This Ottawa Citizen investigative reporter alleges several direct links between Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office and my suspension from national caucus. — Garth
The world according to Garth
Rumours abound that MP Garth Turner’s expulsion from caucus was a pre-emptive strike on the part of Stephen Harper. One thing is clear: dissention is not welcome
BY TIM NAUMETZ
Saturday October 21, 2006
Senior Conservative MPs say they banned Garth Turner from caucus because he leaked secrets on his blog, but hard feelings behind the brutal expulsion go back to a private retreat of Ontario Conservative MPs last summer, where Mr. Turner’s colleagues confronted him over a suggestion gay-marriage opponents hate homosexuals.
Garth, as he calls himself on his now-famous blog, blasted a description of the session over the Internet, setting out on a path that would lead inexorably to the sudden news, delivered at the very end of what would be his last caucus meeting, that he was no longer wanted.
The retreat was supposed to be secret, after all.
It should have been no surprise to Mr. Turner that Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not want backbench MPs to speak publicly about anything over the summer, let alone caucus beefs. The muzzle Mr. Harper has on his caucus could make a pitbull legal in Ontario, and NDP MP Pat Martin quotes a joke making the rounds: “Harper tells his caucus God kills a puppy every time an MP blabs.†Conservative whip Jay Hill cited with pride at the end of the summer break that it had been a quiet one; no backbench problems. For journalists trying to reach MPs in their ridings, it was like phoning a morgue. No one called back.
But during what was supposed to be a summer of Conservative silence, Garth Turner was making a lot of noise, not just on his blog, but on MP TV, his own web-based broadcast of sights and sounds on Parliament Hill. Though MP TV featured a string of Conservatives in its early days, the number of opposition MPs Mr. Turner interviewed grew during the fall, the roster including NDP MP Dawn Black, after her party called for a Canadian withdrawal from Afghanistan, NDP MP Peter Stoffer, Jack Layton, Ontario Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty and, perhaps the final straw the day before Mr. Turner’s ouster, Green party leader Elizabeth May.
That day was also the eve of the government’s crucial climate-change announcement, and Mr. Turner used his blog to describe Ms. May as a “sharp and engaging†leader who“exudes an earth motherliness punctuated by flying blonde hair, black glasses, an uninhibited laugh and lots of touching.â€
Environment Minister Rona Ambrose was, in contrast, “petite, angular, cool, brunette and impeccable.â€
Mr. Turner later described his exchange with Ms. May as an “eery coincidence,†but during his interview with her on MP TV, they discussed polls showing many Conservative voters list Green as their second choice.
“A lot of Conservatives are coming over to us and we welcome them with open arms,†Ms. May said, flashing an enticing smile at Mr. Turner.
“That sounds dangerously political, so I won’t comment on it,†deferred Mr. Turner.
The blog accompanying Mr. Turner’s feature on Ms. May also contained the determined tone he had been expressing for weeks as the Conservative climate plan neared; views on carbon dioxide emission targets and energy industry regulations that were nowhere near the smog-centred, anti-Kyoto approach Mr.Harper had already staked out.
Some MPs believe Mr. Turner, a director of the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, would ultimately feel compelled to vote against the Conservative environmental plan. This led to speculation Mr. Harper preferred to turf Mr. Turner now to avoid a damaging political spectacle down the road, and paying a lower price in the short term with a brief controversy over backbench freedom.
“A pre-emptive strike?†says Mr. Turner. “It could be.â€
There are signs Mr. Harper was behind the expulsion, despite caucus chair Rahim Jaffer’s claim of a populist uprising in the Ontario caucus. Doug Finley, one of Mr. Harper’s principal hatchet men and his election campaign director, sat in on the meeting. And, two days later, Michael Chong, an Ontario MP and Mr. Harper’s intergovernmental affairs minister, telephoned Mr. Turner’s riding president to make it clear the decision came from the top.
Mr. Turner’s blog and MP TV featured a string of unsettling features and comments through the past four months, including a July 19 broadcast of a Parliament Hill protest against Mr. Harper’s description of Israel’s bombing of Lebanon as a “measured response†to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers.
The markers against Mr. Turner were adding up, but the biggest blowup came during an attempt by Charles McVety, leader of the Defend Marriage campaign against same-sex weddings, to orchestrate Mr. Turner’s overthrow in Halton riding.
Mr. McVety’s proxy candidate failed in an attempt to grab Mr. Turner’s campaign nomination, only after a bitter public battle over gay marriage. Mr. Turner used his blog to describe Mr. McVety’s group as “Taliban†— a reference to state religion rather than terrorism — and compare it to 19th-century French poet Charles Beaudelaire’s Flowers of Evil poems addressing corruption and vice.
It was too much, not only for Mr. McVety, but also for a core of socially conservative, religious MPs the Conservatives elected in southwestern Ontario last January.
In the fight with Mr. McVety, Mr. Turner delivered a fateful comment to a reporter that led to his first denunciation by Ontario MPs at the private retreat in Owen Sound.
“Am I supposed to change my mind all of a sudden and hate homosexual people because I’m facing a challenge in my riding?†he said.
Many of his Ontario caucus colleagues felt he was branding them. MP Larry Miller spoke out in his defence at the Owen Sound gathering or, as Mr. Turner might have it, trial. But he was silent this week.
Unfortunately for Mr. Turner, he even quoted Mr. Miller’s plea on his behalf on his blog entry of the secret meeting.
The battle with Mr. McVety and, indirectly, his supporters in caucus, did not figure into the final reckoning. By that time, last Wednesday, Mr. Turner had left a trail of other reasons, like a series of uninentional suicide notes on his blog cache, neatly stored behind the dates of a small calendar to make them easier to find, for his fellow Conservatives to reject and eject him.
As the end of the early Wednesday morning meeting of Ontario caucus neared, Essex MP Jeff Watson proposed the motion to strip Mr. Turner of his right to remain in caucus. He was supported by Cambridge MP Gary Goodyear, a party upand-comer who lists sports injury as his chiropractic specialty on his official biography.
Mr. Turner insists no one mentioned caucus indiscretions or his battle over gay marriage.
The denunciations centred on his challenges to the government over the environment, and a separate campaign he mounted to promote incomesplitting for pensioners and families, opposed by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
Mr. Watson and Mr. Goodyear did not return phone calls.
Mr. Turner, licking his wounds and weighing his options, laments the fate of backbenchers in the new world of hardball politics. MPs are not free even to make a statement in the Commons without permission from above. Questions must be cleared by the party whip.
“The opportunity to be an individual member of Parliament has been absolutely stripped away,†he says.
“And now, we’ve got the free speech issue with me. From when I was there last time, to this time, these are stunning developments. A lot of the new guys will not know how it used to be. They’ll just know how it is now.â€
___________________________________________________________
To read today’s Vancouver Sun editorial, click here.
To read yesterday’s Globe and Mail editorial, click here.
To read a news story about Turner’s ouster in the China People’s Daily Online News, click here.
To read a news story in the Middle East Times (Egypt) on Turner’s expulsion, click here.
40 comments ↓
Hi Garth,
I was not surprised to learn that the Conservative party booted you out.
Harper’s approach is one centred on silencing anyone who expresses alternate
views to his own rather myopic view of the world, or people who even
encourage intelligent debate. The sooner Canada is rid of Harper the better!
You have proven to be a man of principle… stay the course Garth and serve
your constituents to the best of your ability. I’m sure they appreciate your
candour, honesty and transparency… qualities that are sorely lacking in
the Conservative party under Harper.
Tom
Grimsby, Ont
Hi Garth, I don’t know why it matters who you interview and what it is anyones business. Your MPTV would be a joke if you were only interviewing Conservative MPs. It seems like a lame excuse of why you were turfed.
Also is RahimJaffer the same guy who got his assistent to lie and impersonate him on a radio program? Hardly seems like a party with credibility at the top of the agenda. I guess it is life in Canadian politics though. I wonder what the soap opera will be in the future. I don’t think Hollywood would by this script as it seems too unbelivable. Regards
Thank you for not being a mindless back bencher. You are causing some to
question the sincerity of the Conservatives on the environmental front.
Perhaps you should consider being a Green Party member. Now that could make
things very interesting. Greens could be in the leaders debate.
Cheers
Glen in Hamilton
congratulations on standing up for first of all yourself and secondly putting your constituents ahead of ‘the party’
unfortunately Mr Harper doesn’t like people who don’t follow his lead to the letter …. one is not allowed to think for themselves.
I no longer live in Halton but I grew up there (Morrison Rd, Oakville) and my parents were strong pc’s.
I , unfortunately grew disenchanted with the pc’s especially after Harper took control and changed to another party.
more mp’s should take a page out your book and stand tall on principal. .
Hello Mr. Turner
I just wanted to say how much I admire your committment to your values and for standing up for what you believe is right. I personally am not a Conservative, but I do follow politics as a hobby. I am a Geography/History teacher in Oshawa and the subject of Politics (and your financial analysis….especially when you were on CTV) deeply interests me. It is because of Politicians like yourself that I can actually teach the students that our Members of Parliament do actually represent their constituents and that the Members do have ‘A Code of Ethics’ and are not just ‘YES’ men/women…or ’shadows’ of the Primeminister or any other official. I hope to one day get to meet you, as I have a great deal of respect and trust in you. If you ever feel the urge to become a Liberal, lets say, well then, you would be like superman to me…hahahaha.
Mike…be sure to teach them about Carolyn Parrish and john Nunziata and all the great (where are they now) s*#t disturbers……
Oh and while you’re at it…tell your school principal, fellow teachers and the school board where they can go …after all you work for the taxpayers……
Even if Harper did pull the trigger on you…
You felt you had a right as an elected MP to be critical of him, he as an elected MP himself has a right to be critical of you. Not to mention he has twice been elected to lead his political party.
This didn’t have to go this far, and you likely knew it was coming.
By the way: You are not the only hard working MP on the hill. You run an interesting blog, but there are times I have felt that you were pumping yourself up as the only principled guy in the House.
I rather doubt you’ll be welcome back into caucus and you missed a glorious opportunity to get things done as a government bench MP.
Was it all worth it?
Mr. Turner,
This news story only makes the case for why you were removed. I make comment on your meetings below.
I can’t make your meetings because I have to work, realistically the overwhelming majority of constituents won’t be able to come to your meetings.
I have had 13 public meetings in the last eight months, on weeknights, weekends and in locations in every corner of Halton. If you are so passionate about me and the way you are represented, then I am sure you will join your fellow citizens and make an effort to be constructive.
The little votes you are taking there are cute but quite irrelevant, any good statistician will tell you that. The only people that are showing up to your meetings represent those that appose your party and the platform it represented. They don’t really represent the mandate you were given. Your meeting descriptions are tantamount to a mutual admiration society; there is no real debate or introspection happening here. Your meetings are being stacked with Greens that are trying to court you.
These are comments by someone who was not there, and are completely false. The meeting yesterday was populated by hard-core Conservatives, soft Liberals, Greens and people who are fairly apolitical. The debate was intense and challenging. I think you would have benefitted by being present. The vote was a true tally of opinion, and every whit as valid as a ballot at election time.
I respect that they see value in your views, but if you plan to join them please have an election to win that mandate in a principled and honorable fashion, if there is any honor left in you sir. I DIDN’T VOTE FOR THE GREEN PARTY, its views stand in stark contrast to the CPC and my values. It would be the height of hypocrisy to see you join that party and your own words would damn you for it!
I have joined no other party, and at this point have no intention of doing so. I did not ask the Green Party leader to call me – that was her initiative. So, relax. Right now I am consulting with the constituents of Halton, and will continue to do so. Your own opinion has been noted.
Most people will not tell you to resign while being in the same room as you as in these meetings. It is human nature to want to avoid such conflict and not want to make someone feel uncomfortable in such a vulnerable position that you are in during these meetings.
More evidence you should have been there. Many people discussed the scenarios under which they would prefer me to resign.
If you are serious about polling what your constituents (like me) think why don’t you open a vote up on your website? Advertise it in the local papers and ask for people’s name address and phone number, give people a week to filter their vote in. Record the results and open them up for an independent audit. Announce the results in all the local papers of your ridding. Then follow what your constituents are really thinking.
While elements of this idea have merit, it is tantamount to running an entire election campaign, for which a budget of hundreds of thousands of dollars will be required – for enumeration of new areas (huge), voter list vertification and tabulation, and independent audit. As well, it disenfranchises offline voters. I think it might make more sense to wait for a general election that could be just a few months away.
Mr. Turner I never sought a representative that would agree with me or anyone else for that matter all the time, but one that could understand others views and is respectful of them as much as I am. I simply wanted someone that would work to build consensus and compromise in a constructive manner while preserving the respect OF ALL YOUR VOTERS and party colleagues. That I think is the most fundamental principals you have breached by what you have said and done. However, I am a strong believer that no one is beyond making mistakes, and that no one is beyond redemption. But we have to admit our mistakes and take responsibility for our actions.
.
In terms of how I would vote given the choices it would be governed by how you would answer the below questions. That is if my vote or view counts for anything because I am critical of your actions.
QUESTIONS:
Do you have any regrets for any of your actions and words?
None.
What have you learned in all of this?
To always, always do the right thing and ignore those who will tear down, no matter what.
What were your mistakes and what could you have done better?
I’ll think about that. Say, how about you?
PMSH,
You heard it here first. It’s coming from the bottom of course. Yer gone buddy!
(note to self: attach bloglink to regional directors prior to cpc national convention after gov’t falls. Start with Halton EDA, expand GTA Quebec then westward in Jan.)
Thanks MR. Tim!
Hi Garth,
Despite the vitriol being spewed by a few of the people replying to you earlier blog post, I get the sense that the majority of people out there support you.
You’ve also managed to accomplish a difficult task – you’ve gotten a lot of young people interested in our country’s politics. Your situation was mentioned in one of my college classes, and it led to a very interested discussion in which many students participated. It’s encouraging to see an MP who doesn’t just pay lip service to caring about his constituents.
While I’ve voted for the Conservatives in the past, I strongly believe that for any organization to be effective, it has to welcome diverse opinions. Lack of diversity ineivitably leads to stagnation, and that’s not something I want to see in my government.
Keep up the good work, Garth.
Hey Garth,
As someone who likes it when elected members speak their minds on the issues and stand for things they believe I appreciate your sincerity. Ie: regarding un-elected senators etc. I also appreciate your fiscal and realistic mixed conservative-libertarian ideals.
The problem is that the CPC cannot get better from without, they require people within to keep pushing towards a CPC that stands for equality for all people (even if that means allowing homosexual people to call their partnership marriage – after all it really doesn’t hurt anyone), while also standing behind market principles.
I’d like to encourage you to try and pursue some sort of compromise with rejoining the CPC. I’m naïve in regards to your specific situation so I have no idea what is possible and what constraints you are under. At the same time I think even if the road is going to be a long one and may require some tongue biting, we need people in the CPC committed to the long haul. While no party will ever perfectly reflect a member’s beliefs, I hope one day the CPC will return to its roots in favoring libertarian and free Market strategies vs social engineering. Change cannot happen from without.
Thanks for your time, Good luck,
CL,
Ottawa
New Rulers of the World
A documentary film by John Pilger
‘Global economy’ is a modern Orwellian term. On the surface, it is instant financial trading, mobile phones, McDonald’s, Starbucks, holidays booked on the net. Beneath this gloss, it is the globalisation of poverty, a world where most human beings never make a phone call and live on less than two dollars a day, where 6,000 children die every day from diarrhea because most have no access to clean water.
Take an hour and watch this documentary
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14517.htm
Whatever, party you go with, my support is with you.
Stay strong – you have a very strong following.
Trish
Hello Garth!
It’s certainly been a very interesting week for you, to say the least! I can just imagine the load of e-mails you’ve been recieving.
Just wanted to say, I do appreciate the great work you’ve been doing as my M.P. After news of your suspension from the conservative caucus, I held off on deciding who’s side to take until the details became clearer. Had you been actually doing improper or immoral things, I’d have reason to support the party, and had you been doing as you said you were, i’d have every reason to support you, etc…
From the way things have gone, I see no clear reason why a caucus suspension was justified. You did speak openly against some party policy, however this is not a new thing, and was to pretty much be expected back when you were first nominated as the Conservative candidate. Nothing you said publicly or on your blog came close to justifying what happened.
I voted P.C. prior to the merger, but the reform/alliance parties were definite second choices over the Liberals. So, I was a strong supporter of the merger and therefore a strong supporter of the new Conservative party. This is the first time since the formation of the party that i’ve been seriously put off from them. In short, this whole situation really stinks and it’s knocked my views on the Conservativves down a few pegs.
While I still agree with most of the conservative policies, I am in favour of same sex marriage rights, and though I like the basics of the clean air act, i believe more could have been done with it. Apart from that, i’ve really had no issue at all with the party/government until they suspended you.
That being said, I have decided to support you, no matter if you were to run as an independant, or get your way back into the conservative party, as long as you aren’t muzzled by the higher-ups as part of a negotiation (good luck).
Ideally, i’d like to see you try to re-join caucus, but that may or may not be possible. As for the Green party, i’ll have to read up on their policies more to determine if i’d want to support that party. If you were to go to them, you’d have a much higher chance of getting my vote than anyone else who may run for the greens.
Keep up the good fight Garth, and no matter what happens, I’d like to see you run again the next election. Halton definatley needs a quality M.P. like yourself.
Mr. Turner:
I admire your principled stance. What a wonderful country we would live in if all politicians had your courage. Thank you for standing up for us.
Terry, Vancouver BC
Hello Mr. Turner,
I am a 25 year law and human rights student at Carleton University. Like most young people, I constantly worry about what the future will bring and whether or not I want to bring a child or two into this world. Isn’t that sad – the fact that I have to worry about what kind of world my generation and future generations will inherit? I am disgusted at where we are today – sure the economy is strong and people are buying and consuming more but at what cost? For me it’s very simple – it doesn’t't matter whether you have $20 in your bank account or $20 billion – if you don’t have your health you are nothing…. the same can be said about the global economy or Canada’s economy… if we don’t have a healthy environment or our planet to sustain life it is not going to matter how much money we have – mother nature doesn’t care about our economy and neither do our bodies. I believe that the environment, our health and the economy can live in a symbiotic relationship – it is 2005 and we really need to get our priorities straight.
In the name of money we are destroying our planet – corporate greed has placed a very dark shadow over my future and I am writing to you today to ask that you look deep within your heart and join the Green Party. It frustrates me so much that the Green party has not been given the respect that they deserve and the fact that they are left out of the official party privileges is really quite sad… you have an opportunity to change that. Let’s make history together and move beyond the status quo – it’s time the government starts serving its people again and not its corporations – let’s take back our government and our planet. Think about the future….
Thank you for your time and, I hope, sincerity.
What do the people support?
http://www.worldcantwait.net/av/10-2/craigmurray.mp3
A British ambassater’s view.
CL – the Harper government administration is not about social conservatism. If it were, then why did Baird and Moore get into cabinet? These 2 MPs, are very much vocal about their supportive views of SSM. In fact, in the last election, Baird’s traditional marriage opponent was vicious in his campaign against Baird.
Folks, instead of buying into this red herring, do some research and put 2 and 2 together. Surely there are some people with some resemblance of intelligence.
It seems that your constituency wants you to sit as an independent for now, and I do concur with that. I have a glimmering glimpse of a saner future for Canada with these events concerning you. You may not realize it yet, but in so many ways, you can be critical to that future. The weight of Atlas is surely upon you. Carry it well.
Our family has support the Conservative party in the past and worked for the party in our riding. At this point that support is withdrawn, this smells bad and looks bad. Looking forward to see what you do next, Garth you have been given a raw deal, and this will not play out well for the party as a whole. For a ‘grass’ roots organization this is an error of judgment.
David
Halton riding
Peace, Propaganda & The Promised Land
A must watch for understanging of the middle east problems
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7828123714384920696&q=Peace%2C+Propaganda+%26+the+Promised+Land
I pledge to support you if you join the green party or sit as an independent, as you are one of the few politicians who are truly contributing to change in this country through your honesty integrity and wisdom . Our generation desperately wants drastic action to preserve our environment in the most urgent and progressive manner possible. Suggest you travel to California and meet with politicians and bureaucrats to build your manifesto. I f you need input please contact me.
Stephen
Toronto
Um Garth, you are quickly wearing out your 15 minutes of fame. You state in this post that an MP is not allowed to “make a statement in the Commons without permission from above” – well, Garth, your statements have not been in the Commons, they have been in your blog, any newspaper and news program where you were all too happy to make a “statement”, on your MPTV.
So I would ask you a question – please tell me when any other MP has done what you have done and publicly spoken about caucus subjects, spoken out against other MP’s in the party and policy of the party.
Oh – and Garth – don’t you just sort of wonder why you suddenly seem to have all these new friends supporting you as you publicly declare your hurt and bewilderment over this explusion. Think about it Garth – all these people supporting you are those who probably didn’t vote for you as a conservative.
Hey Alberta Girl, thanks for coming by. Just so you are accurate, my comment about statements in the Commons is CPC policy – all must be approved by the party – which means a Conservative MP is no longer free to voice constiutents’ opinions, unless they jive with those of the political boss. This is a serious issue in a free Parliament. And, by the way, the caucus confidentiality argument has been dropped as insupportable by even my foes; I have never attacked other Conservative MPs; and the only party policies I countered were the immediate roll-over of capital gains tax (Jim Flaherty agreed with me and delayed it to next budget), and the gutless green plan. In any case, PMSH has punished me with the political equivalent of hanging by the neck until dead. So, stop trying to shoot me, too. — Garth
Sol “The weight of Atlas is surely upon you. Carry it well.” Don’t you think that this is a bit much?
My god, we’ve created “groupies” and politico-worshippers.
So instead of REAL issues to discuss, we are discussing Garth’s problems. I didn’t know that Canada revolves around Garth?
You didn’t? — Garth
Thought you might enjoy the following blogposts Garth… by the way.. you are now an internet-verb.
As for myself, I find the whole thing “creepy”.. the way the purge was executed, the way the smear campaign online began immediately, the way they had this 5 month old edited memo to use as hammer to nail you with….
That’s my angle on it.
I was going to call it being “Jamiesoned” – but you’d have to see it happen more than once to a person… a pattern really to really give this particular *behavior* a name, which I did.
Garth: Noun (Name)
Verb “To be Garthed” To be unceremoniously kicked out of one’s political party without warning, have lies told about why they have been kicked out, and have intel gathered and then disseminated by astrosturfing organization about you grepped from your blog which is then used to try and prove the specious stories being circulated concerning your being turfed.
For journalists trying to reach MPs in their ridings, it was like phoning a morgue. No one called back.
This sentence stuck out for me above all others, because it has not been lost upon many Canadians. I don’t know how many times lately, often several per day, I have not heard a newscast or read an article that has not been punctuated with: “MP XYZ’s office was contacted for comment but did not return our callâ€, or “MP XYZ was invited to participate but declined our offer.â€, and many variations to that effect. Each time I hear it, it becomes more pronounced in its juxtaposition to the context in which it is situated. Compound that message, repeated time and again, and it becomes ingrained. I’ve said this before, Harper is like a chess player, strategizing his every move. But sometime he or his advisors seem to be so intensely focussed on whatever his goal might be that he is blind to some painfully obvious stuff happening around him. Either that, or whomever is formulating the strategy in the first place has not done a good job of scenario planning, or simply has no comprehension of the sophistication that exists within the average Joe / Jo.
it is my understanding the media – newspapers, tv reporters etc…..are all upset about Harpers muzzle on his MP’s… I really do not understand why their reactions have been so timid…mild…and not more vocal…
Well this man has no control over the internet….and the people of Canada……….
We do not need dictators…….we need true leaders who can lead Canada into a new Digital arena.
Sadly this has not happened…and Canada is now losing ground to India, China and Malaysia…..who are heavily investing in RD and education of which we are not………
Interesting Comment DUBE
I have spoken openly with Mr. Turner about the Grand CPC re-elections strategy (or lack thereof!).
So far as I can see they have publicly alienated most of the GTA in Toronto and stated words to the effect: WE can make a majority without Liberal Red Toronto so “go screw your selves with your Liberal Red voters and policies.” Tell me that’s not what everbody else in the GTA has been hearing lately??
Then we are told, the CPC party is making “Great in roads in PQ” (Quebec) and somehow magically that Liberal Red or BQ Province will turn a WHOLE lot Bluer (CPC blue) next time around! Guess what?
Hey Harper !
The Polling info out of Quebec is sending the message that getting soldiers killed doing the RIGHT thing in Afghanistan is losing votes. NOW there is something to said for staying the course and doing the right thing, (NOT pulling out of Afghanistan) but that policy decision combined with the debacle that is now presented as “NOT so Clean Air Act” looks like that chances of even forming another Minority government after the next election, are seriously in DOUBT!.
I am actually happy Mr. Turner is not longer a member of that increaslingly morally bankrupt party!
Perhaps Mr. Turner could rejoice in his new found freedom of expression.
If you ask me (no one really did), why not ask the question?
“could Mr. Turner possibly be any less effective as an Independent MP???
Seriously?? (I don’t think so)
As a member of the governing Minority Government they did not really listen to him anyway (Unless I somehow missed some of the stunning highlights of some successful pitch or agenda or campaign promise that Garth actually successfully moved forward? Income splitting? No Action, More environmently Protection? Heck NO his PCP party actually went backwards on that one!)
Guess What Mr. Harper??
The voters ARE watching and your chances of winning another election, (Especially on the strength of the NOT “Clear Air Act (joke!) ) are increasingly remote.
Catherine: You are so right! I appear to be a “worshipper” of Liberalism and you appear to be a “worshipper” of Conservativism. Others “adore” Greenism or New Democratism.
Perhaps the term “followers” would be more appropriate, but that suggests “mindless belonging”.
I don’t believe anyone is raising Garth to the highest pinnacle for group idolization.
Just strong opinions being voiced on the events that led to his current situation. And isn’t that what democracy is supposed to be about?
Garth, This is my first visit to a political blog, generated by the public controversy.I have voted for most parties at various times (Conservative only once) as I have tried to vote for the individual who’s policies seemed to make the most sense. Were you to run in my riding, I think I’d vote for you. Party discipline has it’s place in the operation of Parliament, but it should not be a gag order. It hardly matters what opinion a politician holds if he’s not allowed to state it. The free and open exchange of ideas is the victim of the party whip, and the moral cowards who say one thing in private and another in public in order to retain their status make me gag. Unfortunately a lot of them seem to gravitate to politics.
This is simply a cult of personality thing.
Garth has one Stevey blunder doesn’t .
Too funny .
So instead of REAL issues to discuss, we are discussing Garth’s problems. I didn’t know that Canada revolves around Garth?
You didn’t? — Garth
You know Garth that the best way to exact revenge on Harpo and his gang of,Hats for Horses,crowd is to become Green .
You will bleed a ton of votes away from them .
Great spirits have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.
Albert Einstein, quoted in New York Times, March 13, 1940
US (German-born) physicist (1879 – 1955)
Judy, unlike you, I don’t have a problem voting for another party – like I did in 1993. I guess conservatives are more principled, and when they see that the party has no vision and no real leadership, we don’t blindly support it – like the Liberal supporters.
So far, I haven’t seen anything to discourage me from supporting Stephen Harper.
in response to catherine…..we are very troubled citizens….when in fact our standard of living has decreased dramatically due to traditional parties PC and liberals…..that being said……
I have no faith in traditional parties that favour the status quo…..while Canada is losing its competitive edge to India China and yes Malaysia…
you are entitled to your opinion……we are suppose to be democratic country with free speech and not censorship……this is not suppose to be a dictatorship……….but a free speech country that takes an interest in the views of the taxpayer of which these governMENTS are suppose to serve……..
this is just terrible…….
dear Mr.Garth-Turner……..
and so kindly we canadians pray together daily to the
supreme GOD,to defeat and decimate this mafiozy unfit harper-regime
soon now, which was imposed upon canada through the mafiozy big
corporate newsmedia in canada, under the masquerade of democracy!..
shame and condemantion for this mafiozy harper-regime which is
enjoying the luxuries completely free inside the completely
free-state funded 24 Sus-sex drive mansion, because this mafiozy
harper is responsible for more poverty-unemployment-homelessness
and vast class-differences through the criminal social and economic
policies of mafiozy conservatism and corporatism!!..
so canadians should take away the celebrity rights of the mafiozy
politicians for free-loading in luxury style, while the low-income
families have to pay the rents and make the ends meet!.. besides
this mafiozy harper regime has absolutely no-business for fighting
america’s wars in afganistan and spend two bbilion dollars of state
funds, when the needs of poor canadians are being ignored for
non-profit affordable housing and employment in canada!!..
this is why lady belinds-stronach’s good conscience made her leave
this satan conservative party and recently garth-turner has done
the same!.. cudos for their good conscience and carry on the good
work to create social and economic justice for all inside canada,
which won’t happen unless this mafiozy harper-regime is defeated
soon as they will swindle away the surplus bbillions [created by
the liberal-governemnt] into the deep pockets of the mafiozy greedy
corporate establishment and upon fighting mafiozy american regime’s
wars!..
so please GOD help and save canada to become a better society now
and stop this americanisation of canada
right now!..
========================================
dear Mr.Garth-Turner……..
and so kindly we canadians pray together daily to the supreme GOD,to defeat and decimate this mafiozy unfit harper-regime soon now, which was imposed upon canada through the mafiozy big corporate newsmedia in canada, under the masquerade of democracy!.. shame and condemantion for this mafiozy harper-regime which is enjoying the luxuries completely free inside the completely free-state funded 24 Sus-sex drive mansion, because this mafiozy harper is responsible for more poverty-unemployment-homelessness and vast class-differences through the criminal social and economic policies of mafiozy conservatism and corporatism!!..
so canadians should take away the celebrity rights of the mafiozy politicians for free-loading in luxury style, while the low-income families have to pay the rents and make the ends meet!.. besides this mafiozy harper regime has absolutely no-business for fighting america’s wars in afganistan and spend two bbilion dollars of state funds, when the needs of poor canadians are being ignored for non-profit affordable housing and employment in canada!!..
this is why lady belinds-stronach’s good conscience made her leave this satan conservative party and recently garth-turner has done the same!.. cudos for their good conscience and carry on the good work to create social and economic justice for all inside canada, which won’t happen unless this mafiozy harper-regime is defeated soon as they will swindle away the surplus bbillions [created by the liberal-governemnt] into the deep pockets of the mafiozy greedy corporate establishment and upon fighting mafiozy american regime’s wars!..
so please GOD help and save canada to become a better society now and stop this americanisation of canada right now!..
==================================================================================
i really do not see the comparison between you and Ms. Parrish and Mr. Nunziata……they are shit disturbers….but the reality is that you are a an intelligent man with a lot of credibility………
the comments that you have made…are quite entertaining and also….fair…and reasonable…….anything but a loose cannon
I feel that because of the outpouring of support across Canada , you will become more popular with the voters than ever before…….
I really beleive that the Hon. Garth Turner, should take advantage of the wonderful oppertunity in becoming the first Green Party MP. Not only would he be representing his own riding’s interests and staying true to his values and beleifs about Canada’s position and international responsibiliy on Climate Change, he would become a voice for hundreds of thousands of Canadian who support the Green Party. Since the Green Party is so far the only party with a comprehensive plan to meet kyoto targets and reduce green house gas emissions, it only seems logical. I feel that doubts on the issue coming from the riding are based on miseducation and assumption on the Green Party. When the riding saw the continued level of political savy coming from Garth as a member of another party, their would be no doubt that they’d be equally impressed. Not to mention the historical significants for both the riding and Garth!
[...] Previously, you may have dismissed the Green Party of Canada as a (probably) Tory-funded stalking horse for the NDP, whose electoral premise was to stand for as little as possible in an attempt to soak up undefined protest votes. You may have been put off by the centralizing antics of a federal party seemingly terrified of its actual grassroots base, its opaque policy development and candidate selection procedures, and other features that looked a little more like certain other entities on our landscape than its (vastly more relevant, innovative and worthwhile) European cousins. [...]