Most Canadians to Emerson: RESIGN
On Sunday, along with 50 or so others, my children and I participated in a protest rally in front of David Emerson’s constituency office (2148 Kingsway – see you this Sunday at 2pm). The protest generated a tremendous response, which is unsurprising, given the extremely negative reaction from the public in the riding of Vancouver Kingsway. Drivers along Kingsway even stopped and signed petitions; a few joined the volunteer roster. Well done!
I spoke with organizers from both the Liberal and New Democratic parties – there appears to be a cross-partisan move afoot to unite efforts in opposition to what Emerson did and what Harper made possible. Count me in.
Just before heading out to the rally I managed to have my say on CBC‘s Cross Country Checkup where I reiterated my challenge to other Conservatives to speak out against Stephen Harper’s violation of 4 party policies, 1 campaign promise, and over a decade of conservative policy development and thought. A complete archive of the show is available from the CBC as MP3 audio.
One caller noted that Emerson had support from the BC business community. True, but beside the point. There isn’t a mythical “Riding of BC Business Community” on Election Canada’s list! While land developer and 2010 Olympic Committee Chair Jack Poole, Sam Sullivan – Mayor of Vancouver (a one-time rumoured candidate for the Conservative Party), and the heads of the Vancouver Board of Trade and BC Chamber of Commerce have voiced their support for David Emerson, none of them actually live in the riding.
Vancouver Kingsway residents are not alone on this issue – independent polls continue to demonstrate broad empathy from Canadians across the country:
Most Canadians want byelection, poll
62% in Survey: David Emerson should quit and go to the polls in Vancouver-KingswayOTTAWA—A majority of Canadians believe David Emerson should “immediately resign” his Vancouver-Kingsway seat and run under the Tory banner in a by-election, a new opinion poll suggests.
Sixty-two per cent of Canadians polled said the former Liberal industry minister—who defected two weeks ago to the Conservatives to become international trade minister—should submit his political future to the will of the votes once again.
The survey, conducted last week for CanWest News Service and Global News, polled 1,000 Canadians and is considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The sentiment that Emerson should resign and face a by-election was highest in Atlantic Canada and Quebec where, respectively, 70 and 65 per cent of those polled felt he should submit to the judgment of the voters.
Only 55 per cent of those surveyed in Alberta felt it was necessary that Emerson campaign again for his seat.
”It would appear to be more than a fly in the ointment or a flash in the pan,” John Wright, senior vice-president of Ipsos-Reid, said.
The Ipsos-Reid poll agrees with and builds upon the clear picture of sentiment here in the riding and in British Columbia. According to a poll of only Vancouver Kingsway residents, conducted by The Mustel Group—which incidentally had the most accurate BC polling results of any during the last election:
Of all respondents, 42% voted Liberal, 24% NDP and 14% CPC. Of those that voted Liberal, 23% voted for the candidate, David Emerson, 62% voted for the party. To the question, “Would you vote for David Emerson if ran as a Conservative candidate?”, the result was an astonishing 11% yes and 76% no.
The conclusion—that Emerson is less popular than his party—is in fact backed up with a pre-scandal poll as well. Just before the 2006 election campaign got underway, noted pollster Mustel Group conducted a survey of Vancouver Kingsway residents and discovered that David Emerson was in fact less popular within the riding than the Liberal party itself.
“Perhaps as further evidence of the relatively low profile of David Emerson amongst voters in his riding, 90% could not name a single accomplishment since being elected to the riding.” Mustel Group president Evi Mustel
Emerson’s former colleagues released the full details of a Mustel poll they had commissioned before the election to underscore the basic truth: Emerson was unelectable without his party’s full endorsement and backing. This certainly explains Emerson’s very partisan campaign style and rhetoric, as does the history of the riding which has generally sent either a NDP or Liberal MP to parliament. Only once – back in Diefenbaker’s days – has a Conservative represented Vancouver Kingsway.
As Liberal point-man in British Columbia, Emerson was frequently heard extolling voters to strategically vote Liberal to prevent Conservatives from gaining power. Emerson cited specific Liberal programs that would be scrapped under Conservative rule, such as the Liberal child-care plan. The flip-flop Liberal-Conservative also warned voters here that he’d never seen a right-wing government come to power without savaging social programs.
Without such fiery rhetoric, and his promises to uphold the Liberal platform and social programs (which are popular in this riding), Emerson would not have been elected; instead, NDP candidate and former riding MP Ian Waddell would be travelling to Ottawa on our behalf.
Now, as a Conservative cabinet minister, Emerson is required by Stephen Harper’s code of conduct rules to support all cabinet initiatives, including destroying programs that Emerson had sworn to protect while running as a Liberal.
What Harper enabled, and Emerson did, is tantamount to committing fraud.
Apologists for Stephen Harper and David Emerson continue to beat on the dead horse that somehow ignoring the voters in Vancouver Kingsway is good for the citizens of Vancouver Kingsway. Is it any wonder that voters don’t have trust in their politicians?
Our so-called leaders need to be reminded that the people are their bosses.
I reverentially look upon the people they are perfect Sovereign judges of all things without appeal. Edmund Burke
Stephen Harper and David Emerson: The people spoke during the election, yet you chose not to listen. The people continue to speak. How long will you insult the people of this riding, and the people of my party, by ignoring us? How long will you insult our country by ignoring basic principles of democracy that date back hundreds of years to the Magna Carta? There can be no taxation nor representation without consent of the people.
Mssrs. Harper and Emerson, the people have spoken and they continue to speak. We have not granted you our consent; the criticism we have for your actions is not superficial; we, not the BC business community, are the people who matter most. This issue will continue to dog your tenure, however brief, day after day after day, until you both do the right thing.
Oh Canada, the people of Vancouver Kingsway are standing guard for thee.