Conservatives on Fortier, Emerson
Conservatives are strangely silent over the Emerson-Fortier affair. Shame. Still, there are some conservative voices speaking out.
“We think it’s inappropriate simply because parliamentary oversight is an essential component of representative democracy. Just as you can’t have taxation without representation, you shouldn’t be able to have spending tax dollars without representation.” Adam Taylor, Director of Research, Canadian Taxpayer’s Federation
I am a democrat who believes everyone in the House of Commons, including the cabinet members who make up the government, should be elected. They should sit in Parliament as they were elected. If they decide to change parties, they should go and get re-elected.
It would be a great idea for Mr. Emerson to do that, and hopefully he will decide thatâs the right course of action. Given his new high-profile and powerful position, one would expect voters would be impressed enough to elect him as a Conservative. But maybe not. Thatâs their choice.Garth Turner, Conservative Member of Parliament
Turner sums up the issue nicely for me ”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.”
Why, I wonder, is it so hard to find Conservative MP’s or party insiders willing to speak out, on record? Unfortunately its not at all hard to find “conservatives” who are willing to look the other way.