Garth Turner, an outspoken MP from Halton, Ont. has been suspended from the Conservative Party caucus.
Rahim Jaffer, the national caucus chair, said the maverick MP was kicked out on a unanimous recommendation by the Ontario caucus.
The MPs felt “the theme of confidentiality was not being respected” and that Turner was too critical of his colleagues, said Jaffer, speaking to reporters after the weekly Conservative caucus meeting.
He said the suspension was due in part to Turner’s blog, which he often uses as a soap box to make his opinions known.
“This is not something that one person has felt. There were attacks that were made on individuals, including the prime minister, on his blog at different times,” Jaffer said.
Jaffer said Turner’s indiscretions were hurting the caucus’ ability to function behind closed doors.
The decision was brought unanimously by the party’s Ontario caucus Wednesday morning. Although Jaffer said it came as a surprise, the recommendation was endorsed unanimously by the national caucus.
The story says the Prime Minister’s office is surprised.
Hello.
I don’t believe that.
This was an Ontario call, but to do this without Ottawa’s knowledge is not believable.
The Ontario Conservatives just lost my respect.
Come to think of it, I’m not too impressed with Ottawa right now either.
I don’t always agree with Garth Turner, so what?Â
The argument will be made he has illegally breached caucus confidentiality and parliamentary protocol.
He has made a tremendous effort to reach out to his riding, he won because he pounded the pavement the old fashioned way.
This stinks.
Turner has my respect because he is willing to communicate.
The Party says, “his constant recalcitrant views were interfering with the party’s ability to function behind closed doors.”
Oh.
His blog is 403.Â
This is wrong.
The Blogging Tories will be all over this. This broke about an hour ago.
You can let the Conservative Party of Canada know what you think about this decision. Turner will sit as an independent until the party decides he’s been chastened.
You can contact the Conservative Party here.
via: Bourque
Update:Is this what the suspension is about? Public speculation and opinion?
On a recent blog posting, he speculated about what might be in the works for Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s next budget:
Â
So, I’d wager the coming budget will look pretty much like this:
- another point off the GST
- a drop in the income tax rate for the lowest bracket
- the promised rollover in capital gains taxes for reinvested profits (look for a complicated new investment account to be created – Bay Street will love it)
- provisions for social benefits not be clawed back for lower-income workers
- a lower growth forecast for the economy
- an agricultural action plan, bringing in new income-support for farmers
- more middle-class tax credits aimed at family expenses
via CTV
Update: Library of Parliament – Incomplete list of Members of the House who have been suspended
How can Stephen Harper not be surprised? He controls everything his cabinet says and does, so he can’t control Garth Turner? The Ontario PC’s have made Garth Turner the enemy. What they fail to recognize is that most Ontarians love him. He is a breath of fresh air and his blog was informative and open. Now it’s offline and he has been censored. Stephen Harper scares me. The Conservatives scare me.
Well well well. What the Conservatives fail to recognize is the power that Garth Turner holds with not just the people in his riding but with voters of all sizes and shapes.
His blog was awesome and his opinions interesting. Harper just lost Ontario in my opinion. He has censored the wrong MP this time.
You go Garth!!! As an independent you will be able to voice your opinion and vote your conscience. You have been released from the restrictions placed on you by your party. Sorry this happened to you.
Something is amiss here. Mr. Turner is a rich populist who allowed all voices and opinion in the comment section of his blog. The average voter will not understand that the PC party made this decision, the fallout will land squarely in Mr. Harpers lap. And it was to the average voter that Mr. Turner spoke.
John
I’m angry.
The chill in the air over an MP’s opinion upsetting the whole is expected I guess.
I am voter, hear me roar!
This is from the wiki Greg:
“Jaffer is known for a much-publicized 2001 incident in which he claimed to have done a radio interview. The interview was actually done by an aide, Matthew Johnston, who impersonated Jaffer, as Jaffer was opening his new Timothy’s World Coffee shop down the street at the same time as the interview. Jaffer subsequently apologized publicly and in the House of Commons for this falsehood, and was suspended from his caucus position for several months.”
Payback time?
We operate on a party system, but this is the wrong kind of control.
I’m genuinely angry about this right now, and don’t know what to think.
All I can do is sputter, and that’s not productive.
Ha ha BD. Good one – “I am voter hear me roar?”
What part of MINORITY government do the Conservatives not understand? This was a very popular MP, not just in his riding, but through his blog.
We must all hang together,
or assuredly, we shall all hang separately. – Benjamin Franklin
It’s a balance – being a party member and speaking your mind. And this has to hurt.
We are being told this was an unanimous decision.
Turner can sit as an independent, comply quietly with his time-out or go Green. He may have other options I haven’t thought through yet.
Unanimous?
I want to know how many Canadian MP’s have been booted out of caucus in a sitting government.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/HofCChange.asp?lang=E&query=34
This reminds me a bit of Carolyn Parrish, except that Turner’s wrath was pointed at Tory power politics and Parrish was pointed at Dubya. Both were too loose of a cannon for the powers that be.
This reminds me of the old Washington joke that a faux pas is inconviently telling the truth. Turner did that one time too often in the eyes of the Tory powers that be.