin whom you expect will be your new basement office buddies, consider them to be the “animal” equivalent of the Tories now running this country: They are filthy, morally bankrupt, objectionable, and offensive. May I suggest that you find yourself a good fumigator?
Well done, on a principled stand. It takes guts to stand up to the PMO, particularly when it is becoming so apparent that those in the leadership “circle” care little for the “ethics” that they spoke so passionately about mere weeks ago. What a load of bull! I am impressed that you came out in defence of the same principles that you fought your election on. Eventhough your party leadership obviously doesn’t believe in it, I’m glad that you still do.
Well done.
People get vehement in these comments. Hm.
Anyway, to comment on what you’ve actually asked for comments on, I think income splitting would be a huge boon to hundreds of thousands of people. Down here in the low middle class (or upper low class, I can never tell), that extra little bit is a big big deal. It should be applicable to any two related or married people at the same residence, I think. Ideally, it would any number of people who can demonstrate some number of shared responsibilities, but I don’t think that’s actually legislatively tenable. At least not in 2006.
Keep up the fight.
By the way, for all of you out there who hate anything that isn’t the Conservative party to the point where you are willing to ignore, and even DEFEND actions that you know darn well are deplorable, simply because it means more to you that your “side” wins and stays in power, instead of actually what it stands for, I have only one thing to say to you: SHAME! SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOU ALL!
Bravo Mr. Turner. You are a true Canadian, and an obviously dedicated MP, that ran for office because you actually believed IN something. BRAVO!
Harper is just like all others before him. Say what the people want to hear to get elected, then do what the hec they want to anyway. Considering Harpers stand on Stonach, he in turn did something much worse. As PM he has to set the example. I say bi-election is only pausable soulution, Emerson would have a tough time getting 20% of votes. Have you considered jumping ship to the Liberals, you could be in for a Cabinet position in about 2 years.
Think about it.
As you said:
“Everybody who makes up the government should be elected. They should be elected as members of the party that forms the government.”
There are two people in this government that were NOT elected by Canadians (or at least Emerson was not elected as a Conservative).
I hope that these outrageous incidents are followed by action!
I salute you for speaking your mind!
If Pat Goodwill is actually for real and not a Liberal plant: Mr. Nicholson can be reached – just go to http://www.canada.gc.ca can follow the links on “Your MP” down to his contact information.
Hello Mr Turner :
i have a suggestion concerning the pending GST reduction…
How about giving people the option to have their GST reduction directed into a personal RSP-like vehicle so that they accumulate retirement savings automatically everytime they buy something. It would be non-redeemable prior to retirement similar to a pension and would augment the CPP.
just an idea.
cheers,
douglas colling
toronto
Garth, I’ve never been a fan of yours but with this stand you’ve taken on this floor-crossing crap, I’m standing up and cheering for you! I absolutely agree with you on this and for being accountable to your constituents. I hope you can stay the course and hopefully a few others will see what’s been so sadly lacking in Canadian politics and change.
I have to thank you for the position you’ve taken regarding the Emerson situation. Just because he ended up on the losing team does not justify thumbing his nose at the people who voted him into office. His switch is not for the benefit of the people he is representing, it’s for the benefit of his ego and his pocket book, period. This business of “crossing the floor” should be against the law. If an MP wants to leave his party then he should have to sit as an Independent until the next election is held…at which time he can be free to run for which ever party he chooses as long as he can secure the nomination. Personally I think Emerson has committed political suicide by doing this…no party or voter will likely ever trust his character again.
Mr. Turner
Prior to the election I had given up on politics. But due to the internet and blogs I got interested in politics and became fairly knowlegable. Through Kinsella I came to your blog and followed it faithfully ever since.
But I noticed a remarkable change in your attitude once you got elected.There was a definite arrogance to your blog. At first I thought it was just excitement and exuberance for winning, which I understood.
However having seen your actions in the last day or so I’ve now come to the conclusion that you are not only arrogant but also not to bright.
For someone who wants to make a difference how do you expect to do that when you don’t support the party that proposes to make changes.
So my advice to you is “don’t quit your day job”. With the way many tories are acting who needs an opposition. You’ll be back on the street shortly.
Incidently, you’r not the only politician who I think isn’t too bright as I think that applies to most politicians. To wit, how else could you explain that after the last provincial election in B.C. ALL politicians on both parties decided to give themselves a 15% raise.This after forcing the teachers to accept a contract with no raise at all.Of course the public got up in arms and the raise was recinded.I couln’t beleive that in a province of 3 or 4 million people there were only 71 people(Elected MLs) who could see the bad optics in this move.
So my last question is this.
Are the people who go into politics in the first place simply not to bright or does that come with being elected?
Horny Toad
Kevin Graham: don’t be too pompous – NDP’s Mr. Layton kicked Bev Desjarlais out of the NDP caucus in June 2005 after C38 vote. Her constituents voted for a NDP candidate and knew where she stood on SSM. Should we have the ethics commissioner look into his conduct – he removed her constituents democratic voice.
Today I am proud to be a Canadian. Keep your chin up Garth and stay the course. They can take everything else away from you but they can’t take away your integrity.
It’s actually Major’s Hill park. Why, I don’t remember, and I always thought it was weird too. Nice park though. And nice job these last few days too.
I am from Mississauga and thus without representation in the Government since the people in this City continue to vote for corruption and opportunism. Being fed up with this approach by the Liberal government, I voted to “toss them out”.
And lo and behold, what do we get even before the government is officially installed by “opportunism”. (Will the corruption then follow?) My estimation of you went up a few notiches when I learned of your stand on the Emerson (and Fortier?) coronation. You’re “in for the penny” so go “for the pound” and keep up your opposition to Mr. Harper’s very poor judgement with respect to this debacle. How about forming a coalition of those who want Emerson/Fortier to put their names before the people in a by-election. And, do please, ignore those many people who seem to have the moral and ethical standards of an imbecile in stating that circumstances alter cases or that the ends justify the means in this instance. They are speaking pure rubbish and it is this kind of acceptance of wrongdoing that has sent this country into political decline for the past two or three decades.
Keep your chin up Garth, it’s nice to hear a voice that sounds Canadian and not political. With an attitude like that, you will be around for many years to come…..
Hi Garth,
thank you for sticking to your principles. I do not live in your riding and I am not a conservative supporter, (nor am I a liberal supporter). However, your stand on suggesting that Emerson should seek a bi-election is commendable, and right. I notice that you have been taking some flack here, and that saddens me.
Some writers have suggested that since Emerson and Fortier do not need the money, that they are doing it for good of public. LOL Well status and power are are mighty attractive.
There are other writers here who suggest that you should be a sheep and follow the leader. As you know, group think has lead to costly and deadly disasters. What you more rightly pointed out, “is the emperor has no clothes.” Thank you
Hey, Garth. Whatever happened to the outrage about the David Dingwall discrepancy (“I resigned”; “No you were fired!”) What’s up with that? Are you helping the Libs develop a big smokescreen to camouflage the real issues?
Hi Garth,
I just wanted to add that you are on the right side of your issue. Now that is good political instint.
Yea Garth! I really appreciate a politician from any party who acts and speaks in a consistent and principled way. Congratulations on taking a stand.
Garth, I am not from your riding, but I respect your decision to disagree with the appointment of David Emerson after he crossed the floor. I don’t agree with it either, but I will take the wait and see attitude to see where this goes. You bring forward the big difference between us (Conservatives) and them (Liberals), we can disagree as a party yet still get down to the business of Governing. I am very proud to be a Conservative knowing men like you are there in the party and on the hill. But now the time has come. Protests have been brought forward, minds have been spoken, and we all agree to disagree. Now lets govern this great country based on the freedom of speech that this incident displayed. Lets prove that you don’t have to be a group of Liberal automatons that say yes to everything the PM and party leader says. The only people keeping this alive right now are the media who are willing to use any excuse to discredit this party and this government. To Robert Fife and his friends….sorry to hear that the new PM is not kissing your butt and sending out a press release everytime a Cabinet Minister passes gas. Get used to it,the Liberals and their slick slime machine are having a time out. Cheers!
Dear Mr. Turner,
I have not followed your career much but I have been aware of you in the wings, so to speak.
I sincerely congratulate you on your election to parliament inspite of the fact that I did not vote for your party.
Had I lived in your riding I surely would have, in retrospect, voted for you.
It is not often that one catches a politician being honest and forthright in public..
I happened to see two or three news clips of your statements including the one today (Friday Feb. 10th, 2006) on CBC after your party gave you a dressing down.
I have to say that what I have heard from you resonated as coming from a man of true courage, honesty and integrity.
In this light I want to thank you for standing up for your own integrity and for integrity in general.
You are a refreshing sight in the political arena and I know in my heart that all politicians of all political parties, including your own, should take note of your courage and example.
If they did I think our country, which some of us are still proud of, despite the ingenuousness of our polticians would not only manage to salvage its failing integrity on the world scene it could really lead the world towards a much needed peaceful place.
So in closing I wish to thank you for your courage and integrity. Please never lose it. I will always remember your stance and will follow your career with great interest.
Please always remember that you are not alone in your mission to uphold decency and integrity. You will not go unnoticed.
I’m sure Canada has not heard the last from you!
My best wishes,
Nick Arrizza M.D.
Hi Garth,
Although I voted Liberal this past election, I have to commend you on standing up to Stephen Harper’s hypocrisy. It took a lot of guts to take this stand for your values. You remind me of good type of conservatism which was around when the classy and popular Joe Clark was the leader. Good luck in Parliement!
No, Garth, I don’t think you can move on. Never mind the “it was a lovely morning in Ottawa BS. Even if it is heartfelt. It was not such a lovely morning in Vancouver-Kingsway.
Ms. Democracy is still bearing the bruises from this latest mugging. If folks like yourself, who actually HAVE the bully pulpit, shut up and move on, then this certainly WILL be a done deal.
We don’t move on until this matter is resolved.
Good for you! Someone has to stand up and be counted. I believe it was JFK said (and I paraphrase) It takes one person at a time to sit down to see the football field. Don’t give up, give in. You may find there are more people with integrity in the House. We “little people” are impressed.
Hello Garth
What’s with the P.C. after your name below?
It’s the CONSERVATIVE Party – period -no “Progressive” preceeding CONSERVATIVE.
P.C. = Privy Councillor. — Garth
You may be within your rights to disagree with your Prime Minister, but doing so via the media is crass. Contributing to the Party as it develops, your perspective could be appreciated. Now you’ve introduced yourself to prime-time drama, you’ll lose a great deal of respect. Since your colleagues in caucus will be hesitant to trust your discretion, you likely won’t be successful in getting much done for your constituents constructively. Now would be a good time for you to re-group and think about what it is you’d like to accomplish. After all of the hard work you put in on behalf of representing your constituents, don’t let them down now by becoming head-strong and inappropriate. Working within the Conservative team would reap the most benefits for your constituency. Showing respect for Stephen Harper rather than second-guessing him would accomplish the most. Is it too late for you?
GREAT JOB GARTH!! In my opinion you are the only respectable Conservative MP left. Everyone that aquiesced to this betrayal of Canadian voters is just another self-serving power-hungry politico, I am very impressed you stand head and shoulders above the crowd. Keep up the integrity!!
Supporting Fortier appointments of unelected party organizers…
Supporting Emerson appointments of a provincial treasurer turned CEO appointee of a bank to merge and make millions, back to elected MLA for more intel to turn CEO of Canfor, the largest pulp miller in BC, to make more millions, to go back into politics for more intel, this time on RAV, Gateway and Whistler to make more millions, to support a public servant who blatantly serves only himself… are some of you bloggers nutty?
Some of us posters think its good politics to appoint a defence lobbiest as minister of national defence? The americans aren’t that slow with this one.
How about John Baird as treasurer, for co-chairing Harpers and Flarhety’s campaign? Some of you have the where with all to think that this is all ethically correct?
You don’t see a federal party committing suicide and folding before you and claim this is appropriate behavior? Grow up.
Better yet, start looking into who really controls Stephen Harper. I’m a Conservative, but not for the likes of him. Not for the likes of a bunch of corporate sellouts we just got rid of to replace them with the ones we’ve got now… and if any of you dummies want to run your mouths off at Stephen Harpers NCC presidency as not being the “Greatest conflict of interest of all…”
This party would be toast without the Garth Turners of the world. Mark my words, this country isn’t that stupid. They’ll remember who the hypocrites are and who stands by their words.
Although not a Conservative supporter, I will support those who stick to their guns instead of being a hypocrit Congrats Mr. Turner for showing some moral fibre.
Firstly, I would like to say that I have no affiliation to any political party, I do not vote, for the very reasons that we have seen this week. Once again Canadians have voted for a bunch of two-faced, back stabbing, unethical, tow the party line, liars, who have neither the moral fiber or courage to stand up for the very things they lyingly told voters they stood for just weeks ago during their campaigning. What a bunch of gutless wonders they are running & scurrying past the media, the same ones who couldn’t get enough media attention to promote their (self-serving) agenda just a few weeks ago. In a democracy the people have a right to question them on these decisions, but of course we do not live in a democracy, the proof of that is that we have a government that only 36% of the people voted for, sounds more like a dictatorship. The voters of their ridings must be disgusted to see these gutless hypocrites, knowing that there is no way that these people will be batting for them, but will totally tow the party line. I would like to address the brain dead ones who keep criticizing Garth Turner. Let me explain why I say brain dead. Mr Turner is the one that has kept his integrity & fully supported the manifesto that the Conservative party put forward, for example Mr. Harper said he was going to clean up politics, not appoint unelected senators & criticized those crossing the floor. In his first day he has thrown all those promises in the bin & brushed aside all that rhetoric. I am ashamed to admit that I found myself wishfully thinking that maybe just maybe we were at last about to see some integrity & honesty & courage come (not return) to parliament. But of course the mirage disappeared faster than a mirage in the dessert. Mr. Turner you have my respect, I take my hat off to you. Please, never sell your integrity! Two-faced, self-serving, lying, unethical, say anything to get elected politicians are 10 a penny and very quickly forgotten when their time is up. But people of integrity are very rare; those who stand up for their principles are the ones that people remember. If ever you find yourself being intimidated into backing down on your core beliefs, pack it in. Don’t become one of these political lemmings.
Finally Stephen Harper has found his Sheila Copps!
Looks like the cry baby didn’t get his seat in cabinet.
Mr. Turner,
you were the only candidate to knock on my door and the one closest to my own opinions on a majority of issues.
In the end though, I didn’t vote for you. And that’s because I had great doubts Mr.Harper represents the real alternative to the liberals.
Now I’m even more torn then before.
You proved you would have deserved my vote.
And Mr.Harper proved me right.
But you’ll have your own dilemmas to deal with…
Turner, you have always been a dink and always will be.
If this Conservative government is the “new direction” for Canada then I am afraid we are all in for a lot of trouble. Bribing Emerson to cross the floor and appointing a Senator instead of reforming the Senate show that Stephen Harper is nothing but a liar. Chastising a member of parliament for reaffirming a campaign stance shows that Harper and his cronies are only interested in ruling, not ruling ethically. This reminds me a lot of GWB down south and Brian Mulroney. God Save Canada.
Mr. Turner – in perspective:
A fellow was passed over for a promotion at work. He became bitter. He began to speak out behind his boss’s back questioning various business decisions that were made.
He felt he had better ideas and was smarter too.
He expressed his disrespect for his boss’s decisions publicly-at a business conference to anyone who would listen to him.
It turns out he told this tale to one of their major clients. This major client told another major client…and pretty soon a business editor got hold of the story.
The major client’s faith in the business because of the stories this man told about his boss was sullied.
Several major clients took their business elsewhere.
My friend was then out of a job because the company was in financial distress.
Did the guy realize he had caused his own demise?
No. He told everyone that if he had gotten the promotion and if the boss had listened to HIS ideas the business failure would not have happened.
See any similarities here?
Mr. Harper did in one day what it took the Liberal Party 12 years to do. What is next? Maybe it is time to put an end to the party system.
Kudos for your stand on this whole issue. The whole matter has mad me so damn mad i could spit. Mr. Harper and his crew of merry men and women had me totally convinced that they would bring a breath of fresh air to the political scene in Ottawa, Gods knows it’s needed after the last 13 years of Liberal reigh ang Mulroney before them.
Unfortunately I think we were hoodwinked
and the air that remains over Parliament hill smells exactly like what one experiences when standing in the middke of a herd of sheep.
Baa Baa
CATHERINE, I am NOT a LIBERAL plant, as you suggested…Thanks for Nicholson’s Email address though….I will tell him what I think about Harper too….
Garth,
I didn’t vote Conservative, but I would have voted for you. Thank’s for standing up for what’s right.
LOL I wasn’t sure about the Emerson appointment at first but now that I’m reading all these comments from 85% Liberal supporters, I’m now certain Harper did the right thing.
I see all the usual Conservative blogging nasties at the attack here. Thank you, Mr. Turner. Integrity transcends partisanship.
Garth Turner, the former Progressive Conservative MP, is the one standing up for political Reform – while Harper the former Reform MP is pulling stunts that got Progressive Conservatives in trouble under Mulroney.
Garth – I got to say I respect that you seem to be reading all of these comments, and responding to some too.
Interesting note for you: the Liberals, while in government, handed out office assignments by presidence – if that were the case under Harper, you would get one of the biggest offices on the hill (likely in east block).
And you would deserve it.
Imaigne Canada if MPs (FROM ALL PARTIES) were able to speak their mind, vote how they wanted, bring forward whatever motions they felt were relevant!
I mean – we’re paying you over $150k a year each to represent the citizens in your riding in Ottawa, NOT to represent Stephen Harper to the citizens of your riding.
Catherine, I least I had the gut’s to use my full name…
FYI, emailed Nicholson already…
Garth, here’s one NDPer who salutes you on your strong and principled stand on this issue.
I’d be mad as hell at my party, too, if they’d pulled some boneheaded move like this.
But it’s pretty unusual for ordinary supporters of a political party— much less MP’s!— to abandon partisan politics and actually stand up for their beliefs.
It’s doubtful with this many comments that you’ll read this one. But just in case you do, could you ask Mr. Flaherty why he’d go ahead with a GST reduction when he doesn’t believe it’s the right thing to do?
I will do so. — Garth
I thought you ought to know that just like Tony Blair, who is now known in England as Tony Bliar or B-Liar after the Gulf War, Mr. Harper is already being parodied on many blogs, letters to editors & editorials as Mr. Harpocrite. As a PR executive I can assure that should that nickname become established it will stay with him for the rest of his political career. As the football (soccer) saying in England goes, Mr. Harper has scored a spectacular “own goalâ€.
What can I say?
Stick to your principles… first and foremost. Your blog is beautifully written, and just screams “REAL”.
Were you in my district… yes, I’d vote for you.
…and we might not agree on issues.
(I’m gay… very… and the current Conservative/Reformist Party and its policies makes me shudder)
BUT? You I would vote for.
Honesty over everything else, don’t you think?
Garth,
What an amazing array of voices from Halton and beyond! Some emotional, some angry, many from different political parties, many proud of your courage-as I am.
Folks,
A deeply committed, compassionate and intelligent man wrote a message a few short weeks ago. It was the night before the election and he had campaigned extremely hard to be a voice for the middle class, a voice for Halton. He happens to be a fairly typical middle class guy with a wife, a dog, a truck, a mortgage, bills, dreams, a career – the usual- and he works too hard like the rest of us trying to get ahead, trying to do a good job.
He set his career aside to work for us.
His words and actions have a way of cutting to the very core of our desire to have an MP that would represent ‘us’ to Ottawa, in Ottawa.
He said “I set out to meet every one of the 160,000 people who live in this glued-together riding of rural and urban, and in doing so I set my sights high. I took to heart my goal of wanting to represent them, which to me meant meeting them, knowing them, understanding them, sharing their driveways and hallways. I made a commitment to myself that I would be true to what a political representative should really be. A leader, and a follower. A catalyst and a messenger.â€
On election day we gave Garth Turner the job as our Member of Parliament for Halton and decided he is the best man for it. Think about the opportunity we have here.
Let’s let him do that job shall we?
Let’s give him our voices and ideas about the Federal spring budget.
Let’s get to work!
Great to hear all the left wing loons coming out and using your forum/blog to expose their holier than thou viewpoints. We all know what opinions are like…..and everyone has one. Well done Garth, stick to your guns. Now lets support the party and govern this country.
I think that both yourself & Dr. Emerson are very sincere in your convictions. It is difficult to wade thru all the noise, especially now that the NDP smell another seat coming.I wonder why you staked your political career on one issue; I wonder why Dr. Emerson did the same…. I guess you both want to make a difference, even though you both knew the consequenses.
I have concluded that taking away an MP’s right to cross the floor without a by-election would be wrong because of what has transpired here. Dr. Emerson stood up for Canada.
I have opened my wallet for the CPC in the past. That will not be repeated for some time,if ever again…The actions of my party this week has left me feeling entirely betrayed. Thank god for you, Garth. Hang in there.
Mr. Turner,
I believe in your decision to “stand up for Canada”. (Ironically, one of the slogans for the Conservative Party)I believe that you are sincere in your protests against Mr. Harper and I would like to congragulate you for refusing to back down from your own beliefs (which reflect most of Canadian citizens, I hope) Keep up the good work!
Garth, I am extremely impressed with your resolve and the integrity you have shown by speaking-out for something you believe in. What is disheartening, however, is the fact that you seem so prepared to quietly let this one go as required by Harper. You would show much more courage and resolve if you were to continue to speak-out loudly, or leave the party to sit as an independent. Standing firm might sound like a politically-bad idea, but so was calling the Gomery Inquiry. I would much rather have our politicians making ill-advised political moves if it means doing the right thing. In the end, all you have are your actions. In the end, you are judged by your actions.
The winners of the next election will be……. I have been giving this mess a lot of thought & it occurs to me that the Conservatives have already lost the next election! Here is why. Many voters cautiously gave the Conservatives their vote to see what they would do. They already know the answer to that, these undemocratic appointments will not go away & will come back to haunt them over & over again, as the media show sound bites of what Harper said before the election & his subsequent actions on his first day. Remember “read my lips, no new taxesâ€, we still hear that today more than a decade later. Can you see what is going to happen at the next election, the voters will be thinking Liberals? Oh yes! Sleaze, corruption, cronyism, patronage. No, I don’t think I will vote for them. Conservatives? Hypocrites, liars, no integrity. No, I don’t think I will vote for them. NDP? I really don’t know about them, but I think I will give them a chance & vote for them, they couldn’t do any worse than the others. It is possible that the Conservatives & the Liberals have already handed the next election to the NDP. Think about since the Conservatives have already gotten themselves branded as liars & hypocrites, what party is going to sully themselves by supporting any of their policies in order to get them through parliament. They will not want that thrown in their face at the next election!
Mr. Turner. I support you in the the stand you are taking with repect to Mr. Emerson. Good work. Glad to see there is at least one politician we can trust.
I applaud you on standing up for what you believe and think is right. The people of Vancouver Kingsway and any voter who values democracy appreciate your vocalness on this issue.
Isn’t this the same Garth Turner who advised people to mortgage their houses at the peak of the dot com boom and invest in dot com stocks? I’m sure those who followed that wonderful advice are listening to everything Garth has to say. Another Motormouth who never met a microphone and camera he didn’t like, no matter what the damage to others as long as Garth gets on TV. Get out the duct tape as well!
Actually, that must have been another Garth Turner. This one never liked dot-coms much. Good thing, too. — Garth
Garth,
Thank you for stanging up for what is right and honorable. Your comments are taken as unselfish and in the Canadian peoples best interest. It is about time, someone stands up for their constituants and does not bow to the party line. Canadians need MPs like you to remind all MPs what they are there for. We need real change from corruption and MPs lining their pockets. Although hopeful, I am not sure we will see this from the new government.
Please continue to stand up for Canadians. It’s refreshing to see someone with the intestinal fortitude to speak out.
Thank you
Roger
NB
There are a number of comments that you’ve made in your blog that are worthy and could be acted upon by the new CONservative government.
The one of the two that I find most iteresting is the 1% reduction of the GST.
This is such a half-way measure that I feel the real change should be an overhaul of the tax levy to result in:
1) The tax rate should fall to +/- 3%
The rate should be based on the reporting for Canadian companies – and should be the rate of net GST collected divided by the revenue reported – in other words if the sales revenue was $100 and the tax collected was $3 then the rate would be set at 3%.
2) The GST recovery by businesses (called Input Tax Credits) should be completely eliminated. (The reduction in the rate would take care of the impact.)
3. The GST rebates sent out to our lower income citizens should be discontinued – with the lower GST rate there would be minimal impact on them.
4. Think of how easy it would be for the Canada Revenue Agency to check / audit returns when $100k in revenue would = $3k in tax – no more scams!
5. I beleive it would encourage more tax compliance – people would be more inclined to pay the tax and those in receipt of the income, pay the tax. That would also create more tax compliance in regard to income tax.
As a C A with 40 years experience I belive this should work for Canada and for all the small businesse who wrestle with their GST filings and the recording of their ITC’s.
I also agree with the “joint tax return” proposal – it’s long overdue. Perhaps those of us in the public accounting, legal and finacial fields would then spend our time trying to assist our clients in creating wealth rather than preserving it through (sometimes devious) income tax planning.
Hey Garth,
I left this comment on another blog.
You know nothing about Garth. He is an honest man, trying to do an honest job in a lying man’s world.
Best of luck.
I see there have been hundreds of posts here so not sure what one more opinion will do, but feel the need to add my support for you Mr. Turner.
I am a proud member of the conservative party, but have been extremely disappointed with both the Emerson and Fortier appointments. I have been hoping that Mr. Harper could in some way reverse course on this issue, but I realize that this can likely not be undone politically.
In the absence of any reversal, I have therefore been able to find solace only because of your actions over the past couple of days.
Continue your good work as MP and don’t lose faith in yourself. Your ethical stand has not gone without notice.
Best wishes.
Mr. Turner, I found this in the Globe & Mail comments section, I thought it might give you a good laugh, it had me in stitches…………..â€David Emerson’s decision to cross the floor certainly has the best interest of at least one person from his Vancouver riding, himselfâ€.
It is quite ironic that Mr. Harpers first peace of legislation is going to be the accountability act & that the Conservative Party may well be it’s first brief!
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060210/ndp_emerson_060210/20060210?hub=TopStories
I’m sorry you think it’s “time to move on” regarding the Emerson and Fortier appointments. I disagree! When you’re right, you’re right, and nothing should move you from that, not pressure from your boss, not pressure from your peers, and certainly not pressure from some of the mouthbreathers who’ve criticized your acting on principle. It’s a shame that your spasm of principle was so transitory. It would be nice (and refreshing) to see it continue. I have your back, Garth.
I have read your blog entries (I had wandered by a few times during the election because I liked your writing style and the fact you were sharing your viewpoints and experiences). I have read the news reports. And I have read the comments being made here. I was puzzled (and somewhat entertained) by all the fooferah and tried to approach it with as much of an open mind as possible.
As with any event, there are many sides to it; however, especially after reading the comments to your blog, one thing stood out for me above all others: the hatred. Let me explain…
There seems to be people of all political stripes that support the decision that you have made in response to the situation. The comments by these people are cordial, even when they castigate you for your the political agenda you have represented in this campaign, as a former MP, and as Finance Minister (seems most people have forgotten that you were given one of the most important positions in the country at one point in time
. They may disagree with you in fundamental ways regarding your beliefs on the way the country should be run, but they state over and over again that they have developed a deep respect and admiration for what they see as you standing up for your *stated* principles.
However, the comments by those that would have preferred you to swallow your principles and go directly against the promises you made while campaigning are vitriolic, single sided, and filled with seething hatred. I am utterly repulsed by what I have read. If these are your opponents, then I stand with whosoever that they don’t!
I note with some amusement and pleasure that a few people even commented on what they wanted to see in the budget (as you asked)! I have the greatest admiration for the few who actually want their voices heard with regards to policy. I feel obligated to share my opinions, such as they are, with you, but will do so in an email shortly (I am already long winded here).
I also wanted to convey to you that I have two daughters: aged 9 and 12 (I am a single parent, firmly middle class, and doing my best to raise my family). I had decided that they were both old enough to start following elections and we listened to news coverage and I read them books on the structure of the Canadian government and how our system works, etc. Citizenship is very important to me and I want to make sure it is important to my children as well! We were all very excited at the outcome of the last election (no matter what else can be said about it, it is an *interesting* configuration). We were paying close attention to the swearing in ceremonies when things went very strange and I found myself having to answer the questions of my children about what the appointments of Emerson and Fortier meant — given everything I’d been telling them for weeks.
Wow, how to put a positive spin on that??? I don’t think I succeeded
. I was willing to entertain the idea that perhaps Harper did have a “big picture” idea of what he was doing, but he (and everyone else) has failed to communicate what that plan might actually be. Did he communicate it to you when you had the “opportunity” to talk with him? If it didn’t change your mind, I can’t imagine it would have much affect on mine or most people’s…
I deliberately pulled my children aside from their playing dress-up this evening after school, showed them your blog, and informed them that there was one person who was speaking out about a matter of principle and the way a government should work — issues so fundamental and straightforward even my children had realized on their own that something potentially unsavoury was going on. What you have done may not be much, but it’s more than we Canadians have had for a while. For that, from myself, and on behalf of my children, I thank you.
I have lost all respect I had for you
after reading your whining and conservative bashing article.
One week and you have already started
whining, it is not a matter of loyalty or trust, it is a matter of being
small minided and too, way too willing
to start bashing before anything is
even in place.
I read your column before the election
and I know you worked hard, but so did
all the rest of the conservatives, you
just kept talking about poor old you,
seemingly the only one who worked hard.
Go to the liberals, and then you can
bash the conservatives honestly, your
will just be a huge bore to the rest
of the conservatives after awhile and
the people who watch will not watch
anymore.
You have simply jumped on a bandwagon
that is negative about the appointments
and are using it to further your ends.
If people can not see this, they will
learn as you will not change.
If you, a conservative can not see the
realness of the decisions made for
THE BEST THING FOR CANADA AS A WHOLE,
not just the west or just the east you
should not be in the cabinet.
The CBC and many more media will just
love you, they do not need to keep
bashing the conservatives, they will
have you and the conservatives who only
care about their end of the country.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!You’ve now become a blogging site for Dippers and Grits.
What an accomplishment in your first week. You always were hungry for the media and publicity, now you’ve got it.
Enjoy your 15 minutes!!!
12 years of scams and the re-direction of more than $10 billion of our revenues.
You remained silent the whole time.
I will allow that inadequate Whistle Blower Protection law [Bill C-11] may be part of the reason, but you are still on very thin ice. TG
Never liked your blog , the CPC or the Mulorony government and Mr. Harper. I also believe that Emmerson has the right to switch sides; consequently I think that he and his constituents will have to deal with his actions and that Mr. Harper will, as PM, not have the option of avoiding the Ethics commissioner as he did in the Grewal business. I personally believe that the actions of Paul Martin to call the Gomery Commission at once hurt the Liberals but in the long run saved them and the country. Paul Martin was and is tremendous person of vision and unlike Mr. Harper truly shows compassion and caring to millions of Canadians; did he get everything right no he did not; did he make mistakes yes. I now understand why he wanted to get rid of the “Notwithstanding clause” and it so people like Mr. Harper would not abuse it and judging from his very first actions as PM it has become clear that Paul Martin’s words were prophetic.
Now it was a gutsy thing for you to do to take a principled stand albeit foolish but still gutsy.
However, the Liberal government did a lot of good things not only bad and the reason that Mr. Harper attacked them on ethics was because there was very little else to attack them on so when the fact are on the table use the fact without any fact on the table well just bang on the table really hard and bang on the table everyone did you being one of them sir.
How Garth was paying down the debt which was incurred by previous governments such a sin and why is using a surplus to pay down the debt such an issue when you consider that Canada’s credit rating keeps Canadian interest rates low.
How can you call you party’s plan to do away with the tax cuts implemented retroactively by the Liberals and reducing the personal basic tax exemption by $400.00 anything other than a tax increase by the Conservatives.
How can you party propose to give away 6 Billion dollars (ok so maybe 3-4 Billion) to approximately 34,000 Million Canadians via the Capital gains tax adjustments?
Anyway I am rambling on and really just want to say as much as you are correct, that your party platform and the promise was broken so swiftly , in such a blatant and tongue and cheek manner was amazing but there are more parts of the platform that don’t make sense.
Please don’t switch over to the Liberals it would not be seen as a good move and you would end up towing the party line but as an Independent sitting in the house and you at the very least have a good moral reason to do so would be an independent that would hold the balance of power and ironically might just serve your constituents better than Mr. Emmerson.
Look at Harper’s dressing down as a blessing in disguise.
Sorry to be so blunt Garth but the Liberals have done this country well, when we are arguing about how to spend surpluses while making tax cuts they did a great job in my opinion and I believe that is they were elected with 103 seats and not wiped out like the previous Conservatives.
Like someone here said remember Chuck Cadman one guy who made a difference. By the ways wasn’t he a Conservative that was thrown out of the party?
In any case, a begruding good luck to you cause you will need it.
The budget should contain all the campaign items promised , nothing more , nothing less.
It must be honestly balanced , with a few $billion allocated for distribution to the provinces ,after “Fiscal Imbalance” discussions. That will get The Bloc and public support.
Lets not do another Joe Clark. Remember that it was a drop in the polls that gave Trudeau and the Liberals the nerve to pull the plug and go for a comeback.!! Martin has technically retained his position in the party. Is this his “faint hope” clause??
Mr. Turner, I found this in the Globe & Mail comments section, I thought it might give you a good laugh, it had me in stitches…………..â€David Emerson’s decision to cross the floor certainly has the best interest of at least one person from his Vancouver riding, himselfâ€.
Smitty – This would only be ture if he lived in his riding – which he does not. In fact, it was a much safer seat for the Liberals before they booted out the local MP and nomination candidates to plug him in the seat. Which makes me wonder, why – if he thinks he is so damn popular – would he take, and ruin, a safe Liberal seat?
Stop the reduction in the GST from 7% to 6%. One has to spend 10,000.00 dollars to save 100 dollars. Do not roll back the take reduction the Liberals gave that saw the low income tax rate drop from 17% to 16% and add another 500 dollars to personal exemptions. I am saving over 300 dollars on my 2005 income tax return with an income under 35,000.00 dollars.
The taxable baby bonus of 1200 dollars
a year is not a child care program. It is a cheque.
Keep up the good work. Waiting for your appearance on CTV’s Question Period.
Mr. Turner I respect what you are doing. It’s always difficult to take the high road in the short-term, but history will judge you as someone with integrity. Thanks for taking the risk!
Unlike so many, the term “Honourable” fits nicely, Mr. Turner. Your principled stand is much appreciated by a lot of Canadians.
I applaud your desire to get back to the positive. If only it were that simple.
The Conservative Party defeated the Liberals and brought about the election because, to quote Mr. Harper, “the Liberals lacked the moral authority to govern.” The primary example was the scandal that led to the Gomery inquiry. His call was for Paul Martin to “come clean” and say what he knew and when. Yet buried in the news the day after the election we find that Mr. Harper himself refused to meet with the ethics commissioner who was investigating the Grewal case. In other words, it’s now Mr. Harper who won’t “come clean” about what he knew and and when.
And what was the scandal about in the Grewal case? Wasn’t the issue that the Liberals had attempted to bribe Grewal with a Cabinet post? At least in this case, there was some doubt about who approached who first. In the Emerson case, I think that there is no doubt that Emerson was directly approached and I’d defy anyone to tell me the Cabinet post wasn’t part of the bargain.
I’m still troubled by the fact that the Cabinet Minister responsible for the area that led to the Gomery commission is an appointed Senator who will not have to answer quesitons in House of Commons. I’m sincerely curious. How does this work in terms of “Accountabilty”. Who is Public Works accountable to? The unelected Senate?
How do I get my MP to ask a question about this critical area of government?
I won’t go into the smear tactics that Mr. Harper has used so many times. It’s been reported that someone claimed to give Mr. Mulroney money, but he’s not convicted, and in Canadian law, until someone is convicted of a crime they are innocent. So I understand why Mr. Harper can keep key Mulroney aids on staff in positions of great power. But I’m curious as to what the difference is between this what Mr. Harper thought Mr. Martin should have done differently.
Maybe this will blow over and Mr. Harper will survive it. But what is the cost to democracy? What is the cost to integrity?
And I’d love to hear the line drawn clearly, just so we all know. Exactly how many promises are broken before Mr. Harper lacks the moral authority to govern.
Mr. Turner, I appreciate that you want to move on from this one, and I don’t blame you. I think we should all applaud your courage and conviction. You may be doing exactly what Mr. Martin did as Finance Minister. He probably looked out at it all and said — I need to do something positive.
I wish I could take the stand that either of you have taken. Rebuilding a principled alternative in the Progressive Canadian Party has been a lot of hard work. But this week has shown me why I’ll never be a Conservative. (I already knew why I couldn’t be a Liberal)
And unlike Mr. Emerson, that’s a position that I will not change.
All the best to you. It’s nice to see even brief flashes of integrity and we should celebrate them whenever they happen.
Hi Garth,
I support your stance on the issue of MPs crossing the floor. I am a supporter of the Conservatives, even though the candidate at my riding didn’t win (Richmond Hill). I think the Conversative government needs to demonstrate the integrity that was missing in the previous government, and gain the trust of people.
Dennis Ko.
You’re the man Mr. Turner.
I am pro NDP and I campaigned hard for Svend Robinson, but as a westerner I had high hopes for Stephen Harper at his swearing in. I was proud of him. Sadly for Canada and the west he squandered every gram of moral authority in one fell swoop by stealing the hard fought votes of Vancouver Kingsway. I have heard every morally twisted argument by tories from across Canada as to why it was okay to steal Emerson from the people of Vancouver Kingsway, a riding that has only gone conservative once in its history, and then in 1954, but they all ring hollow. Kick the bas*d David Emerson out and call a new election. Otherwise Haiti will look like a glowing bastion of democracy in comparison to Canada.
Mr. Turner,
I understand from the various articles I’m reading that you’re thinking of leaving the CPC. Aren’t you happy you won’t have to have a by-election to do that?
Mr Harper doesn’t want to have by-elections either if a member crosses the floor because that would give control of your seat to the PM. By crossing the floor, you are expressing your principles with your feet. So, thank Mr. Harper that this restrictive requirement is not law.
Who knows better what is happening in the Commons and caucus than you? It’s certainly not your constituents. Therefore, if you cross the floor there is a valid reason. How can I say it’s wrong when I don’t have all in information?
Of course, the demonstrating Liberals and the perpetual whining NDP will call it otherwise.
Congratulations Mr Turner on standing up to your party. Where are the other party members who agree with you? I know they must be around somewhere. I hope, however, you don’t leave the Conservatives. We need people in the governing party like you who will try to be consistent.
Mr.Turner, YOU are doing what voters want. Harper,unfortunately, doesn’t get it..
This past week has showed many Conservative voters, the real Stephan Harper. This is not who I voted for? Wish I could take back my vote and my money. My son warned me, kid’s are so perceptive, you may get what you want, but may not like what you get….he was right! I have to give that kid a hug…
Mr. Turner, I applaud the Conservatives election victory, I know that under Mr. Harper’s wing, this government will do far better things than that of a corrupt Liberal party!!
What we need right now Mr. Turner, is to stick together, you know….united we stand, divided we fall.
Mr. Harper has reasons for doing what he did, he is a brilliant man, he doesn’t need MPs running amok trying to stick pins in his back-side!! Suck it up, let’s work together!!!!
Garth,
Congratulations on speaking out on this issue. Your leadership is certainly refreshing.
Keep speaking your mind
Hi Garth, You seem not to be a man of patience. Too easily miffed, you impatiently blow off steam before you see where that takes you.
If you have a contructive end game. Fine.
Otherwise, it seems as if you are pouting and stamping your feet before thinking about results.
I don’t understand. TG
How come so many people find it hard to spell “principles”? I think we need to take a look at our education sistim.
Garth Turner for Prime Minister!!!!
Garth, I am very upset with your actions this week. I saw you on Mark and Donna yesterday and wanted to cry with frustration. You say the media tracked you down…but you didn’t have to agree to all the interviews. How many talk shows were you on yesterday? I am disturbed by the inappropriateness of all of this. I wanted to sympathise with you, but I can’t anymore. You say that now is the time to move on and get back to being positive…as if the last couple of days just “happened” to you. How nice that you want to get positive now…that you’ve finished making our party look very poor indeed. I hope those here who are praising your great integrity are seeing something genuine in you. I hope you will go back to caucus and make peace. And I do hope you will make sure your blog is no longer a forum for people to bash our right honourable Prime Minister.
Jodie Boychuk CPC Hamilton, ON
Thank you for standing up!
You at least are not afraid to talk about the problems that come with Emerson’s defection and Fortier’s appointment. There is still hope for more accountability and democracy in a Conservative Government.
Mr. Turner,
Here are some questions about by-elections and your proposals for improvements on the process.
I may be mistaken but it looks like your position is that Emerson should announce that he will run for re-election. And that he should be granted time enough to be judged on his performance in his portfolio. He has work to get done as Minister; given the responsibilities of the office he holds, he should be accorded some flexibility in timing his return to the electorate.
That sounds reasonable. I hope it accurately reflects your viewpoint.
This minority govt may not last 18 months. Emerson will be facing the electorate soon enough. Or should he commit to a different timetable?
In your proposed legislation, what would trigger a by-election?
The MP’s resignation of his seat?
The MP’s resignation of his old party membership? Whatabout someone who joins cabinet but stays in his old party?
The MP’s appointment to cabinet? Whatabout the MP who switches without such an appointment?
Under current rules, is it not up to the PM to decided on the date of the by-election? Would your proposal restrict the flexibility of the PM in this or woud it take the timing out of his hands?
Given the splintering of the electorate across the country, and the increasing interest in reforms such as some alternative to the first-past-the-post system, minority governments may become much more common. Coalitions, loose and formal, may evolve more readily if MPs can sit in the Cabinet without leaving their parties; or without a series of by-elections.
I think the cry for by-elections is well-motivated — Parliament needs to accord greater influence to the directly elected representative — but it could easily backfire. Party leaders can kick members out of their parties, right? Would that trigger a by-elelction, too?
How would the riding associations fit into your proposals? Suppose an MP switches parties, as Emerson has done, but Liberals take steps to kick him out of their local riding association and the CPC association refuses him entry. What role do the party leaders then play?
It looks more complicated than you have so far described.
Sorry, that last part should read:
Suppose an MP does not switch parties, as Emerson has done, but Liberals take steps to kick him out of their local riding association and the CPC association refuses him entry.
Garth, cutting the GST is folly. A $100.00 per month tax credit for day care is cheap, and will not improve things for the poor. I have an autistic son who gains nothing from a reduction in services, and I am wondering if Mr Harper has a mercy killing plan for the poor and disabled?
Harper lying to the public is no different than Martin lying to the public. Harper appointing senators is no different than any of the pork barrell politics he fought against. This is a disaster and will only result in conservatives being shoved back into the depths of the opposition. In Harpers Canada, the poor don’t count.
I urge you to make every attempt to remain in the CPC caucus. There are multiple dimensions to the voting decision, and certainly both your party affiliation and your personal track record were part of my calculations. If your position on Emerson is that he should go back to the people because of a change in affiliation, then would not the same apply in your case should you decide to not remain in the CPC caucus?
On a completely different topic, can you explain why the prices of technical books are so much higher in Canada than the US? Specifically, software development books, for which we rely entirely on foreign sources, are significantly higher priced in Canada than the US, even after currency conversion. One I need today is $80 here and $50 in the US. Are these tarriffs? Taxes? Can we eliminate those so that we do not further penalize our software development industry? (I ask this even though it seems the Gun Registry development industry seems to be making billions).
So rumour has it you want to sit as an independant. Well so long as you live by the sword you been so eagarly swinging I have no problem with that. So when do you intend RESIGN SO THAT YOU MAY ALSO STAND FOR RE-ELECTION? OR DO YOU THINK YOU SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.
I have a different theory, you’re not mad because Emerson got a post, you’re whining because you didn’t get into the cabinet!
Aw, it’s clear now – just another politicain attempting to manipulate the masses.
Dear Bear: Don’t beieve everything you read about me. Unless it’s here. Please check out my latest post (“N0 Quitter”) for a response to your concern. — Garth
Garth
you have never been my favorite politician but after reading comments about you that reveals such hated and anger and vindictiveness, not to mention verbal abuse and these from your party I say God help you. what bothers me most about this situation is the people that write them, actually feel that for a greater cause any type of behaviour or action is justified. This political fundamentalism is very scary and does not bode well for our country . I would rather be a second rate nation that respects the wishes of the electorate than a first rate country that does not respect the will of the people and subverts the democratic process on the basis that a select view have a better picture of what is needed. All I can say is best of luck and be thankful your office will be in a basement toilet. that means all that lying crap that is going on above you won’t smear you.
Come on Garth, get real. You are a backbencher critisizing your leader for the sake of some publicity. Keep on yapping Garth- the opposition loves it.
how much do you think your big mouth will affect your ability to deliver on any of your campaign promises? Being a former minister should have given you the foresight you lacked. Sometimes Mr. Turner you have to suck it up a little to get ahead later. I didn’t vote for you in hopes of having a voice in Ottawa coming from an isolated bathroom. I was hoping your past experience would make you more crebible, not less. Please remember, it’s not the Garth Turner show.
Garth, you keep deleting my post. Does it destroy your so-called rightious indignation?
The National
Your Turn with the party leaders
Stephen Harper, Conservative Party
Jan. 19, 2006
Peter Mansbridge: Next question is coming from a city you’re very familiar with, from Calgary.
Colleen Belisle: Hello, my name is Colleen Belisle and I have a question for Stephen Harper regarding the accountability issue. In the past 18 months, I have noticed a number of MPs crossing the floor after the election. This makes me wonder why I should, as a voter, go and vote when my MP can change parties after the election. Mr. Harper, are there any policies that you plan to enforce after the election regarding this issue? Thank you.
Stephen Harper: My short answer is no. And I understand the voters’ frustration. You can imagine I feel that frustration as much as anyone. I was the victim of a number of the particular incidents that the voter is referring to, that Colleen’s referring to, but the difficulty, Peter – I know that many members of Parliament have put forward various proposals that would restrict the right of MPs to cross the floor, force elections, or whatever. I haven’t seen one yet that convinces me that it would create anything other than a situation where party leaders have even more power over the individual members of Parliament. And, as you know, I’ve said that, of course, I’ve said that for a long time that I think our members of Parliament need more authority, need to be able to represent their constituents’ views, and they may make very bad decisions in crossing from a good party to a bad party or, more particularly, a winning party to a losing party. But that all said, I haven’t seen one yet that I’m convinced creates a bigger problem than it’s actually trying to fix.
Peter Mansbridge: Do you think voters are as uncomfortable as Ms. Belisle points out when these kinds of things happen? Because if they are, one assumes that they are looking for direction from their political leaders to prevent this from happening. As you pointed out, some parties, the NDP has said it would force an immediate election. Do you think something has to be done?
Stephen Harper: Let me give a concrete example of an alternative situation. The Conservative Party of Canada, the new Conservative Party was created because people left actually no less than three separate old caucuses, two old parties, and joined with a new party, and I think there is widespread consensus among not just members of the old parties, but members of the public as well that this was a good thing to create a stronger opposition, to end the fragmentation of the conservative movement in the country.
Now, you know, this kind of law could have forced us into a situation where we were having 75 byelections. So, you know, that’s a problem with any of these proposals. We understand, I understand why people want them, and, believe me, there’s a couple of cases that have happened where I’d love to have a law like this, but there’s also a lot of downsides when you think it through. As I say, in a practical matter, I could see how party leaders could really abuse that particular provision to make it even more difficult for members who may disagree legitimately with their party to operate within the party.
This was posted. Here you go again. It’s obviously important to you.– Garth
you have just about succeeded in uderminding the conservative part and smashing it too bit’s…I applaud you! keep up the good work! you are a man of principles!
Dear Mr. Turner:
I was a delegate to the 1993 Progressive Conservative Party Leadership Convention at which you were a candidate. I heard you speak, and was very impressed with what I heard from you. While the result of that convention was already a foregone conclusion before it started, I think you impressed many delegates, with the result being that you were named to Cabinet when Kim Campbell took office.
I had not heard much about you during the past 13 years, but I was pleased to hear that were nominated and won a seat in Parliament this time around. I was a little surprised that you were not named to Cabinet, given the shortage of members with cabinet experience on the Conservative side. I take it from your public comments that you were more than a little surprised yourself by your exclusion.
I think Ujjal Dosanjh is one of the slimiest, most dishonest public figures I can remember in all the time I have followed Canadian politics, and I was shocked and disappointed to see you sharing a soap box with him on television this morning.
The constitutional requirement to sit in Cabinet in our country is a seat in the House of Commons or in the Senate, or the stated intention to seek one in the near future. Mr. Harper put together what he thought was the best, strongest Cabinet possible. He did it using some unconventional methods. In the end of the day, what will matter is whether Mr. Emerson and Mr. Fortier do a good job with the responsibilities they have been given. If they do, then issues such as which party they supported on January 23, 2006, and whether or not they held a seat in the House of Commons on that date will pass into irrelevance.
I worked hard to get a Conservative Party member elected in my constituency, just as many Liberals did to get Mr. Emerson elected. Maybe those Liberals in Vancouver had the right to expect those elected as Liberals to continue to support the Liberal Party. Or maybe they don’t because maybe all bets are off when your party looses and your leader announces his retirement. I don’t know. But I feel I have the right, as a supporter of the winning party, to expect that all MP’s elected as Conservatives will put aside their personal ambitions and support our leader and Prime Minister.
Please, Mr. Turner, get with the program.
Bill Eva
Winnipeg MB
I absolutely despise the $1200 a year child care ‘welfare’ program. It will be a total waste of money. The “beer & popcorn” debacle was bad PR during an election, but truth be said, that money will only be used by parents who will use the cash for day to day living expenses. 2 BIG thumbs down!
Mr. Turner,
Do you not see that you are being played like a Tuna by the Liberals? Every time you open your self-centered blog to public scrutiny, you are quoted in the left leaning news and do nothing but harm to the party and the people that you were elected to represent.
When a person votes for a person, they expect that they will do all that they can for the interests of the person that voted. Changing parties in the interests of helping move forward the issues that a person was elected on is good politics and good for the elector.
What you are doing is not in anyone’s interest other than your vain grandstanding attempts at notoriety.
Please get off the stage, unless this is all a well planned move to benefit Canada.
It is nice to see someone take a principled stand. The voters elected a Liberal and Harper by his actions changed the will of the people, I thought we were going to clean up govenment, did not last long did it!
Garth, If you were asked, *Who is the best man for the job?*. Your quick and correct answer would be *Emereson*.
Checkmate! TG
Steve. That $1200 will indeed be used for general household expenses, execpt for all those parents who will certainly put it towards paying for child-care costs.
There are thousands od hard working parents who have just decided you are the enemy.
Be careful Steve in Ontario. They know which province you live in. TG
Tony. Your arguement is skewed. The $1200 must go towards household expenses as $3 a day for child care is ridiculous. As for being careful…is that be careful in Ontario or are you inferring I am from Ontario? Nova Scotia is the abode.SJW
Mr. Hounerable Turner:
I read your articles at the Real Estate every Friday and really missed when you are busy for the new job. However, I am strongly support you for the bring the vocie of middle class to the parliment. This country had greatly put the middle class with family income over $100,000 as the disgusted family layer and punished them for whatever government policies. We pay the most tax, but get the less support from the government. I strongly support the new idea of $1200/kid policy. We had two kids, one at the private Montessori school. I never believe the government can build the claimed daycare system with the same quality as Montessori schools. Neighther can we expect any finance support when our hardly earned money tax for wasting.
Please stand for the middle class of Canada!
thank you!
William Zhao
My financial knowledge is limited. However, I never want to see any Canadian government bloat our debt as the Conservative spending machine of the Mulroney régime did. Keep your platform promise and do not run a deficit. Better yet, keep the record of suplus budgets continuing. Please and thank you!
Garth mused about leaving the Conservatives over this. THE PEOPLE OF HALTON DIDN’T ELECT YOU AS AN INDEPENDENT GARTH! Now you are changing your story and saying you are going to stay a Conservative. This just shows that you don’t care about principle – you just care about your egocentric self.
I never mused about leaving. I don’t quit. Read my post, if it’s not too much trouble for you. – Garth
Garth – Democracy is a messy business by it’s very nature…accordingly I for one am willng to cut the Prime Minister some slack on his cabinet appointments. There’ll be yet another election in two years or so and voters in Vancouver and Montreal will have an opportunity to pass judgement on the two unelected members. Meanwhile with a minority, Mr. Harper will need every vote he can get when Parliament resumes in April. It would nice to see a few more disaffected Liberals jump ship and join the Conservatives! I enjoy your forthright comments anyway, going way back to when you were business editor of the Toronto Sun in it’s heyday. Don’t envy the tasks ahead for your government though, as the next 2 or 3 years are going to be rough for all.
Spencer Baxter
Toronto, ON
Garth
I thought your appearance on Question Period today was very bland. Was it censored? Emerson’s jump over to the Conservative party is certainly ethical.
When he betrayed all that stood for and made the leap. What could be more ethical than that? For ethical is a level of conduct or a standard of conduct that Emerson did not adhere to.
It may have been his right to do what he did but he certainly beat the hell out of ethics.
R.L.S.
There is nothing wrong or unethical with David Emerson defecting to the Conservatives or with Stephen Harper putting him in the cabinet. Emerson just needs to get elected as a Tory. — Garth
Hi, Garth.
The questions you asked concerning your report:
GST: GST is tricky. If my numbers are correct, the revenue is 13.5 Billion and some of it is eaten up in administration, but it doesn’t matter if its 2% or 7%, the administration costs don’t change. We should be asking why we have GST in the first place. How do you spell deficit? We talk about surplus’s, but forget that our surplus’s are coming largely as a result of high oil and mining commodity values. If we make a budget or slash spending without forseeing a downturn in commodity values and an overall downturn in the U.S. economy, we’ll run red ink up here and this is the worst case scenerio.
When countries run deficits, their currency weakens and the banks that they deal with raise their rates “smelling fear and weakness”. Raised interest rates compound nations troubles who are struggling to pay off the interest on national debt, never mind the principle. Canada went through this downward spiral in the 70’s and 80’s, went through high interest rates, shrunken equity in real estate, A Toronto real estate recession and although some things have changed (portable and fixed morgages for eg.) if an international downward cycle carries on for too long…
The bottom line is that we need surplus’s to keep our interest rates low and our currency high and climbing. Even though high currencies offset certain trade exports, its all about commodity values, getting the most bang for your buck and product, and as long as commodity values are high in energy and mining, we need that strong currency, even if it means keeping the GST AS IS….
I predict a recession on its way in the US. The proposed Bush budget is heavy on military spending and light on social programs, with a record deficit being predicted if its approved. This has been going on for some time now… they are about to experience their own currency crisis. What does this mean? Continued rising rates to prop up currency with foreign investment that goes more for interest rates than fear of a spiralling currency or dollar. Slower trade… Lower commodities unless China picks up the consumption lull… and war.
The thing that could really hurt Canadians is war.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18077959%255E2703,00.html
Listen, I’m a Conservative. I’ve made good money in Mongolian gold, Egyptian oil… I’m a product of my own environment when I say I like to compete. I like to compete with other nations, other corporations, and Canadians are industrious when it comes to this… but as far as competing with the US directly… we can’t do it with military, we can’t outspend them, we can’t out anything with them except in one department, they are just to large. The most we can do is out think them.
Does the US have an agenda to control the worlds resources? Of course! They’ve controlled most south american nations for some time now, and smear the ones they can’t. They’ve raped Africa’s resources, pillaged and plundered the middle east and trust me when I say it, it’s not about Iraq. Its always been about IRAN. Iraq was just the first piece to fall to dominate the middle east, but with IRAN, it could be a world war in the waiting.
Quoting global research.ca
Iran supplies 14% of China’s oil. Along with Russia, China has been involved since the late 1990’s in supplying nuclear technology to Teheran. In 1997 Beijing under Washington pressure nominally agreed to stop shipments, but the flows are believed continuing as the Iran relation is strategic and critical to China energy security. China, a veto member of the UN Security Council has repeatedly called for the issue of Iranian nuclear development to be dealt with by the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose chief, Nobel Peace Prize awardee, Mohamed ElBaradei, has earned the enmity of Washington war hawks for his open declarations of lack of evidence in both Iraq and now Iran of atomic bomb capability. Given the nature of the Bush Administration’s rush to war in Iraq in 2003, where China had a major stake in oil development, and the subsequent US blocking of other Chinese attempts at securing energy independence including Unocal, it is not surprising that Beijing is taking extraordinary measures to secure its long-term oil and gas supply. Energy is the Achilles Heel of China’s economic growth. Beijing knows that only too well. So does Washington. A decision to take military action against Iran would pull a far larger cast of actors into the fray than Iraq.
The key to staying out of deficits is to stay out of war, and to lower our foreign ownership of our resources. Listen, we only get to sell it once. And if its US corporations that make the profits, those profits go to the US, not Canada and so tax payers don’t get to see that tax revenue, or corporate profit. And for us to think in any way shape or form that the US hasn’t taken over our resources in some large ways already, is to be foolish, ignorant or naive…
There are several ways for an empire to take over a country. In this day and age, the US doesn’t have to roll in the tanks… they can just buy us. Play east and west against each other, divide and conquer. They can take away our identity, privatize the CBC, privatize our insurance crown corps that stabilize our consumer pricing, privatize health care, get banks into insurance so they become even greater monopolies than they already are… get us into war and weaken our economy so that we have to rely on foreign investment, because right now, we don’t need their money. We have enough of our own, so any time you hear this, “we need foreign investment”, you’ve just heard a lie!
And for as much as I’m against protectionism of resources and trade, we, as canadians, have one of the best nations to live in precisely because of our social programs. We need a strong central government to keep it so!
I’ve always been competitive. I’ve always believed in any Canadian rising to greatness from any background, rich or poor, doesn’t matter, because we have a system that supports equal opportunity and that means we need social programs to give our children a chance to grow up as healthy adults.
Harper daycare? Its not a daycare program… its a cheque. We want a government that can govern!!! We want a government that will stay out of war, not do US bidding, not lick their boots or kiss their behinds, a government that is pro Canadian corp, a goverment that believes in social programs and a strong central power and I hate to say it, but this isn’t Stephen Harpers vision of Canada.
Harpers vision of Canada is to put his arm around dirty Liberals as in Honorable Emerson, a man who was BC provincial treasurer in 1984, someone who could cherry pick banks to stuff his own pockets as CEO controller and merger and that’s exactly what he did. We can call Emerson and his latest fan a hero or smart or anything we want, but at the end of the day, its called unethical because we put public servants in there to serve the PUBLIC!! Not themselves. What did he do after he made millions in banking from the tax payers intel? Got re-elected to cherry pick government intelligence again! Next time it was Canfor in the 90’s and you know, this didn’t upset me so much… it was his directorship to TERESESEN that was my final straw with Emerson. When he sold government intel to TERESEN for shares as a director only to watch them buy out and serve most of BC’s gas to see the profits go south… Emerson is nothing more than a US corporate sellout and now he’s back. Re-elected by dummies who fall over his “genius” to milk us again with RAV, gateway and whistler. Now we get to see him make millions more on kickbacks and cost overruns and this to me, is long past drawing the line with Emerson. He was dirty Liberal then and he’s a dirty Con now.
So, my final advice. Slash the GST only if we can afford it. I don’t believe that at this time, we can. We have a future that is filled with a US recession. We can’t project surplus’s on increased revenue here. We can only project them with frugality.
Stay away from war. We are a peaceful nation to begin with, Harpers plans to get 14,000 soldiers combat ready is for fools.
Look at a daycare program that looks after children first, and parents second. The Cons can propose a two tier system, one that is regulated and sets a benchmark, government run, and one that is private, competing with goverment for better services, while following safety and education guidlines, because these are our children, folks!! Its not generational half so much as it is environmental.
And one last thing, Garth. I like that flag you’re flyin’. Some dummie commentary had the nerve to suggest that it should be a Conservative flag you should fly. It’s easy enough for me and anyone else with common sense that the CANADIAN flag is the one that takes precidence as an MP rep in the house of Commons. Good luck!
GST Cut = Poor economic policy.
I’m secretly hoping the Opposition parties don’t let that part pass. Consumption taxes are a better way to finance government as opposed to personal income tax.
I can understand why the GST cut was in the CPC platform, that doesn’t mean it was right.
Cheers, Derek
To everyone so saddened and amazed by Mr. Harper, all I can say is you were naive.
He had an excellent election team, that’s all. It’s obvious now he’s a babe in the woods.
It was a terrible move to entice the floor crossing so soon after the election, but if he hadn’t pulled Mr. Turner into his office for a dressing down perhaps this story would have died.
It’s Harpers own fault. Don’t blame Garth Turner for being honest.
Steve SJW, For a working couple who pay for 16 or 20 daycare days per month, the $1200 per youngster amounts to real and valued help.
Once that help is offered by any government, your suggestion that it should be withdrawn will draw a lot of protest from quite a crowd.
The knowing where you live thing is just a joke, however if we had strong opinions expressed about ethnic cartoons, there would be no room for any joking around.
http://BendGovernment.blogspot.com
TG
This Emerson episode is about the most despicable approach to opportunism that has been instituted in a very long time.
I voted Liberal, not the person, and I have lost all faith in voting now. They just treat you like you’re a piece of crap and I’m afraid to say that my children do not see this as a good thing either.
Garth – conrats on your stand – I thought that was what I was voting for when I voted Conservative for the first time in this election – that won’t happen again!
I am disgusted that the conservatives are no different than the Liberals. Oh well, I notice that no one is being bought from the NDP – maybe there is a party with principals still out there!
To clarify, its 12.5 to 13.5 billion in revenue per GST percentage point, so 7% to 6% GST taxes on consumed goods won’t come cheap, possibly sending us into deficits and just to remind voters, Mulroney spent 11.7 billion on the first IRAQ invasion in 1991 (CBC archives). How soon we sometimes forget that war costs money. We want a peace policy that ensures Canadians say no to U.S. empirical wars. I would like to see 500,000 one time capital gains exemptions, it is estimated to cost 2.3 billion a year by the Libs, lets do it! We can afford this one, Garth.
Garth,
Thank you for minding the shop while others abandon their integrity. I was disgusted by Harper’s sleazy moves.
Maybe he will do us all a favour and cross the floor to the Liberals.
Your self-serving grandstanding reminds me of another “champion of the people” by the name of Peter Kormos, MPP-Welland, Ontario. Peter is often referred to as “Peter Protest”, or the “Rebel without a cause…”, because there isn’t an issue out there that he won’t use for his own egomaniacal purposes, masked as speaking “on behalf of the ‘people’”. Peter gets re-elected time after time, but the one and only shot he got as a member of GOVERNMENT (surely you remember the Bob Rae fiasco) and not as a member of the 3rd party opposing anything and everything, he wasted the opportunity to positively influence change for the better by getting kicked out of cabinet, and being ostracized by his own party for not keeping his critcism of the leader where it should have been kept – in caucus. As a result, nothing ever got accomplished by Peter that would serve his constituents in a positive fashion, and to this day, Welland remains the single most ignored riding by Queen’s Park in the province.
The sad part is, Garth, you new exactly what you were doing when you made your comments available to the media, which can only lead one to believe that you put yourself, your ego, and your personal agenda ahead of that of your constituents and your party.
Remember, Garth, what goes around comes around!
Dammit! Turner! That is your job. Keep tilting at windmills and saying what you know is RIGHT! There are such things as absolutes and even if or especially if Harper and the rest of the seemingly forgetful reformers/allaincers/conservatives do. You’re not your own solely your own man anymore. Your voice belongs to your constituents. And even though I’m not one of them I admire your stand. Just keep it up.
Garth maybe you should resign and go back to flogging high risk stocks to seniors. You are the Canadian “Dr” Jerry White
And you are making it up. Say, what’s this argument called? Oh yeah, ad hominem.– Garth
I sadly read today that Mr. Emerson would only quit if a law existed and that he crossed the line. It seems that, when actions speak louder than words, Mr. Emerson is seeking the lowest common denominator.
Mr. Turner, you are absolutely right. Seats belong to the people, not the party. They are not for sale. This strikes at the very core of democratic principles. Mr. Emerson’s riding elected a liberal – they should get one. By allowing this action to take place, Mr. Harper is proving he is nothing more than the product of a spin-doctored campaign and sealing his party’s fate yet again. It’s too bad. People like you make me want to believe in parliament again, but as you said, you won’t change the system, I guess.
Garth I thought you said you had made your point about David Emerson and moved on? Now more press today in the Post!? I appreciate that you are standing up for principles but what are you trying to accomplish in the national media?
That story was a follow-up on old news. I did not personally speak with the National Post. — Garth
Politics is a dirty game and frankly, I don’t know how you guys do it. You must have a stomach of steel not to mention nerves of steel. Anyhow, even though I’m a die-hard Liberal, I just want to tell you that I support you in your standing up for what you believe to be right. Harper has no doubt stunned and disappointed many Canadians with his first moves as P.M. in putting together his cabinet. As for politicians crossing the floor, this really sickens me (and no, I don’t think Belinda should have done this either). Emerson has shown his true stripes. As for Harper’s wailing away about accountability and ethics, man, he’s only been on power a few minutes and already he’s blown any chance to prove himself. Anyhow, Garth, hang in there. In life, the good guys really do win in the end. Just don’t forget that. Someone tell that to Harper.
Mr. Garth Turner,
Let the following be your plan:
When this farce of an “ethical” government collapses and Harper is given the ouster, run for the leadership of the Conservative Party. You will have my vote.
Way to go Garth!
Standing up for integrity, honour. While having to endure a rebuke from the PM. Keep up the great work Garth!
Also love to see that you are indeed following through with the Townhalls. It is about time our voice is heard.
Thank you!
“single-income families where one spouse stays home with a child should be able to split income ”
JUST DO IT AND I WILL LOVE YOU
I understand the dilemma many Tories face and emphasize. However, it is nonsense to swear My party, right or wrong, when that party does things which are wrong.
The gloss placed by many Tories on Harper’s actions is factually incorrect, and your conclusions equally wrong, for these reasons:
• The Ethics Commissioner is a officer of Parliament with powers granted him, and an obligation placed upon him, to investigate any complaint lodged by a Member of Parliament. Investitation of a complaint is not the same as finding that a breach of ethical principles has taken place.
• Therefore, Harper’s refusal to cooperate with the Commissioner is legally incorrect for a Prime Minister, and politically inept.
• Harper’s statement that it is his right to appoint members of his Cabinet is correct, but misleading. This is not the issue. The issue is whether Harper and/or Emerson breached the ethical standards applicable. If they did, the Commissioner has to decide on a remedy.
• Harper’s defence of his position means he has placed himself above the law. This is not the position a Prime Minister should take in a democracy founded on the rule of law. Harper is not a king; the divine right died out ages ago. Nor is he an infallible pope. He is an MP and subject to the laws like every other citizen of Canada.
• Harper campaigned vigorously on a platform of reform, and rode the corruption issue into power with his narrow majority. The onus is on him to govern in accordance with his platform, which was heavily weighted towards good, clean government. His actions in flouting the law re the Commissioner do not meet this test.
• Harper is obliged to introduce legislation as soon as possible in order to bring in an appropriate accountability law, without loopholes. Once such a law is in place, it will apply in future, and replace any existing laws which are amended by the new law. Hopefully, given his campaign promises, the new law will address the issue of MPs who cross the floor.
• It is in the interests of all Canadians that government be carried on in an ethical fashion. Harper’s response to the Ethics Commissioner falls short of this standard, and should not be countnanced by specious arguments such as yours. The citizens of Canada deserve better, and every citizen – including all Tories – have a right to call Harper and others on their actions, and demand the highest ethical behaviour from them.
Perhaps the only good that will come from this sorry debacle is that we have adquate legislation passed to uphold high ethical standards for our elected representatives.