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Liberal defects for Cabinet position...and Harper appoints non-MP to Cabinet too
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| MarkT |
amazing how quickly the incoming CPC gov't does the same thing as the Liberals, eh? ;) So much for accountability, integrity, etc.
So let's criticize Harper, the CPC, and Mr. Emerson in the same way Martin, the Liberals and Stronach were criticized...Emerson defected, yet was elected as a LIBERAL...he crossed the floor to obtain a cabinet position, just like Stronach.
In fact, Harper has admitted that HE APPROACHED EMERSON.
Futher, let's note that a NON-ELECTED member of the CPC, Michael Fortier, who didn't even run in the election this time, has been appointed Minister of Public Works.
| quote: | Top Liberal defects to Tories
Feb. 6, 2006. 02:52 PM
CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA — In a stunning political defection, former industry minister David Emerson has abandoned the Liberals to join the new Conservative cabinet.
Today’s move, which recalled last year’s surprise defection of Tory Belinda Stronach to the Liberals, puts the former business executive in charge of another economic portfolio: international trade.
Emerson, a Vancouver MP and former head of lumber giant Canfor, will also be responsible for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, which are already running well over budget.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he approached Emerson to help put a Vancouver representative in cabinet after the Tories were shut out of the city in the Jan. 23 election.
“During the last Parliament, as I sat across from the government benches, I was consistently impressed with David Emerson,” Harper said shortly after the swearing in at Rideau Hall.
“He is a man of great intelligence, a man with a stellar record in the private sector, who is clearly committed to public service.”
Pressed by reporters, Harper said the defection should not be seen from a partisan perspective.
“I don’t think you should view this as Conservative versus Liberal. David Emerson is quite comfortable in our party.”
The move, which caught almost everyone off guard, was ironic given the vitriol some Conservatives poured on Stronach for changing her stripes without going back to the electorate for a new mandate as a Liberal.
In the recent federal election, Emerson was featured in televised Liberal election ads promoting the party in British Columbia as the best choice for voters.
He was also frequently under fire from the Tories in the last Parliament over a multibillion-dollar program in the Industry Department.
Emerson defended his decision, saying it’s best for his constituents and noting that his cabinet responsibilities are particularly important to B.C.
“People want a member of Parliament who can help them, who gets things done,” he said.
“I feel I can have the most impact in cabinet, particularly when they are asking me to join them.”
But many in his riding reacted with shock and outrage.
John McNamee, Liberal riding secretary in Vancouver Kingsway, said Emerson has no mandate from the people to sit as a Conservative.
“We all voted for him as a Liberal,” he said. “So we weren’t given the opportunity to decide whether we wanted him as a non-partisan or as a Conservative candidate.” |
| quote: | Harper sworn in as 22nd PM
Emerson crosses floor
Unelected aide named to cabinet
Feb. 6, 2006. 01:10 PM
ANDREW MILLS
OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his 27-member cabinet were sworn in this morning at Rideau Hall making them the first Conservative government in nearly 13 years and breaking the seal on some of the best-kept secrets in official Ottawa in years.
The most stunning move of the morning was the news that former Liberal Industry Minister David Emerson, a one-time lumber industry executive, has crossed the floor to join the Conservative government. The British Columbian won’t serve in his old post but as Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics.
For Paul Martin’s Liberals, who once considered Emerson one of their star candidates, his move across the floor of the House serves as very bad news.
According to early reports, it appeared that James Rajotte (Edmonton-Leduc), the former Conservative industry critic, was key in convincing Emerson to cross the floor.
Emerson and new House Leader Rob Nicholson (Niagara Falls) are the only two new ministers with previous experience in a federal cabinet. Nicholson, who was first elected in 1984, served as a minister in Kim Campbell's cabinet in 1993.
But Emerson’s move wasn’t the only surprise of the morning ceremony. Michel Fortier, one of the co-chairs of the Conservative campaign will become the new Public Works minister. Fortier did not run in the election and is not a member of the Tory caucus.
Fortier will be appointed to the Senate on the condition that he step down for the next election to run for a seat in the House of Commons.
At 27 members, the new cabinet is 11 ministers smaller than the Liberal Cabinet. There are just six women in the Tory cabinet, three fewer than in Martin’s cabinet. There are nine new ministers who hail from Ontario.
Shortly after Martin arrived at the vice-regal residence to tender his official resignation to Governor General Michaëlle Jean, the soon-to-be ministers and their families started pulling up in taxis and mini-vans in the January cold, eager to take up their new roles.
Lawrence Cannon (Pontiac), who has served as Harper’s deputy chief of staff since September - a move intended to shore up Tory support in Quebec - will now fill the role of Minister of Transport. Cannon served as Communications Minister in the provincial Cabinet of former Quebec Liberal Premier Robert Bourassa.
The key role of finance minister goes to Jim Flaherty (Whitby-Oshawa), who served as Ontario’s finance minister under premier Mike Harris. He will have the significant task of implementing the Conservatives’ fiscal plan, which the Liberals panned throughout the election campaign for being not properly costed out.
The Foreign Affairs portfolio goes to former deputy Conservative leader, Peter MacKay (Central Nova). |
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| EvilTree |
Interesting.
What is the precedent of appointing a Senator as a minister? Is that legal? (Not that I'm condoning this)
As for Emerson's defection, well, I guess 2 can play that game. Very disappointed in Harper for playing the same game as the Liberals did. This does mean with NDP plus that Quebec independent MP, Harper has sufficient votes to pass a bill, if my math is correct.
Stockwell Day also got a minister's position... I guess he's got too much clout in the Conservative party still.
And that windbag O'Connor appointed as minister of defence. I'm not very optimistic that he's going to do well. |
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| rabbitjoker |
| quote: | Originally posted by EvilTree
What is the precedent of appointing a Senator as a minister? Is that legal? (Not that I'm condoning this) |
Yes, it is legal. Senators often sit in cabinet positions. |
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| MarkT |
oh it's all legal.
and personally, I don't much care about either situation.
I just enjoy pointing out to the Liberal bashers that the CPC is already doing the same damn things for which they criticized the Liberals...and on the first day they assume power, LMAO.
If this is how the CPC is going to overhaul how the gov't is run, restore faith in the system, blah blah...is this really the way to start?
amusing. |
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| rabbitjoker |
| I see no problem with appointing Senators as cabinet ministers. |
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| Jayx1 |
I dont see a problem with appointing a senator as a cabinet minister. However I do have a problem with this floor crosser entering a cabinet position. This is a definate bad move on Harper's part on the credibility front no matter how it is justified.
Although i can understand the reasoning behind it, its still a bad move in light of the recent liberal history of patronage. |
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| rabbitjoker |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
... floor crosser entering a cabinet position. This is a definate bad move on Harper's part on the credibility |
With this I will agree. |
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| MarkT |
| quote: | Originally posted by rabbitjoker
I see no problem with appointing Senators as cabinet ministers. |
nor do I, particularly if this person is judged to be "the right person for the job". Ultimately I care that they are competent...but others may take issue with him being unelected.
as Jay mentioned, given the apparent history of cronyism in recent Liberal administrations, I'm surprised Harper would make such a move.
Given that, before Emerson, Harper only had ONE other person with Ministry experience, the move isn't surprising...just noteworthy and ironic ;) |
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| rabbitjoker |
This Emerson situation is an outrage.
The very day that Harper brought down the Liberal minority gov't - he said in his speech in the house that MPs being "bought from other parties" by being given cabinet positions is unacceptable.
What makes this all of the sudden acceptable today? What about this "accountability" that Harper talks about.
Further, in Emerson's riding over 80% of the votes were AGAINST the Conservative party. Immagine the anger in that riding now that they are represented by a party that they clearly did not want! |
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| MarkT |
since we're on the topic of ethics...let it be known that Emerson also realizes a very profitable gain from this move.
Cabinet Ministers make more money. They earn about an additional 70k, to be more precise.
source:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/c.../mpssalary.html
yeah, it's easy to see why someone would cross the floor, eh?
(I suspect Stronach won't blink for 70k and her move was more about notoriety and a personal agenda than money...perhaps this is true for Emerson as well...perhaps they both have more noble reasons...who knows).
food for thought. |
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| ** TigerLily ** |
| quote: | Originally posted by EvilTree
Interesting.
As for Emerson's defection, well, I guess 2 can play that game. Very disappointed in Harper for playing the same game as the Liberals did. This does mean with NDP plus that Quebec independent MP, Harper has sufficient votes to pass a bill, if my math is correct.
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Yeah that's right... they've hit the magic number, 155, with all the stuff that happened today.
Is this a record or something, only one day offically in Parliament and already all this crap going on...
And I bet it won't end here... he'll have more tricks (lies) up his sleeve :mad: |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by ** TigerLily **
Yeah that's right... they've hit the magic number, 155, with all the stuff that happened today.
Is this a record or something, only one day offically in Parliament and already all this crap going on...
And I bet it won't end here... he'll have more tricks (lies) up his sleeve :mad: |
Its still only one bad thing compared to a shopping list worth from the liberals.
I can see the logical reasoning behind this (representation from all parts of the country) under normal circumstances. But in light of the recent liberal situations its a very stupid move. |
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