| Advertisement |
|
Local Guides
|
|
|
GARTH TURNS GREEN?
|
by
View
November 23 - 29, 2006 |
|
It’s been five weeks since Halton MP Garth Turner was booted out
of the Conservative caucus for breaching party confidentiality by
blogging. The two–time Tory cabinet MP and lifelong conservative
was moderately surprised when walking papers were issued from
Harper HQ and he wasted no time entertaining offers to join a
new caucus.
Though the rumour mill is going nuts speculating that he’ll
join the Green Party, Turner insists he will remain an independent.
“There’s been speculation that I will announce my intent to join a
political party that starts with ‘G,’” Turner told a roomful of
reporters at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa. Instead of
signalling a new affiliation, Turner outlined the circumstances
surrounding his party ousting and criticized the old–boy network
in Ottawa as inhibiting democracy.
“Sadly I would say the voice of the people is being quelled
right now, and I am not going to let that happen without speaking
up,” he said. “Canada’s new government is suddenly looking a lot
like the old ones, controlling power in Ottawa while it makes both
MPs and the people who sent them here irrelevant.”
But Turner’s response to reporters since his un–
announcement has, if anything, been coy. While he maintains he
relishes his independent status, his emphasis that he won’t be the
first Green MP in the House of Commons and recent actions
suggest he is, however, very anxious to be the second.
As Green Party Leader Elizabeth May makes the campaign
rounds for the London North Centre by–election, voters are seeing
a very familiar face on their doorsteps. For all his impartiality,
Turner is actively campaigning for Ms. May in the riding. It’s an
area he’s no stranger to: Turner lived in London as a graduate
student and even hosted a show for the local CTV outlet at one
time. Now free of his former restraints, Turner’s taking every
opportunity to talk up the Greens both on the street and on the
internet.
“The Greens have an economic and tax policy just as
conservative as the one the Tories promote, except without
taxing income trusts,” Turner said in his blog while taking a dig at
the recent Conservative flip–flop on income trusts. Turner, who
says that if he still lived in London he’d vote for May, is perhaps
the foremost example of the rumoured “Green Tory,” i.e. fiscal
conservatives who swing left on social issues such as the
environment. Some expect that with Harper bungling his tenure
as PM (even the headless Liberals are polling higher with
Canadians), so–called Green Tories could become a major factor
in future elections.
May is happy to have their support. Though she’s been
blitzing the media since her Leadership win, her running in
London North Centre hasn’t been without controversy. May
originally planned to run in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, her former
home town and an area where she’s done extensive work on
behalf of the environment. But many feel May’s decision to run in
London is a smart choice as she’s both riding momentum from
her leadership victory and doesn’t have to worry about facing a
long–time liberal incumbent on the east coast. Turner, for one,
thinks the time is right for the Greens to get a seat in Parliament,
though it’s clear he’s not yet ready to put his own on the line.
The big picture suggests the campaign in London North
Centre isn’t only about touting May’s credentials; Turner could
also be using this time to acclimate his constituents to the idea of
a party switch. The conservative support Turner’s built up over
the years may not be so eager to throw in their lot with the
Greens, who would not just be a minority in Parliament, but a
significant one at that. Riding associations don’t uproot
themselves overnight, nor do staunch voters. By refusing to pick a
side while simultaneously throwing his support behind Ms. May,
Turner’s openly signalling his intentions while gently leading the
obstinately faithful over to a new party.
Still, Turner remains committed to officially remaining
uncommitted. “I’m not ruling anything out at the moment,” he
told reporters. “I’m very mindful that if I were to become an
adherent or a member of another party that it would have to be
consistent with my criticism in the past of people who were floor
crossers and I don’t think members of parliament who are elected
as something should be crossing the floor to become something
else.” Turner did not, however, rule out running for the Green
Party should an election be called. “I think that would be the only
fair way for me to make that move,” he said.
He may not go Green now, but sidling up to May could be
indicative of what lies down the road. Until then, Tuner has a big
job ahead of him, one which involves convincing London voters
that May’s right for the job as well as smoothing over his new
image as a renegade MP on the verge of going Green with his
Halton constituents. It could be that Turner, in supporting
Elizabeth May in London, is just as much about helping her
campaign as it is about helping out his. V
[SARAH VEALE]
|
Share on
 |
No comments yet... be the first! |
|
