Published Friday in the Canadian Champion, which covers the Town of Milton, in the centre of Halton. Michael Chong represents the neighbouring riding of Wellington-Halton Hills. I am a former Conservative, and he is a former Harper minister.
Area MPs Turner and Chong served us well through 2006
Jan 5, 2007
In good conscience, I could not allow 2006 to pass without expressing my profound appreciation and gratitude for the courageous efforts, sacrifices and outstanding achievements of our two neighbouring Members of Parliament — Garth Turner and Michael Chong.
They both exhibited the very best our representatives can offer to our great nation and constituents — namely, strength of character, responsibility and progressive ideas for nation building. No bench warming yes men here. As Phillip Brooks said, “Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.”
Turner had the opportunity to serve us well in government as Minister of Finance with the Progressive Conservatives, and following that as a well-informed advocate/advisor to financially-strapped Canadians in numerous other capacities. In his role as Halton MP, he brought forth numerous popular and insightful propositions, among them significant changes for both personal taxation and environmental responsibility.
Watered-down versions of his proposals are now being considered and may be instituted, while his reward was expulsion from Caucas.
Meanwhile, Chong willingly sacrificed his position as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Sport — for recognizing only one united Canada — without any further political manipulations.
There are among us some repressive ideologues with lots of negative comments, often expressed and regrettably regularly published. This rather absolutist vocal segment, however, exhibits extreme ignorance of our participatory democracy and appears to advocate extreme personality cults and intolerance of ideas and other Canadians. Certainly — in my view — they are not representative of the old civilized Progressive Conservatives, but rather of the unfortunates of the Alliance, Reform and just maybe of the ultra-right skinhead movements.
On a positive note, these detractors are perhaps some of the strongest reasons for the election of Turner and Chong. After all, we are an intelligent, progressive and grateful community. We reward those who served us well — as evidenced by the election of Gary Carr as Halton Regional Chair.
Have I been clear? Since I’m mostly a Liberal, I naturally waffle. Happy New Year to our representatives and their worthy supporters.
LAS POLCZ
CABOT TRAIL
6 comments ↓
Truly well said. I just hope that the Wellington-Halton Hills/Halton voters will live up to the faith expressed in them. CPC snakes will do their damndest to make sure that those ridings do not stay “an intelligent, progressive and grateful community.”
Garth Turner was never Minister of Finance. The rest of this opinion puff piece lacks substance.
I was Minister of National Revenue. One up from the guy who cleaned out the stalls. — Garth
Yeah-Carr was a reall star!
That would make you the 80’s version of Carol Skelton????
Well said, indeed! Mr. Turner and Mr. Chong are both principled men of the highest integrity. Their treatment by PMSH is utterly shameful!! (And I’m a Calgarian – who will most definitely not vote Conservative in the next election.)
Garth, I hope you will promptly correct the Champion’s piece. It appears someone didn’t do their homework.
His name is LAS POLCZ? What is he, a DC villain?