David Emerson Fiasco: 1 Week of Media
A mere sampling of the press which Harper’s appointment of David Emerson has generated:
Feb 20: (AP) Emerson protestors to lobby the PM
VANCOUVER—Dozens of constituents were joined by Liberal party faithful who worked on David Emerson’s re-election campaign, in yet another protest in Vancouver. They called yesterday for the international trade minister’s resignation. [Campaign advisor] Chalmers says he plans to call the Prime Minister’s Office today, and invite Harper to Vancouver-Kingsway to discuss the issue with constituents.
Feb 19: (CKNW/AM980) Campaign mounts to unseat David Emerson
(VANCOUVER) The people of Vancouver-Kingsway have formed an official campaign against MP David Emerson’s defection to the Conservatives. The official campaign includes lawn signs, petitions and door-knocking to get their message to Ottawa.
Feb 20 (VANCOUVER SUN) Emerson apology fails to assuage protesters’ anger
VANCOUVER—Embattled Trade Minister David Emerson reacted to continuing criticism this weekend over his switch to the Conservatives by promising to send a letter of apology to all of his constituents in Vancouver Kingsway, and by acknowledging he was politically naive not to anticipate such an uproar.
“I’m still not much of a political person, as perhaps you can now tell,” the former Liberal MP told CTV‘s Question Period on Sunday. “I’m not the sharpest political knife in the drawer, I quite freely admit that.”
That’s far from correct. Mr. Emerson has operated at the highest non-elected levels of political power in BC for almost two decades. Twice a deputy minister in the Socred government of Bill Vander Zalm, Emerson has since held the top job in very political positions – BC Ferries, BC Trade Development Corp, Vancouver International Airport Authority – as well as being CEO of Canfor, Canada’s largest lumber producer. Emerson has been on the board of numerous crown corporations and public companies. Mr. Emerson has stick- handled many political issues in the past – the only reason he’s failing at it now is that Harper’s decision to appoint Emerson, and Emerson’s decision to accept, is indefensible.
Feb 19: (TORONTO STAR) From a funeral to a marriage in one day
In his brief career as a Liberal, David Emerson declared that he would be “Stephen Harper’s worst enemy.” So it has proved.
Harper’s cynicism, in breaking his campaign promises about ethics in his first decision as prime minister, and Emerson’s opportunism, in switching parties the day after he won election, are simply breathtaking.
Feb 19: (CNEWS) Liberal campaign workers join Emerson protest
Anya Fraser demonstrates outside of MP David Emerson’s constituency office in Vancouver, B.C. on Sunday. (CP/Vancouver Sun- Ian Smith)
Feb 19: (CTV) ‘I certainly have a clean conscience’: Emerson
The Vancouver-Kingsway riding where Emerson was elected has been a Liberal stronghold for more than a decade. In fact, the third-place Conservative candidate in the January election only received 18 per cent of the vote. The last time a Conservative won the seat was in the Diefenbaker landslide of 1958.
Feb 18: (WINNIPEG SUN) Voters pick party as well as candidate
In Canada’s parliamentary system, people run for office under the banner of a registered political party or they run as independents. The vast majority of candidates run under a party name and the party has to be registered with Elections Canada. Most importantly, the party name is right on the ballot. So when you vote for John Smith of the Libertarian Party, you are voting for both John Smith and for the Libertarian Party. It says so right on the ballot.
Feb 17: (GLOBE AND MAIL) Layton revives anti-defection bill
Last night more than 500 people filled an elementary school auditorium in east Vancouver, continuing the call for Mr. Emerson to resign.
Conservative supporter Mike Watkins said he has fought for years to have an accountable government.
“Someone has to be bold. This is about principle and ethics and Conservatives have been fighting to do that and I’m disappointed that we are going back on that,” said Mr. Watkins, who lives in Mr. Emerson’s riding. ”I’m here to convince other Conservatives to speak out because it’s the right thing to do.”
*Feb 17: (VANCOUVER COURIER) Emerson defection serves his big money constituents *
Emerson’s seamless and shameless move to a cabinet position demonstrates party ideology is as rubbery, and ultimately as dispensable, as political principle. His appalled reaction at the subsequent outcry also suggests his representation of Vancouver Kingsway was more image than reality.
Feb 17: (BRANDON SUN) Feel more cynical? You and me both
I’ve got to be honest Im feeling very stupid these days. The deal Stephen Harper and David Emerson made has really thrown me for a loop. Let me tell you why Im so down in the dumps.
Last month, I voted positively. While I was disgusted with the Martin Liberals and their haphazard approach to governance, I was also very open to Stephen Harpers remarks about accountability and integrity. Those remarks resonated with me and I think with many of you.
Harper promised accountability and went so far as to promise an accountability bill.nd so I voted for something and not necessarily against something else. Today, thanks to the complete lack of integrity shown by Conservative Stephen Harper and Liberal/Conservative David Emerson, I feel like someone made a fool of me.
Feb 12: (CANWEST) Angry protesters fail to sway Emerson
People jammed the auditorium, and there was a pressing overflow crowd throughout the two-hour rally. Participants lined up to sign an NDP-sponsored petition calling on MPs who cross the floor to quit and face a byelection.
Mike Watkins said Tories in the riding are concerned with Emerson’s defection because of the ethical issues it raises. “They’re quite upset, but they’re in a position where they can’t vocalize their displeasure,” Watkins said.
Watkins said he was struck that voters supporting all parties came up to speak to him afterward. “I don’t think it was a rent-a-crowd,” he said. ”It was an honest expression of what’s going on in the riding.”