Union Canada
11-02-2006, 03:54
OTTAWA (CP) - A rebellious Conservative wants to introduce legislation that would deter future David Emersons and Belinda Stronachs from switching political parties.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ontario MP Garth Turner hopes to push ahead with a private member's bill even after being reprimanded by Prime Minister Stephen Harper for his outspoken stand.
"It's on the public agenda and I think it needs to be addressed. People feel a bit cynical about the system," Turner said in an interview Friday.
"Let's talk about it, let's try and fix it."
He says he doesn't regret his decision to speak out against Emerson's jump to the Tories. But he expects there will be a price to pay.
In his online blog, Turner writes that he expects to be assigned an office in "a renovated washroom somewhere in a forgotten corner of a vermin-infested dank basement."
He said he had a series of unhappy meetings with caucus officials Thursday over his comments, including one with Harper.
"I think it is now safe to say my career options within the Conservative caucus are seriously limited," writes Turner, a former columnist and Progressive Conservative MP, now representing the Ontario riding of Halton.
"If you would like a course on how not to be popular in Ottawa, then take a seat."
Turner told The Canadian Press that he was asked to "curtail my activities" - but refused.
"I am a member of Parliament," he said. "That's my job. When my constituents are upset about something, it's my job to relay that."
Turner said earlier this week that Emerson, a Vancouver-area Liberal who crossed the floor Monday to take the post of trade minister in Harper's cabinet, should step down.
His proposed legislation would require MPs to face voters in a byelection when they want to switch parties. It's extremely rare for a private member's bill to succeed in the House of Commons.
Even if it were successful, the bill would only apply in the future, not in Emerson's case.
"You couldn't do something like this retroactively. But I think, going forward, we need to improve the system from what it is today," he said in an interview.
On Friday, New Democrat MP Peter Julian asked the ethics commissioner to investigate the circumstances surrounding Emerson's decision to join the government. Emerson has said he was approached by the Tories and offered the cabinet job.
Julian said that could place Harper in violation of Parliament's conflict-of-interest code, which prohibits members from acting to further their own or other MPs' private interests.
"It is our opinion that the considerable increase in salary, augmented potential pension, staff and assorted perks enjoyed by members of the cabinet such as a personal car and driver amount to furthering Mr. Emerson's private interests over what he would have received as an opposition MP," wrote Julian, who represents the B.C. riding of Burnaby-New Westminster.
"Therefore, in our opinion, Mr. Harper may be in breach of Section 8 of the Conflict of Interest Code and I would ask that you investigate this matter."
In what he called a principled position, Turner said all government members - not just cabinet ministers - should be elected as members of the party that forms the government.
"Anybody who switches parties should go back to the people. To do otherwise is to place politicians above the people when, actually, it's the other way around."
Turner said his comments were deemed "not helpful."
Harper has been under fire all week for appointing Emerson and unelected Montrealer Michael Fortier to cabinet.
Fortier, a Tory organizer who was handed Public Works, will be appointed to the Senate until the next federal election, when he plans to seek a seat in the Commons.
The appointments, which Harper says were designed to give two of the country's biggest cities representation in cabinet, rankled many Conservative MPs.
The party had previously contended that floor-crossers like former Conservative Belinda Stronach should have to face the electorate before taking their new seats. And Harper has been a strong advocate of an elected Senate.
Turner said he had "swallowed with gusto" promises of more free votes, more powerful committees of "free-thinking" MPs, a more responsive government, and an elected and responsible Senate.
He said Harper's decision to appoint a floor-crossing Liberal and an unelected party official to cabinet "seemed to fly in the face of everything I had told voters about accountability and democracy."
"It also made me question the whole process."
Turner, who moved into his constituency office Thursday night, said he knew in advance the potential consequences of taking his stand.
"Speaking of offices, after today I'm expecting the Whip will be assigning me a renovated washroom somewhere in a forgotten corner of a vermin-infested dank basement in Ottawa," he said. "That should go well with my seat in the House of Commons that will be visible only during lunar eclipses."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20060210/ca_pr_on_na/tories_turner;_ylt=Aidd6j98shTJr43mH.cBYF9vaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
NDP is the only good choice.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ontario MP Garth Turner hopes to push ahead with a private member's bill even after being reprimanded by Prime Minister Stephen Harper for his outspoken stand.
"It's on the public agenda and I think it needs to be addressed. People feel a bit cynical about the system," Turner said in an interview Friday.
"Let's talk about it, let's try and fix it."
He says he doesn't regret his decision to speak out against Emerson's jump to the Tories. But he expects there will be a price to pay.
In his online blog, Turner writes that he expects to be assigned an office in "a renovated washroom somewhere in a forgotten corner of a vermin-infested dank basement."
He said he had a series of unhappy meetings with caucus officials Thursday over his comments, including one with Harper.
"I think it is now safe to say my career options within the Conservative caucus are seriously limited," writes Turner, a former columnist and Progressive Conservative MP, now representing the Ontario riding of Halton.
"If you would like a course on how not to be popular in Ottawa, then take a seat."
Turner told The Canadian Press that he was asked to "curtail my activities" - but refused.
"I am a member of Parliament," he said. "That's my job. When my constituents are upset about something, it's my job to relay that."
Turner said earlier this week that Emerson, a Vancouver-area Liberal who crossed the floor Monday to take the post of trade minister in Harper's cabinet, should step down.
His proposed legislation would require MPs to face voters in a byelection when they want to switch parties. It's extremely rare for a private member's bill to succeed in the House of Commons.
Even if it were successful, the bill would only apply in the future, not in Emerson's case.
"You couldn't do something like this retroactively. But I think, going forward, we need to improve the system from what it is today," he said in an interview.
On Friday, New Democrat MP Peter Julian asked the ethics commissioner to investigate the circumstances surrounding Emerson's decision to join the government. Emerson has said he was approached by the Tories and offered the cabinet job.
Julian said that could place Harper in violation of Parliament's conflict-of-interest code, which prohibits members from acting to further their own or other MPs' private interests.
"It is our opinion that the considerable increase in salary, augmented potential pension, staff and assorted perks enjoyed by members of the cabinet such as a personal car and driver amount to furthering Mr. Emerson's private interests over what he would have received as an opposition MP," wrote Julian, who represents the B.C. riding of Burnaby-New Westminster.
"Therefore, in our opinion, Mr. Harper may be in breach of Section 8 of the Conflict of Interest Code and I would ask that you investigate this matter."
In what he called a principled position, Turner said all government members - not just cabinet ministers - should be elected as members of the party that forms the government.
"Anybody who switches parties should go back to the people. To do otherwise is to place politicians above the people when, actually, it's the other way around."
Turner said his comments were deemed "not helpful."
Harper has been under fire all week for appointing Emerson and unelected Montrealer Michael Fortier to cabinet.
Fortier, a Tory organizer who was handed Public Works, will be appointed to the Senate until the next federal election, when he plans to seek a seat in the Commons.
The appointments, which Harper says were designed to give two of the country's biggest cities representation in cabinet, rankled many Conservative MPs.
The party had previously contended that floor-crossers like former Conservative Belinda Stronach should have to face the electorate before taking their new seats. And Harper has been a strong advocate of an elected Senate.
Turner said he had "swallowed with gusto" promises of more free votes, more powerful committees of "free-thinking" MPs, a more responsive government, and an elected and responsible Senate.
He said Harper's decision to appoint a floor-crossing Liberal and an unelected party official to cabinet "seemed to fly in the face of everything I had told voters about accountability and democracy."
"It also made me question the whole process."
Turner, who moved into his constituency office Thursday night, said he knew in advance the potential consequences of taking his stand.
"Speaking of offices, after today I'm expecting the Whip will be assigning me a renovated washroom somewhere in a forgotten corner of a vermin-infested dank basement in Ottawa," he said. "That should go well with my seat in the House of Commons that will be visible only during lunar eclipses."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20060210/ca_pr_on_na/tories_turner;_ylt=Aidd6j98shTJr43mH.cBYF9vaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
NDP is the only good choice.