Care for an update on my nomination battle with the forces of righteousness? Sure you would. Here goes.
In case you missed the first act, the geniuses at Conservative party headquarters put Halton in play last Friday afternoon when they unexpectedly called all the members here and told them nominations were now being accepted for my job. Yeah, I know the last election was only seven months ago, and the next one’s not on the radar yet. But, what’s logic got to do with it?
Potential contenders have until next week to come forward, then we duke it out at a nomination meeting on September 11th. The candidate who can drag out the most supporters on the first school night of the season will win the right to be the Conservative horse in the next election.
Yesterday my team received word the Righteous Right was mobilizing against me. Moving in mysterious ways, and in the space of just two days, they had organized a campaign, rented a hall, started telephone solicitation, written a script, sent out a newsletter promoting anti-Garth campaign events, brought in outside organizers and generally let it be known my buns would soon be toast.
The big event today was an admission of who is behind all of this. Yes, it’s my old buddy Rev. Charles McVety, the Pat Robertson of the North, and a man who’s a pillar of the fundamentalist Christian movement. He and I have exchanged views on TV, on this blog and in conversation. His group issued a press release asking Stephen Harper to condemn me (quite unnecessary, of course), and McVety has said his army would target MPs who do not support outlawing same-sax marriage.
Charles fessed up to a couple of reporters chasing the story today that, yes, it is his hand in all of this. A National Post guy told me McVety also wanted to target James Moore, a BC MP, but decided to save all the good stuff for Halton. You’re welcome, James, buddy.
The threat of a few busloads of instant Tories pulling up outside the little Lion’s Hall in Campbellville on September 11th did a lot to motivate my supporters yesterday and today. They sent out a few thousand letters, orchestrated an email blast, hit the phones and began mobilizing people who have indicated I’m not the total jerk the chosen ones make me out to be.
The response was thunderous. New and renewed memberships for the Halton Conservatives started trickling in around noon today, and became a torrent by tonight. I personally sold dozens and dozens to people who have been active political observers, but not party members. In fact, in the total time I have been an MP, for the Progressive Conservatives and now the Conservatives, I have never experienced a response like this. The publisher of one of the local papers called and said he would bring over memberships signed by every employee. Environmental groups, seniors groups and business groups have all responded, and people who say Tories are worthless philanderers have also stepped forward.
Needless to say, my mood improved as the hours went by. If McVety was out to sign up a few hundred members of local church groups, then we were out to mobilize the planet. Well, at least enough people who support an independent-minded MP who reports to the voters instead of the party. Enough, that is, to once again whip the ass of the challenger.
And that would be D’arcy Keene, a guy who ran and lost in the 1997 federal campaign in Scarborough, who once was an MP’s assistant, and who came third out of four candidates when I won the Halton nomination about 15 months ago. He has now found religion, which I guess is understandable, when Charles McVety tells you he can finally make you an MP. Apparently he will be carrying the torch of the Righteous Right into that little yellow aluminum-clad hall.
So, I went to his organizational meeting tonight in Milton. So did Esther, who is really, really, really motivated right now to tear someone’s lungs out. And so did about five other members of the Halton Conservative association, curious to see the opposition in action, and ready to be chippy and obnoxious.
The signs outside said “Canadian Values meeting, Room 2†and when I walked in, my six supporters were sitting around trying to look like they didn’t know each other, accompanied by five other people, three of them apparently religious ministers or organizers. D’arcy was not to be seen so I sat and started to chat with people.
Two minutes later, he burst into the room, declared the meeting had been hijacked; that he had been subjected to media scrutiny today; that I was rifling through his documents; and he was leaving immediately. Which he did, after furiously stuffing papers (mostly photocopies of this blog) into his briefcase.
So, I shook hands with the strangers, and my team went to Ned Devine’s for a beer.
The next big meeting is Thursday. I think Charles should pray for a better result.
______________________________________________________________
By the way, if you are interested in helping me (you can bet my opponents are not even close to giving up), please go here. Bless you.
107 comments ↓
Hot DAMN!
Garth, I woulda bet a hundred bucks that you would get teeming multitudes at that nomination meeting waving “Turner” signs. Heck, I would be there myself except I live in John Baird’s riding. Thanks to this blog (and MPTV) you now have fans coast to coast.
Good on ya!
Good Evening Mr. Turner;
I was reading the news this evening when I came across a article
outlining you fight with local Conservative christian groups.
(http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2006/08/15/1757484-cp.html)
I just want to thank you for holding true to your principles. My
husband and I just received our marriage certificate in the mail today
after getting married in January. We’re honored to have this right
extended to us and feel lucky to be able to marry as there are so many
in the world do not have the same opportunity.
Again, thank you so much.
Mr. Harper could have put a swift end to this nomination foolishness by protecting all Conservative MP’s who received a vote of confidence from their Conservative Electoral District(riding, for those traditionalists among ye) Association…..Democratic to a certain degree, and yet we wouldn’t be faced with the possibility of good MP’s who have worked hard on behalf of their constituents being turfed just because someone disagrees with an MP’s stand on certain issues, or because someone simply sees an opportunity to vault themselves into a six figure job…..
My own MP is now facing a nomination battle from a rank opportunist….
Forget about raising “party numbers†through these spurious nomination battles…..give me ten dedicated members over 100 “paper†ones any day…..I should also like to remind those who wish to challenge a sitting MP that a sitting members has a much better chance of winning a tight election race because he/she has name recognition going for them….Mr. Harper should think about that as he strives for a majority in the coming election…
Sincerely,
Patrick Hamilton
Former Secretary
Pitt-Meadows-Maple-Ridge
Mission
Conservative E.D.A.
Garth: The Forces of Righteousness? It is to lose one’s cookies. By all means, let gays marry — why should they be any less miserable than the rest of us?
Seriously: all those clowns, and their Canadian “values”, manage to do is to display their incompetence, buttressed by their thinly-disguised contempt for Joe and Mary Six-Pack, who are (surprise, surprise!) smarter than the zombies in Oddawa would credit. The most important and valuable Canadian value…is also an oxymoron…Common Sense. It tells you that you cannot trust The Government, because The Government does not trust you. Over The People. Against The People. In Spite Of The People. Never give up. Never give up. Never, never, never give up. We don’t belong to them – they belong to us. Let us not fear them – let them fear us. *ahem* Sorry about that – channelling Guy Fawkes. In any event, Garth, the party hacks are doing nothing more than displaying what cockroaches they are…scrambling for crumbs, and skittering in fear of the light. As always, NILS ILLEGITIMUS CARBORUNDUM!
Hi Garth…I’m retired and living in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island so I can’t help you directly. I don’t know what to make of the move by the “moral right” to un-seat you. On the one hand it’s their democratic right to nominate and work for whom they like; on the other it sounds like they may be planning a high-jack. It’s a real dilemma. We lost Chuck Cadman to this process. I would hate to see it work against you.
I don’t always agree with you Garth, ( I even wrote and gave you a blast once), but I think you are everything an MP should be. You work for your constiuents unlike my MP Jean Crowder.
I’m willing to put a few bucks where my mouth is if that will help. Just let me know.
Best Wishes
Bob M.
Duncan BC
Dear Mr. Turner,
My support goes to those who would protect the millenial status quo of
traditional marriage from the whim of an outgoing Liberal PM and those who
would support it. It seems your constituency feels the same way and I ask
you to take that into consideration.
I also object to the ‘us vs. them’ way you paint the ‘RELIGIOUS RIGHT’.
That kind of scare tactic and villification of someone’s freedom of
religious expression is not what I voted for when I voted for you as our MP.
It is offensive and devisive to the people of Halton whom you are elected to
represent. This is also the same tactic the Liberals used against the
conservatives in the last election- it was rejected by Canadians then, and
is still now.
Dear Mr. Turner,
I just read an article about your upcoming nomination challenge. I then searched out your weblog to learn more about the issues facing you. And I have to say I am impressed. You are a straight-forward, honest man and I admire your stand on the issue of gay marriage. This is not a moral or a religious issue. It is an issue of basic equality for ALL Canadians, regardless of their sexual persuasion.
There are many religious group who are fighting hard to sway MPs, to scare them into re-opening this debate. And I can only hope that those of us who believe, as you do, in equality and a COMPLETE separation of church and state will be able to keep you and others like you, in a position where you can guard our rights and freedoms.
Although I am not a lover of your Conservative leader and some of his political choices, I can say that I am an admirer of your and all that you are trying to do for the people of your riding.
Keep up the good work!
Kathleen N.
Victoria, BC
Definitely … 100% support of your candidacy on September 11 … however, I am taking minutes for a church committee meeting at the very same time, and won’t be able to attend at Campbellville’s Lions Hall. I’ll talk you up among my Drury Park neighbours, though. Good Luck, Garth. Gretchen
PR: Just because something has existed for a long time, does not make it sacred. As in: The earth is flat. Slavery is okay. Women are too stupid to vote. So is anybody who does not own property. Indians are stupid children who can’t take care of themselves. The earth is the center of the universe…ditto Toronto. The government must be trusted – they know better. *ahem* I DON’T THINK SO! Marriage isn’t sacred because some book written two thousand years ago, and translated from here to heck and back again in the process, says so. It’s sacred because the two people involved, man and woman, or man and man, OR woman and woman, say so. And it’s nobody’s else’s business how it works, or even IF it works. Any marriage works because of the commitment of the partners involved…and their particular orientation is irrelvant. Oh, waitaminnit…another sacred truth: gay people have no concept of commitment. But then sacred is simply an acronym for…scared…ooo, another DaVinci conspiracy! Well, if God is on your side, what the hell have you to scared of? Have faith, brother…
I can’t tell you how important I beleive it is that we keep our political process from being hijacked by special intrest groups, and keep candidates that are truly interested in serving the larger community.
I have just completed my on line regestration for the Conservative Party.
What do I do next to help keep Garth our Candidate in Halton ?
Thanks,
Sean
Garth, I sincerely hope that you are successful in your nomination bid. But I wonder sometimes why you want to do it under the CPC banner lead by Fundamentalist Harper and his band of born agains. Maybe sitting as an independant wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
After the AIDS conference fiasco, you would think that Harper would be a little bit sensitive to the image he is projecting but no, today he pulls another boner by yanking the CPC MP that was supposed to be part of the Arab nations tour. I wonder what Harper’s position would have been if the invite was from a Jewish organization for an Israeli only fact finding mission. Any way you look at it, it doesn’t look good. And then again today, Vic Toews floats the idea for reducing the age of criminal responsibility to 10. First he ups the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16 cause kids could never be responsible enough at 14 to make decisions in regards to their sexual conduct but on the other hand he wants to reduce the age at which they can be held criminally responsible. Make up your mind Vic.
Garth, and independant seat has to be looking better and better all the time.
Garth,
Who is eligible to attend and vote at this crazy nomination meeting???Do we have to live in your Riding??
It looks like you have bigtime major support all across Canada!!!!
Maybe plane loads along with bus loads will arrive at this big event!!!
Mr. Turner,
Way to go!! Take no prisoners!!
I’d even join up to vote for you except I live in Halifax.
Here’s a thought,
The conservative convention should be coming up next spring (isn’t it every two years?). Why not put a resolution on the table that would only allow members to vote on candidates after a 3 month waiting period? – no instant memberships!
BTW: doesn’t the “big guy” have the final say on who is actually the electoral condidate?
Garth: it is your right to express yourself and I am sure that many people will agree with what you say. My only request is that you leave the CPC and declare yourself an independent. It is clear that, from the outset, you had no intention of being a CPC member of parliament. You have undermined the party and its leader, publicly, since you were elected into office. This is not right. I am sure you and the party will be much happier if you sit as an independent. Go for it.
Garth i am not in your riding but would like to offer my support in any way i can.Your upfront ,open,honest,common sense approach is much appreciated. john
Hey Doug McEwen, you can do something.
Ask your MP John Bird to declare his support for Garth, though I suspect that he is one of the ones quietly workng with others like Michael Chong and Peter Van Loan against Garth. It was rumoured that Van Loan was supporting Darcy against Garth last time.
We can all do something o help Garth.
Write a letter to the editor of the Oakville Beaver, Burlington Post, Milton Champion, or Toronto Star.
Go out and work on nomination night
Wherever you live, if you have a Conservative MP, ask them where they stand on supportng Garth – you can bet that the other side will produce a list of “VIP’s” supporting him – so we should do the same – a “VIP list of everyday Canadians”
Lets face it – if Garth loses – who will try to speak to in the Future?
McVety is focusing all the resources of the CFAC on one MP?? He’s not challenging any other sitting MPs?
So much for his “nation wide” campaign to promote family values.
This looks more like a personal vendetta than an attempt to promote Christian values. Perhaps McVety can’t tell the difference.
Richard, you’ve repeated your request for Garth to go independent a few times now, because he has “undermined” the CPC party.
Can you please be specific and tell us how he has done that?
Was it because he did not follow the party line as handed down by the PMO, which completely bypasses the will of the people, and was mocked by your party when you were in opposition? (“King Jean”)?
Was it because when the CPC did stupid things that the voters did not like, such as screaming about patronage and entitlement during the election, and then, on day one, instantly making his friend a senator and an unelected cabinet minister, showing it was corruption and patronage as usual, he spoke out against it?
Or was it because he sometimes said Steve Harper was wrong? You know, I could maybe understand this one… dirty laundry getting settled inside the family, but presenting a united front to outsiders… except your precious party has shown no indication at even considering the opinions of the MP’s… face it, to you they are mere pawns designed to park Steve Harper’s butt in Ottawa, and nothing more.
Honestly, I personally would prefer Garth wasn’t a CPC as well, but that’s because he’s the only CPC I support, and it gnaws at me that to give this excellent MP a vote, I am, without any choice in the matter, also extending my support to an administration that has shown it is not just as bad as the liberals, but even worse (btw, have you guys paid revenue canada back for your “delegation fees” ripoff yet?).
Be careful what you wish for Richard, you just might get it, right when you want to get a majority government, too.
Today I am embarrassed to be member of the CPC. Why the party brass would want to upend a sitting MP is beyond me. Especially one close to Toronto, since we all know how well the CPC did in Toronto in the last election.
What the party should be doing is trying to put some quality candidates into ridings that were not won the last time.
What they are doing is stupid.
Dear Mr. Turner,
Rest assured that we are going to help you and will campaign more for you. I was trying to print a lot for distribution around my neighbours and friends (in the church) but my printer at home is jamming.
How and what can I show the people while explaining about you and your good intentions for us? Please let me know soonest because I like to start campaigning as soon as possible, which was my commitment to you.
Just always remember, prayers is the most effective means to succeed. We will always include you in our prayers.
Josie & Family
I would be happy to support you. I will plan to attend Sep 11th. Please let me know what is the best way to renew my membership and I will get signed up this week.
Richard,
The CPC needs more people like Garth Turner, not fewer. If there were more candidates like Garth, the CPC would win a general election in a landslide.
To repeat what others are saying, why not go independent? I prefer to vote for Mr Turner, but I prefer NOT to support Mr Harper. Can someone pelase educate me on this?
Is this a funding issue? Or is the idea that it would be easier to sway other CP MPs while in the party than if not in the party?
For Steve McNamara:
I have done volunteer work in the past and will do work in the future. Your suggestions are good ones though and should be noted by anyone wishing to get involved. Thanks.
The threat of a few busloads of instant Tories pulling up outside the little Lion’s Hall in Campbellville on September 11th did a lot to motivate my supporters yesterday and today. They sent out a few thousand letters, orchestrated an email blast, hit the phones and began mobilizing people who have indicated I’m not the total jerk the chosen ones make me out to be.
Garth, I thought you didn’t have enough people to send out mass letters and so forth? I thought it didn’t work? Have you had a change of mind in the past week? Guess you only support this when its your pet issue now. Your hypocrisy holds no bounds.
Garth, stay the course.
My cheque is in the mail.
It’s time for you to consider the job of the Big Guy.
Steve – had you made an argument without emotion and rhetoric, I would respond. Your request for me to be more specific about Garth’s undermining is puzzling – I am sure you know what I mean so I will not lose my time elaborating. It is obvious. You actually answered the question in your response.
And, I am old enough to know what “I wish for” and to know the pros and cons, thank you very much.
Ed – I can’t agree with your “landslide” prediction. I just don’t see it but I could be off-base.
Sean – you are so correct. For a while, Garth ceased criticising the party under whose banner he ran, and was addressing important issues. Lately, it is back to Garth the Great, Stephen the Bad. I, also, am seeing some hypocracy and I am disillusioned all over again. I wonder, once again, why this man ran under the Conservative banner, knowing exactly where our PM stood on issues, was happy to run as a CPC and then, immediately upon being elected, began tearing down our PM for his decisions – publicly. And then, going on and on about being taken to the woodshed, getting an office in the bowels of the building etc. This is so childish and not at all becoming of an MP.
Garth has become a grandstander – plain and simple.
Sean P. Hogan,
Bug off already.
Hi Mr. Turner,
Wanted to drop you a note wishing you well and ensuring you that you have support from both my wife and I. Please let us know where and when the nomination meeting will be and we will be there to mark an X by your name.
2 years ago when you contacted me – at Esther’s urging – to discuss your nomination then, I expressed my concern about the stance the Conservative party was taking on gay marriage. You assured me very quickly that like myself and my wife you felt the issue was a closed one and believed that there were far more important issues to be dealt with in Canada – taxes, crime, government waste, ineffective bureaucracy, a Liberal government that had been in power WAY too long. You also expressed that you would stand by your views and remain being outspoken, no matter the cost – WOW have you ever lived up on that one!
You have remained true to your word and as such you can absolutely count on our continued support and we certainly hope that you win this battle. Otherwise if the “righteous right†somehow pulls this off – Who will we vote for in the next election? We certainly could never support that group of fanatics.
We have made a donation – on website – to help you in this fight.
GIVE THEM HELL GARTH!!!!
Garth will not take any advice from the mouthy Liberal Frankie, who sounds like an amateur Scott Reid.
Garth will win in a walk.
Sean… you know, I attributed your remarks to intellectual dishonesty, but maybe it really is just that you are stupid. Garth emailing people on his email list is different from being able to email everyone in his riding, let alone Canada. (For you religious fanatics at home, feel free to try it yourself!)
Having people who support Garth volunteer their time to write letters in support of Garth does not mean he has that resource available to send out mass letters on demand, it is only when his volunteers are willing (see, that’s what volunteer means, try a dictionary).
Since it is obvious that the two situations are not comparable, since volunteers can not be considered an “available resource”, Garth is not displaying any hypocrisy (again, you might want to check a dictionary).
Hey, here’s an idea, since your bitter words stem from Garth not sending a mass mailing about SSM for you…. why don’t you find YOUR OWN VOLUNTEERS and send your own mass mailing?
Paul A:
Only too happy to educate you. As a life long conservative, I would much rather build the party by supporting candidates like Garth than to keep practicing the traditional politics that discourages everyone.
Ed – I can’t agree with your “landslide†prediction. I just don’t see it but I could be off-base.
Richard, if you ignore the babbling of left and right idealogues on this blog, and pay attention to the comments of shall we call them ‘casual’ visitors, I would postulate that Garth’s approach would attract a lot of cynical people who are currently sitting on their hands.
It is hard to argue with people whose attitude is that all politicians are the same and they are all crooks. That is until someone like Garth comes along. So far Garth is doing exactly what he said he would do when he was campaigning: represent his constituents to Ottawa, not the other way around. To date he has not ’sold’ us out.
Not to say that sometimes his prose is somewhat flowery, but man, he is doing a fine job of representing me.
It’s a shame we have to waste all this time and breath on issues like SSM; there are so many things that are far more important to the fabric of Canadian society.
Go get them Garth. You are the future. I only wish the same could be said for my MP. (Centre Wellington)
My husband and I will absolutely give you our support.
Please let us know what we need to do next. We need
to register with the Conservative association of
Halton. We will gladly pay the $10 each. And yes, we
will attend the meeting on Sept. 11th to have our vote
count.
FYI: I have forwarded your email on to our good
friends and neighbours in order to solicit their
support also.
Richard, it’s plain and simple, you say…
“Your request for me to be more specific about Garth’s undermining is puzzling – I am sure you know what I mean so I will not lose my time elaborating”
What I am trying to get you to explain, in your words, exactly, is, “WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT GARTH (OR ANY OTHER MP) FOLLOW THE PARTY LINE THAT IS NOT A CREATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE PARTY BUT OF UNELECTED PARTY BUREAUCRATS?”.
You see, us voters have heard the CPC rail long enough about the tyranny of King Jean that you have convinced us that having a few unelected people in charge of the entire country, because they control the party apparatus, is a bad thing. And now the CPC is doing the same damn thing, and you are criticizing Garth for not toeing the line.
You see, the impression you give is that following the party line is very different from adhering to the principles of the CPC, and is vastly more important. The impression you give is that if the CPC was elected on fiscal responsibility, but the PMO decided that all prime ministers needed a 400% raise, that the MP’s should shut up and support it, rather than say that it is a blatant abuse of power. In other words, the impression you give is that you have NO ETHICS whatsoever.
Maybe that’s not the case, in which case, answer the question. Or maybe it is, that your only concern is accumulating and holding onto power, not doing anything positive about it, in which case it probably isn’t worth your time to respond… because most Canadians have long grown tired of “party loyalty” (aka, “the taxpayer gets the shaft again”).
I admire your courage and commitment. You may be interested to know that this issue is not only volatile but it easily confused with the issue about childcare as if the ‘right’ will agree to also have kids raised at home, in a traditional marriage.
I want you to be crystal clear on this – the issues are not the same at all. I spoke in favor of same-sex marriage and am pro-choice for abortion also- AND pro-choice about how to raise your child. You may be told that those who don’t use daycare are anti-gay, anti-abortion right wing. That is not accurate.
So please don’t confuse this. Your stand on gay rights is great. Please however see the childcare issue separately.
I do not endorse the Liberal plan to fund only one care style daycare. I also am pro-choice about how to share income. Some couples prefer to be independent and to not share while others do share and would like to be taxed to recognize that income is split. In the US it is possible to give people the choice of how to be taxed (individual or household) and I think that’s a good idea.
So please when you hear the many passionate and angry responses to statements about gay rights, do not confuse these with the issue of childcare funding or the issue of income-splitting.
The religious right does tend to be onside in wanting funding to all care styles of kids. Good for them. But their affiliation with our coalition ends on that issue. We do not all agree at all about their stand on same-sex rights or abortion
Beverley
Calgary
Hi Garth
I’ll be there supporting you!
Can you have one os your staff make sure I am up-to-date on my Membership please?
I think I am, but just in case!
Garth,
I just read in the National Post that there is a move to oust you at the local level over the ‘gay marriage’ vote.
I would like to support you’re position. Do I have to buy membership?
Here’s a little fact for ya all:
Long before the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) came into existence, the CPC name was (and still is) in use by the Canadian Pork Council. Imagine that, Harper, Doris Day, Solberg, Mayes, Ambrose et al running under the banner of the Canada Pork Council. Too funny.
It bothers me that Stephen Harper spoke at fundraisers for Defend Marriage, and now they are using that money to remove Conservative MPs.
But, I suppose that was his plan.
I should say that I do not support the homosexual lifestyle, which I find repulsive, repugnant and it is clearly not normal in biological terms. However, using religion for political ends raises my hackles like nothing else! Actually in my mind, religion does almost as much damage to this world as Trudeau did to this country!
While I do not agree with all your stands on things, you obviously work hard and say what you think and that is what I want in my MP.
DEAR MR. TURNER
YOU CAN COUNT ON MY HUSBAND’S AND MY SUPPORT. FINALLY A POLITICIAN WITH SOME COMMON SENSE AND I DON’T WANT TO LOSE YOUR VOICE, MY VOICE.
HOW DO WE SIGN UP? CAN I SIGN UP FOR HIM AT THE SAME TIME I DO?
WILL DEFINITELY MAKE THE MEETING IN YOUR SUPPORT. I WILL PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN. WE NEED YOU TO SPEAK FOR US IN THE HOUSE, I HOPE THERE IS A GREAT TURN OUT FOR YOU.
DIANE
The whole issue of selling new memberships, to vote for the nominated candidate, is not new, nor is it available to the CPC only.
Unless rules are applied by the party to allow only those who signed on months earlier, this is what happens.
There are those who do not like the reasons why this particular challenger is coming forward with his group.
Yet, those same people could, and will, advocate for any number of other issues that they think you and I should be paying for, or advocating for, such as saving agricultural land for food production. (What a concept!)
Or universal child care, income splitting, or controlling the price at the gas pump…
Frankly, I would prefer that voting be allowed at the nomination level, *only* by those who were so taken by the party’s policies, that they *already own* a membership.
Sometimes issues are sprung on us, well into a current government’s session.
People have all kinds of avenues available to let their MPs know what they want done, without signing up to a party.
From that point on, find the representative and spokesman who also thinks the same way.
And even though one could not vote at the nomination level in that party, one can still try to persuade.
But denying Canadians, who hold a view different from ours, or Garth’s, the right to get out in front of it sounds UN-Canadian.
And certainly, not democratic.
All the rest is noise, and some of it, ugly.
Get used to it, I guess.
I wonder, once again, why this man ran under the Conservative banner, knowing exactly where our PM stood on issues, was happy to run as a CPC and then, immediately upon being elected, began tearing down our PM for his decisions – publicly.
Tell me, is the PM a monolith? Is it more important for an MP to know where the PM stands, or where his/her constituents stand? Personally I do not want this country to be run by a mullah/fuehrer/dictator/boss/strongman/[place your preferred term here]… whose word is the last one. You may wish your MPs to be in a state of perpetual deference to “higher powers”, but based on the general consensus I’ve seen here over my past visits to this site, if such sampling is in any way representative of the wider spread opinion, I’d say you’re in the minority. But perhaps I am wrong and this passage is a metaphor for what shall be done with poor Garth:
If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father and mother, who does not heed them when they discipline him, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his town at the gate of that place. They shall say to the elders of his town, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” Then all the men of the town shall stone him to death. So you shall purge the evil from your midst; and all [Canada] will hear, and be afraid.
Garth, you continue to earn my respect, and from what I can tell, I am but an atom in much bigger body.
There is an urgent need to help a prominent advocate for the pension splitting cause, if it is possible for you to do so. The advocate is the MP Garth Turner, in Halton. He has been outspoken in his support of pension splitting tax reform, is helping our cause immensely, and has further plans to do so, on an escalating scale. His help is very important to all Canadian citizens concerned with pension splitting, not just in Halton.
The immediate problem is that in his riding of Halton, a group of constituents have joined the Conservative Party and are planning to vote for another leadership candidate to replace Mr. Turner, on the grounds that the other candidate will work to reopen the same-sex marriage issue.
I’m writing to you on the chance that you happen to know someone in Halton who is also interested in pension splitting and would consider joining the Conservative Party and supporting Mr. Turner in his defence of his leadership in Halton. Joining a political party is no big deal. It costs only $10 and you get to vote on policy and leadership within your riding. It might seem like heroic measures to take to support your political views, but it is our system, and if we don’t make use of it we can be overrun by those who do exercise their rights at every opportunity. In this case the outcome could turn on one ballot.
If you know anyone in Halton who is concerned with pension splitting (retired or not), urge them to help Mr. Turner. Help could also include a timely letter to a local news editor.
Normally you will get bulletins from our new membership/newsletter chairman Ken Wilson, but the urgency of this matter prompts me to send it you immediately myself.
Thanks for anything you are able to do.
Frank
Garth,
At 41, I just joined my first political party. I voted for you despite serious misgivings about the Conservatives. I’ve never regretted it, and I’ll do my best to show up on September 11th. As Jack Farr used to say, “Fight!”
Would it be worth while for us to be writing to Stephen Harper voicing our concerns about opening up the nomination process in Halton when there is no need to do so regardless if we live in the area.
Can we not show our support of Garth in this way even if we are not in his riding?
I am feeling so strongly about this that if it goes ahead, I would seriously think about voting for another party in the next election even though I have voted Conservative for the past 40 years.
Bernie
[...] is meant being blacklisted by his own Party members. Now, seven months after the election, he is in a nomination battle. Gathered against him are religious opponents of same-sex marri [...]
It’s been years since I was a member of the party. And as much as I dislike aspects of the current party leadership, it would annoy me even more if a reasonable voice like yours were replaced with yet another bible-thumper.
So….count me in.
Dear Mr. Turner,
Why on arth are you running as a candidate for the present Conservative
party? It seems to me that it is more Reform than the Progressive
Conservatives of old. I am afraid I cannot support a party like the one I am
seeing at the moment but I do commend you for your outspoken and, dare I say
it, liberal views! Good luck at your nomination meeting.
Sincerely, Pat B.
I welcome your request for support against the religious right within your party. I am not currently a Conservative association member but would consider joining in order to nominate you. In the last federal election, I voted for you as I believed that you were the best qualified, experienced and principled candidate. Since becoming the MP for Halton, I’ve been very pleased to see you speaking with a strong voice in support of your constituents. However, I was taken a back by your comments regarding dual Canadian-Lebanese citizens trying to flee Lebanon in the past recent few weeks.
Just as your candidacy in the next election will be determined by one vote on one night, my support for you will rest with this one issue: the safeguards on our citizenship. On this issue, I will support your candidacy if you will clearly say that Canadian citizenship will always be considered equal, regardless of other citizenships held by Canadians living in Canada or residing elsewhere. It should make no difference, whether it is Garth Turner or Huseyin Celil in Chinese custody or, whether its Steve Harper or Jian Ghomeshi on a Lebanese dock, in terms of Canada’s effort to protect their interests and return them safely to Canada. Who pays for it is a different question!
Your recent remarks questioning whether Canada should rescue dual citizens from abroad collapses two issues: the safeguards on Canadian citizenship and the payer of the costs. Knowing that you are a principled Canadian who has argued for safeguards on our citizenship, I expect you to publicly proclaim that Canadian citizenship will always be considered first in matters of security.
If you can assure me that we see eye-to-eye on this one issue, then I will join the Conservative association and nominate you on Sunday August 20th.
Regards,
Ozgur
Go get ‘em Garth!
I live in Nova Scotia so I don’t think I can help you, but you have my support anyway. You really live by the principles of democracy.
Good luck!
Garth, you are the ONLY Conservative MP that I would ever support. It seems to me that by having a good head on your shoulders, and not trying to please special interest groups that you are thought of as a threat to the agenda of the extreme right wing. Thank you for standing up for us “little people.” You and Libby Davis trully are two of the few quality members of the Canadian government.
Hey Richard!
At 41, I just joined my first political party. I voted for you despite serious misgivings about the Conservatives. I’ve never regretted it, and I’ll do my best to show up on September 11th. As Jack Farr used to say, “Fight!â€
Here is an example, one of many posted today of exactly what I am talking about. I’ll say it over and over again, we need more people like Garth. To date he has been a straight shooter and is doing more to re-build the conservative brand than anyone else.
Garth, if this whole nomination thing doesn’t go in your favour (ain’t democracy wonderful) and you then decide to run as an independant, will we have to start calling you ‘Lieberman of the North’.
There are some surpising parallels –
Lieberman, a right leaning liberal, gets the boot from his party and runs as an independant (with the real possibility of getting the nod from GWB over the Republican candidate)
Turner, a left leaning conservative, potentially on the cusp of getting the boot from his party and maybe running as an independant (wonder if there is any possibility of the yet to be named Lib leader giving you the nod over the Liberal candidate in Halton).
It looks like the zealots just don’t get it. To win a majority government, we conservatives need to be percieved as moderate. The AIDS conference was a strategic blunder of the highest order.
Trying to Hyjack the riding of one of the few voices of moderation (Mr. Turner) is yet one more example of why Harper’s conservatives will never get a majority! It looks like we will be heading back into politcal wilderness.
I am an average Canadian, not a member of any special interest group, I do not take part in protest etc. I am fed up with the religious right and their narrow ideals. What is a ture progressive conservative to do, I guess vote for the Green Party. Hang in there Mr. Turner!!
Best of luck Garth – you’re one of the very few MPs in the Conservative Party I’d consider voting for, and one of the very few politicians I wouldn’t have qualms about voting for. You may not always hold the same opinions as I, but you always come out in favour of the middle class, and I really respect that.
Garth – there is always the possibility of pulling a “Belinda” wherby you could switch parties and run for the leadership of the Liberals. I hear the job is open!
Peter:
Garth is anything but a moderate. His promotion of populism and representative democracy is a real threat to the current government and to the way politics has been conducted in this country since Confederation.
Garth Turner is a Reformer, in the best sense of the word.
Steve, if you want to resort to insults, you won’t get any from me. Garth said mailing thousands of letters, I didn’t quote e-mails and the rest of it. You missed that I would surmise.
Steve, when he wants to address an issue, he obviously does have the resources. When he doesn’t, its I can’t do this and I can’t do that. Sorry, don’t buy that, and I knew it all along. This situation arose now and he’s proving me correct. Not only is he looking for insta-Tories, which he supposedly doesn’t support, ever, he is now having his volunteers contact thousands of people in his riding. Steve, my assertions are correct, please don’t let your anti-religious bias get in the way.
Sean, you are blowing smoke out your rear, and likely know it. I have contacted people by phone, email and lettermail – folks I have had previous contact with. How else would they be on my list of current supporters, lasped members, election volunteers or former party members? Have you ever been in politics, buddy? If so, you would know party members are hard to pick up on street corners and in Timmy’s. — Garth
Garth – there is always the possibility of pulling a “Belinda†wherby you could switch parties and run for the leadership of the Liberals. I hear the job is open!
There is another alternative. Contrary to the wishful thinking/blind faith of some, I find it quite doubtful that this country will see ANY majority government for at least a couple more election cycles (such voter chastisement against acting like one has a majority should eventually sink in to whomever heads government). In that event, is it not customary for parties to hold a leadership review, particularly for the incumbent who has failed to make gains? For all his strategizing and apparent love of the game in the academic sense, Harper seems to be making some significant miscalculations and the bloom is coming off the rose. Perhaps it’s time for someone less abstract and almighty, a meat-and-potatoes sort closer to the pulse of the average Joe, to take the helm. Garth, you interested?
Way to go Stevie!! Disagree with his Lordship and you get the royal boot.
Thanks, Garth-you helped me get the P.M.’s job-your work is done-now get lost.
Such low-class, cynical treatment of Canadian voters by Steve is just what I expected.
I, too have agreed and disagreed with many of Garth’s positions, but at least he has my respect. That is something Steve will never get.
An Indpendent Mr. Turner ( or dare, I hope, Liberal???) will be victorious and perhaps a future world leader?
Garth,
Whatever you will do or will not do, you will be damned. Be yourself.
“Any fool can make thinks bigger, more complex and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite directionâ€. –Albert Einstein.
Alex Crow
For our online enviro critic Judy:
Sorry Judy, but you, just like a typical Dipper, often take someones words out of context or just plain state falsely what they have had to say. “Mr. Harper must first acknowledge that global warming is real and not quack science:†Show us Judy the exact quotation where he said that global warming is not occuring or that it is quack scienceâ€
Now Judy lets get your views on the subject of climate change and in particular what you would have Canada do at this time.
You have complained about our government regarding what they are/are not doing on the subject of climate change, thus I expect that you are knowledgeable on it otherwise you wouldn’t have so much to say in criticizing our government. C’mon Judy, prove you are for real and not just a negative critic on everything that our government has to say on any and all current Canadian issues.
Of interest: Australia’s PM Howard on climate change:
This is an issue where you have people who are very doctrinaire,” he said. “They think the only path to environmental salvation is the Kyoto path and we don’t hold that view and certainly from what I’ve heard today, from what the prime minister has said, nor does the Canadian government.
Members of the partnership, known as the AP6, tout their new pact as the only viable solution to the pressing problem of climate change and pollution because it includes the world’s three largest emitters — China, India and the U.S.
Without those three countries on side, Howard said, “you are not going to get a serious addressing of the problem.” What do you think of Mr. Howard’s remarks Judy?
Judy, or should we call you Judas or Jude?,
you said that you are retired school teacher – I’m hoping that you were not a school teacher for our young children. You often display disrespect for others and that attitute would probably teach them to be disrepectful with anyone who may have a different point of view.
Anyway Jude, you only have to look at Jack Layton and his treatment of Bev Desjarlais. Bev was a good MP for her constituents for a very long time – but, disagree with Jack once and out she goes! And please don’t talk about the Paul Martin, Liberal leader, and his treatment of Sheila Copps.
I still say to correct this problem, is to not allow instant membership voting. New members should be given a certain amount of time before voting. 3 months is a good time frame.
Richard
We want Garth to be a part of the CPC so we can change this “theocracy” back into the “true” conservative party that it always was. Socially forward thinking and Economically responsible.
If you want a religous based party then you should go start one and see if Canadians are interested!!! Keep up the good work Garth!
From today’s Oakville Beaver:
D’Arcy Keene is quoted as saying “I’d like to see a nominee who’s more loyal to the party and its leader.”
Anyone who can say such a thing, IMHO, isn’t worthy of being elected dog-catcher.
Garth, I commend you for standing up against the religious-right! Canadians don’t want the same-sex marriage issue as 38/40 polls have proved. Who does this Darcy person think he is telling you that you aren’t representing your Christian constituents! He wouldn’t be representing the atheists, muslims, jews, sikhz, or those who have no faith. People of the same faith also have different opinions on these issues! And, he has the ordacity to say you pick fights! Please… Charles started this and you are only fighting to keep your job. It comes down to this.
You are an outspoken guy, your constituents knew your views, and you got elected. And I’m glad you’re not gonna let some other person tell you how your constituents feel — that’s pathetic.
Mr. Turner. I suggest you switch to the Liberal Party. The cPC is self-destructing. You don’t need this rubbish, Mr. Turner. Switch parties and you’ll see Liberals are not that bad after all.
I just signed up for a membership. I used to be a member of the party back in the early 90’s but drifted away when there were some obvious issues with leadership. You are one of the only politicians that garner respect, so I believe the least people can do are support you in this fight with the party.
Please pass this along to someone who can tell me where to be on September 11th (could they have picked a date with a little more meaning … this nonsense wreaks of irony but I am 100% in your corner).
Good Afternoon,
After reading the Blogs of the extreme right, I felt the need to send you this e-mail to let you know that I as a life long LIBERAL support you, the sitting Conservative in my Riding of Halton and as they say in Newfoundland ” Lord Tundering Jeez” I am prepared to even become a Member of the Halton Conservative Association in order to have my VOTE counted in your favour.
Best Regards
T.J.
Milton ON.
It’s a great article written by a United Church Minister who also happens to be a Ph.D. She explains why the religious right is mistaken in believing the bible condemns homosexuality…and how they are basically just trying to justify their prejudices.
It is very much worth taking the time to read.
Good Luck…if I were in your riding, I’d vote for you.
Here’s the link.
One of the most effective way to stop enemies from attacking you, is to simply take away their weapons.
Good day Mr. Turner;
I am not a Conservative or a Garth Turner supporter, and I do like to think of myself as a Christian. Having said this, I do support the Separation of Church and State. The church or any followers of the church do not have the right to force their opinions or values upon our Members of Parliament, as our Parliament may not control the church. Go get him Garth.
a Liberal
Dear Mr. Turner,
Today, I did something I rarely do. I purchased a copy of the Calgary Enquirer (a.k.a the Calgary Sun). In it, there was a small article about your dispute with members of “Canada’s Christian community†regarding same sex marriage. I am now writing to you to show some support that, although I am not a resident of your riding, I hope will help in some small way to further fuel your desire to combat this ignorance.
As a person with politically Liberal tendencies, living in Alberta has been a challenge. However, leading up to the last election, I had to face the fact that change from the complacent and arrogant Liberal government(s) of Jean Chrétien/ Paul Martin was necessary. The problem was, like many other on the fence Liberals I felt the alternatives ranged from concerning to frightening. Amongst Alberta MP’s in particular, the current brand of Federal Conservatism frightens me. To be frank, Prime Minister Harper and several of the other Alberta Conservatives scare the hell out of me. However, I must admit that, after residing in Alberta for over 10 years now, I have developed some slightly more Conservative tendencies than I possessed as a younger more wide eyed idealist born and raised in the Socialist Republic of British Columbia. In the end I could not bring myself to vote for a party whose leader governs, in part, with his personal faith in a God. One only needs to look at how that’s working for old George to not want to go down that path. Since then, I have been waiting and hoping for something to make me feel better about the government Canada has elected. Thanks to the article in the Sun regarding the challenge you are facing in your riding and how you are defending your position, I finally have. I do not mean to place my little world’s entire salvation of the Conservative Party in your lap. I did, however, feel compelled to let you know that your courage to speak up and fight against this example of archaic Christian fundamentalist ignorance that is unfortunately somewhat prevalent amongst Conservatives, is a ray of hope to this on the fence Liberal voter. Perhaps if a few more of your colleagues understood how many Canadians would respond well to a more socially moderate set of policies the minority would become a majority at the next federal election. Even if ones personal faith dictates that two men marrying is a sin, does that mean that all Canadians of all faiths (or no faith at all) should be governed by such? As a human being who does not understand the opposition to two people sharing their lives in love and commitment, whomever they may be and whatever they choose to call it, I thank you for standing up for what you (and I) believe. Thank you.
Regards,
Carmen
Calgary
KG:
We already have a national religious (Christian) party. The Christian Heritage Party. As you’ve suggested Canadians are not interested. That’s why they’re trying to hijack the CPC. If they can’t achieve their goals openly and honestly they’ll resort to subversion.
ALW
Here here …Forgot about the CHP. I guess that speaks to there impact!
Dear Mr. Turner…isn’t it sad that Christian fundalmentalist think they have the right to destroy someones career, only because they to not hold their same views or beliefs. Similarly, this reminds me of Islamic fundalmentalists, each professing to love God…but would sladly slit throats, sacrfice women and children and kill anyone who does not believe as they do. Christians are not quite that bad, however they due tend to destroy each other….mostly thru gossip!
God, is a God of LOVE…peace and compassion to all, that means ALL….We are ALL SINNERS, …in Gods eyes…thats why Jesus died on the cross….. for mankinds sin…. accept or regect him ….God will sort it all out when we all die…
Mr. McVety should keep religion and politics seperate. Perhaps he should be preaching about tolerance and love….instead of divide and conquer like Mr Bush.
We do not live in Halton, but do support you. If you are relieved from your position in Parliment thru McVetys challenge, we will not vote for Harper, next go round.
Patricia G.
Fort Erie, Ontario
Mr. Turner: Just read about your potential nomination fight on the CTV web site. Keep fighting for equal rights for every citizen. It is the basis of our fine country. I would be available as a volunteer to go door to door or work a few hours in your office to help you where I can. Let me know if I can help this way.
Keep up the good work. It is a pleasure to have an MP that speaks his mind and actually has a conscience.
Bill W.
Halton
A guy on my street informed me of this upcoming vote.
I still don’t understand how and why one can be replaced after you were just voted in months ago.
So, while I’m struggling to make ends meet on the homefront, I’ve forwarded my $10 your way which I guess buys me one vote.
I’ll make my best effort to truck out to Campbellville on Sept 11th to cast my vote.
Good luck
P.S. for what its worth, I voted Gary Carr on the previous federal election, but I am glad that you won.
I am still a new resident.
“Similarly, this reminds me of Islamic fundalmentalists, each professing to love God…but would sladly slit throats, sacrfice women and children and kill anyone who does not believe as they do. Christians are not quite that bad, however they due tend to destroy each other….mostly thru gossip!”
Wow, Patricia!
Do we live in the same country!!
Various BQ, NDP, and Liberal MPs, fronted rallies with supporters of the defined terrorist group, the Hezbollah, and you are afraid of one challenge by a small group seeking a nomination for one party, in one of the 300 plus ridings?
Residents of Halton,
If you would like to support Garth but are skeptical about joining the Conservative Party in order to help him out in this matter, you’re not alone. I felt the same way.
I would suggest that you click on the link that Garth has provided above. There, you will find a further link to the “Founding Principles” of the Conservative Party of Canada. Read them. If you find anything offensive in it’s context, I’d love to hear about it. I didn’t. In fact, I agreed with them so much that I signed up for the two year membership instead of the one year.
If you feel that the CPC is upholding these principles, well that sounds like a great reason to join. If you don’t feel that they’re upholding these principles, well that may be an even better reason to join. Your vote can help to enforce them.
If you think that joining is some long and drawn out hassle, it’s not. It takes two minutes and ten bucks. Please take the time to join the fight against having a two thousand year old book dictate modern public policy. If this is allowed to continue, you may find that SSM is just the tip of the iceberg!
Looking forward to meeting some of you on Sep 11th,
Andrew
MP Garth Turner,
Just a short note to say my wife and I have just joined the Conservative Party (on line) and we will be with you on Sept. 11. “Up hill or down hill, it’s still a hill that needs control.”
It appears the chaps at pension-splitting CAPS and many of my colleagues in rural Halton have been busy. You’ve earned their/our respect, thanks and bottom-line support by doing the job that you said you’d do. You’ve done us all proud!
“Walk tall but know when to duck too”, it’s a good saying..
Let me know what else we can do to help a champion in Ottawa remain OUR CHAMPION from Halton? Maybe you should run for PM next time.
Thanks kindly,
Bob
Garth, would you consider switching parties? The Liberals are a decent, middle-of-the-pack party, committed to not opening up the issue of same-sex marriage, and delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of same-sex marriage last year. The Conservative party did not by a vote of 74-26 percent.
Garth, I commend you for standing up against the religious-right! Canadians don’t want the same-sex marriage issue as 38/40 polls have proved. As one other person suggested on your Blog, you should really consider switching… not that you would need to to get re-elected, but at least you would feel like you belong in a ground and that you aren’t by yourself. You have a lot to offer and are doing a great job!
I don’t understand who this Darcy person thinks he is! Who does this Darcy person think he is telling you that you aren’t representing your Christian constituents! He wouldn’t be representing the atheists, muslims, jews, sikhz, or those who have no faith. People of the same faith also have different opinions on these issues! And, he has the ordacity to say you pick fights! Please… Charles started this and you are only fighting to keep your job.
It comes down to this. You are an outspoken guy, your constituents knew your views, and you got elected. And I’m glad you’re not gonna let some other person tell you how your constituents feel — that’s pathetic. In your next release with the media you should tell them to ask if the majority of your constituents were opposed, why were you elected when they knew your position? McVety will likely say it was due to corruption and scandal, but he can’t use that excuse all the time. He used that when Duffy asked him why Gerald Keddy was re-elected. The fact is, the Independents he wanted to win that were running on so-called “pro-family” values were overwhelmingly defeated as were all Christian Heritage Candidates.
You son’t have to switch to prove anything to anybody… but to for sure secure your job is essential. No doubt you went through so much education and everything to get where you are, and it is easier when a national party is behind you.
Consider the move! As a Liberal, we want you!
Hey Garth!
Tonight’s Ottawa Citizen Newspaper says that your blog is a “thorn” in Steven Harper’s side.
Hardly.
In fact, I’ll bet SH thinks your blog is heaven sent. He can’t say so out loud of course, but I just have a feeling that I’m not wrong about this. This little nomination spat of yours is just what the doctor ordered to get a nation-wide buzz going. And as long as people are talking about you they will be talking about your ideas. If you keep putting your ideas out there and it can be seen that people are responding positively, then it can only help the CPC.
Keep cool!
Andrew: The only problem with the current Conservative Party is that many members are all for using that 2 thousand year old book to dictate policy.
When the P.M. ” God Blesses” us all the time and western M.P’s equate abortion with terrorists, then I cannot join such a group.
When the P.M. gets political strategies from Republicans who are infamous for the non separation of church and state
than I cannot join such a group.
Anyone can write a policy statement that seems harmless on paper. I look at the leaders, non-elected confidantes and fringe members to see who this policy is attracting.
You can’t have him. The last thing we need is the stench of entitlement and corruption taking him over.
Catherine: How good of you to remember that I am a retired teacher. 35 great years of teaching your young impressionable children. Most of those years was spent with 6-10 year olds.
What I taught them, Catherine, was to respect each other. To listen to each other. To handle disputes without violence. To realize that being different does not imply being inferior.
Unfortunately that is what many adults teach children by example. Just because someone speaks, eats, dresses, prays differently than we do, than they must be inferior.
Hopefully, the children I taught carried my messages with them throughout their varied lives.
And what exactly are you teaching the children of today?
Lewis: I listened intently to Mr. Howards speech in front of our Parliament. I was not impressed. He has aligned himself with America in stating that cleaning up the environemnt ie. Asia-Pacific way- is more cost effective. He will allow business to self-regulate their emissions.
Mr Harper has stated that scientists disagree on the urgency of global warming.
My point, Lewis, is that there is no Arctic sovereignty issue unless global warming , which Mr. Harper doubts is as severe as experts say, opens up the sea passages thereby allowing foreign countries access to our “resources”.
So, why, the urgency in a Nunavut announcement, when the real urgency is a global epidemic affecting thousands of Canadians?
At least he could have attended both events-or is that too difficult for him?
Garth,
From your latest cybersquawks one can almost feel your heart drifting from the CPC. Consider sitting as an independent and scare everyone in the House with your new flashing blackberry. Why everyone would want to be your buddy now.
Open letter to Garth Turner, MP:
Dear Honorable Member of Parliament,
I have already left a comment on your blog to tell you how disgusted I am with the “game” the Conservative Party leadership is playing with you. In my book, any religious fundamentalism, be it Christian, Muslim or whatever, is bad and needs to be pushed back.
Knowing your position on many issues of concern to Canadians, I suggest you switch parties and sit with the Liberal Party. Your views are much more in line with the Liberal Party than with the Canadian Alliance, oops, Conservative Party.
The Conservative Party under its current leader Stephen Harper is not a viable option for a politician of your calibre, as you yourself have seen on a number occasions by now since prime minister Harper took office earlier this year. You have been brushed aside by your party leader and fellow party members who represent the extreme far right.
You can put an end to this: join the Liberal Party of Canada and reduce Stephen Harper’s minority government by one seat. Your voters will appreciate it, and there is no doubt in my mind that even the conservatives who voted for you last time will vote for you again as a Liberal.
I urge you to do the right thing and leave behind the mess that the Conservative Party has become. Even a lot of conservatives here in Alberta (!) I know and talk to on a regular basis have changed their minds and will vote Liberal next time.
I hope to welcome you in the Liberal Party of Canada soon.
Sincerely,
Werner Patels
http://www.wernerpatels.com
Garth…
Your nomination battle (and its bitterness) aside here’s another take on same-sex marriage by my law professor (and, egad, it’s not a ‘righteous right’ argument!) that pretty well demolishes the argument for it. Courting Leviathan: Limited government and social freedom in Reference re same-sex marriage – http://www.marriageinstitute.ca/pages/DECOSTEJ2005.pdf
Why are you so gung-ho to have it legalized anyway, Garth? And will you put your name to the following push to have a lot more legalized – http://www.beyondmarriage.org/index.html? If not, why not?
Regards,
Bruce Korol
I have news for you, Bruce, it is legal. My position is that opening up this debate again, forcing a national angst, repealling a law and turning the clock back is not what the majority of Canadians want. I will not be voting to do that this autumn, whether the righteous right knocks me off or not. I believe in tolerance and as a Christain, was always taught to be inclusive, not exclusive. — Garth
Garth, listen to Werner Patels, he is right. You would much happier among people who share your ideals than among Conservatives.
How many people writing to this blog state variations of ‘I would never vote for any other conservative but I would vote for you.”? Do you think there might be a reason so many non-conservatives are attracted to you, while so many Conservatives are not?
One word of advice, though. If you do join your idealogical brothers in the Gliberal Farty, do not think you can get away with criticizing their fearless leader the way you have Stephen Harper, they are not as enamoured as we are of freedom of speech. On the plus side, however, you can continue to slag SH to your hearts content:)
Big stinkin’ deal – so you have a nomination “battle”, most Canadians could not care less, and my impression is you’d win it easily again, so why all the scare mongering about Christians, in our cities, in our streets, in Halton (I am not making this up!). I agree some of your ideas were really good ones, but having read your blog from time to time you strike me more as a Judas than a team player. Get in the game or go independent.
Oh boy. So Garth disagrees with SH once in a while. So what. Do you always agree with your friends or your spouse? Do you say, “Hmmm, we’ve disagreed 3 times this year, I guess we need to get a divorce. Hosta la vista, baby!” If your criteria is you’ve got to agree all the time or your friendship or your marriage is toast, then I feel sorry for you because you are probably single and don’t have any friends.
All this BS about how Garth should become a liberal is just wishful thinking on the fibberals part because they wish they had more like him. Well, they don’t have ANYBODY like him and that’s exactly why Garth is going to be the MP for Halton until he FEELS like retiring.
I imagine that little truth must cut like a knife for some.
Oh, well.
Jude, It’s a shame that you don’t practice what you “taught” our young then. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is our (Canada’s) prime minister. You may not agree with his ideology, but, that doesn’t give you the right to be offensive.
BTW: do you not find Bill Clinton the biggest hypocrite? I recall that Bill Clinton exercise extra marital sex – was it protective? Did he then have sex with Hilary?
BTW2: AIDS conference sponsors are big drug companies – see a problem with this?
Catherine: What Bill Clinton, or you, or I, or anyone else does in their bedrooms is not anyone’s business.
Do you practise safe sex? Do you always use protection? AIDS is a heterosexual disease. If you have been following the conference you will note that personal responsibility is a big part of prevention. As is awareness.
1/3 of the globe has no access to medications.
As far as drug companies sponsoring this even, I think you fill find that drug companies sponsor many health-related conferences including those related to cancers, diabetes, strokes, etc etc.
I don’t think I have made offensive remarks about the Prime Minister.
I question his policies, his ethics.
That is my right as a citizen. Without criticism and questions our government would soon become a dictatorship.
I gather from the jist of things that you support same sex marriage and are a conservative mp, perhaps you should consider changing to the Liberals where you belong.
Why do those who support Liberal laws ie same sex marriage and abortion pretend to be conservatives ? Just go join the Liberals, don’t wait to see who is leading in the polls to decide. GO NOW.
I have news for you, Bruce, it is legal. My position is that opening up this debate again, forcing a national angst, repealling a law and turning the clock back is not what the majority of Canadians want. I will not be voting to do that this autumn, whether the righteous right knocks me off or not. I believe in tolerance and as a Christain, was always taught to be inclusive, not exclusive. — Garth
This has to be some of the biggest tripe I’ve ever heard. Where did Jesus teach about inclusiveness? Yea, I’m challenging you on this. So-called Christians and secularists keep saying this word and never back it up. Do you honestly believe the Bible teaches inclusiveness for people who don’t want to be included for people who continue to reject Him? Come on now.
Sean: Your Bible teaches to love all mankind. Not just believers.
It may teach you to bear witness to others, but it does not teach you to exclude those of differing views.
If your God can love all beings, why can’t you?
I would say Clinton’s sexual activities and practices should be part of our scrutiny. Why? Because he has now become a public spokesman for AIDS – generally a sexually transmitted disease. He wants to lecture others but, doesn’t want to become a poster boy for his promiscuous sex.
Drug companies – How much do the CEO and their execs rake in from their bonuses? I bet their bonuses alone would substantially provide meds for Africans!
While I have compassion for the babies being born with HIV, I don’t have any for the people who bounce from one to another for their self gratification.
In fact, I would say, that anyone, who knows that they are HIV pos or have AIDS and have sex (especially unprotected), should be tried for attempted murder!
Judy,
Judy you state: “Mr Harper has stated that scientists disagree on the urgency of global warmingâ€
I believe that this is a correct quote but it is drastically different from your earlier claim. I guess this is your backhanded way of admitting that you were wrong. As were you on the “quack science†claim. ‘Get it 1st Judy, but 1st get it right.’
Incidentally I agree with Mr. Harper’s comment that the scientists disagree on the urgency of global warming. And, no Judy there is no ‘blue moon’ as I agree with you that through global warming that the Arctic soveregnity is more of an issue than it otherwise would be, I am sure that Mr. Harper does also.
As to our PM attendance or lack of at the AIDs conference, I think that his choice may have been based on ‘intelligence’that the politically motivated, left wing looneys would likely have been present (hopefully that does not include you) to make as big of an anti Harper demonstration as possible, thus he decided to avoid it. What is more important ‘when the dust has setttled’ is what our government does from a medical perspective in terms of a strategy and funding, not whether or not he showed up..
Going back to Kyoto, I think that our government is very wise in not implementing that very flawed agreement.. In order to meet the GHG emissions that we signed on to, or meet them through buying credits from other nations, in either case it would turn into an unmitigated financial disaster for our country. In the case of us buying credits to meet the stipulated emmission reduction levels, we would not be doing anything to improve our own GHG emissions or pollution levels. What say you to this?
Sheesh ! Garth with friends like Harpo on your side it would appear you don’t need any enemies .
Have you woken to the fact that the Progressive Conservative party is deader than a dodo .
This new permutation is Alliance/Reform heavy and not a lot of Progressive’s resdie amongst the ranks .
I feel for you Garth I really do .
I was always OK with the PC’s of Joey Who and Brian Baloney .
They were not radically inclined .
This party is full of wing-nuts and mental defectives who have no business ,even, being in Government(?) .
I hope it works for you.
Remember what happened to Chuck Cadman when that fella loaded his meeting with his buddies .
Liberal Party? – Not a Chance.
For Werner, Frankie, KF, Blanks 57, Jackies Left Hand, and other wacko Liberals who suggest that Mr. Turner join your party, a little reality check is in order.
Consider that he would be joining:
• A federal political party that is considered to be the most corrupt one in Canadian history;
• A party who throughout Canadian history have refused to in any way democratize our unelected senate.
• A leaderless party who hasn’t one experienced, credible, leadership contender with both leadership qualities and integrity. EG- Tips offs a banker friend on forthcoming government finance policies; speaks in parliament wildly of ‘burning crosses as we speak’; approves of torture as a means to get prisoners to talk; a former provincial premier who thought it good economic policy to ‘buy their way out of a recession’; one who would have small children ‘financing his leadership campaign’. The list seems endless.
• A party who bought off Belinda babe (Canada’s answer to Paris Hilton) with a cabinet post just to get her vote on a non- confidence motion.
• A party whose former PM, while Finance Minister, accepted federal government grants worth several million dollars for his 100 % owned transport company and when confronted with this fact in the hallways of parliament, pretended that he didn’t know about it –“I’m shocked he statedâ€. Since he was then aware of it, he has not returned one cent of it. Perhaps the PM of the day was trying to buy his loyalty or to stop the back stabbing of him.
• A party of “I’m entitled to my entitlements†mentality.
• A party who has yet to account for the tens of millions of dollars that disappeared in the “Sponsorship Scandalâ€.
• A party who’s PM who was thrown out by a plotting successor against his will.
• The party whose ex PM used his influence in obtaining a loan for a former convicted criminal, in a financial deal which would impact the value of the PMs adjoining personal property.
• A party whose members for the most part swallowed the bull that they had put our federal fiscal house I order when in reality they only transferred the deficit to the provinces.
• -A party that left power with 500+ billion dollars in debt and at a repayment rate that even my grandchildren could not repay in their lifetimes.
There is not a snowballs chance in hell of a principled MP, such as Mr. Turner, jumping to such a party, that has such a shameful history. Collectively, give your heads a very big shake.
The Liberal legacy lives on.
Another voice from the delusional neo-nazi’s .
Judy, my Bible doesn’t say, love mankind and accept sin and good. Jesus never said that he would allow unrepentent sinners to enter into heaven. Your misinterpretations are based on what you want rather than what is actually being said. If you’re going to try and tell a Christian what the Bible says, please go see a priest and ask him honestly and you’ll get your answers.