Citizens Against Emerson, Zealots for Democracy

Quoted in a recent CanWest article:

I understand that there are people out there that are disappointed, but I also know that when I talk directly to people in the riding, and everyone I meet on the street, is saying, ‘please hang in there because we think you did the right thing. David Emerson, Vancouver Kingsway MP

That’s funny. Really. But it’s not true.

Yesterday, Emerson’s constituency staff responded to a question posed by one of my new-found colleagues – a regular voting citizen, not a partisan ‘zealot’. The entire exchange was captured on tape by more than one television network.

Manuel asked ”When was the last time Mr. Emerson was in this office?”

Staff replied ”Oh, not since some time before the election.”

Manuel then asked ”Has Mr. Emerson spoken to any of his constituents since [he crossed the floor]?”

Staff replied ”No. No one.”

Imagine that.

Here in the riding that exchange surprises no one. While Emerson, a tourist in these parts, might get a hearty back-slap from business-oriented pragmatists, he won’t be congratulated or admired by anyone here in the riding who in their better judgement understand that ‘pragmatism’ often is used as an excuse for doing the wrong thing.

Lets take a peek at what the people who matter most, the citizens of Vancouver Kingsway, are up to.

Yesterday evening a sizable group of riding residents gathered together to plan one of many next steps in our campaign to a) fully hold Emerson and Harper to account for their actions and b) work for improvements to our democracy, including raising public awareness of how fragile democracy is, if taken for granted by its citizens.

These are not party zealots with an axe to grind or an alternative candidate to elect. These are Canadian citizens who are outraged at what Emerson did and Harper enabled, the very day after the election. These are regular people who before this effort largely did not know one another. A number had hand-crafted protest signs and were independently marching up and down main streets in the riding and eventually ran into one another, compared stories, and started working together.

At the meeting? A banker. A graduate student. A Korean War Veteran. A property manager. A renovation contractor. A classical musician. An IT consultant. A couple of retirees. Three operators of small businesses. A translation service provider. Riding residents. Canadian citizens. Family people. These were not political party operatives with other motives.

Thus a movement has been born in this riding, and no amount of spin by undisclosed private backers (one of the news networks reported yesterday that Emerson’s apology letter and distribution was privately funded, not distributed at taxpayer expense by parliamentary privilege) will stop this movement, for we not only have the light of scrutiny on our side—we are very public, wide open—but more importantly we are on the right side of the issue.

People across the City of Vancouver have expressed both a visceral reaction to what has happened but also have shown an understanding of the issue at many different levels.

We will raise the understanding of all, before we are through.

David Emerson: Media Watch

Media Highlights for Thursday March 2 2006 – David Emerson

Mar 2 (Murray Dobbin, The Georgia Straight) Emerson not at B.C.’s service

The end justifies the means: that’s the “new” ethics of the Stephen Harper government, and David Emerson’s defection fits the mould perfectly. The only excuse that Harper can come up with is that former Canfor Corp. CEO Emerson will be “good for B.C.”. Never mind the continued anger over Emerson’s disdainful response and Harper’s arrogance: just what is the evidence that Emerson will be good for B.C.?

Mar 2 (Editorial, The Richmond Review) This watchdog won’t be leashed

In an age where crossing the floor for one’s personal political aspirations has become commonplace (Vancouver-Kingsway MP David Emerson, take note), [Delta-East Richmond Conservative MP John] Cummins has stood out as a shining example of what politicians should endeavour to be.

Mar 2 (Matthew Burrows, The Georgia Straight) Legal action gets mixed reviews

Cameron Ward told the Straight there are at least three potential legal issues arising from former Liberal Emerson’s defection to the Conservatives two weeks after his January 23 election victory. “He may have violated Section 482 (b) of the Canada Elections Act; he may have committed the tort or civil wrong of misrepresentation at common law; and, thirdly, his conduct may have violated the constitutional rights of the Liberal voters in Vancouver Kingsway as set out in Section 3 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

Ward was referring to three different legal avenues explored since Emerson’s decision to join the Conservative cabinet. Section 3 of the charter guarantees Canadian citizens “the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons”.

Mar 2 (Hugues Duguay, Letters, The Globe and Mail) The waiting game?

Longueuil, Que.—Re Emerson Plans To Run For Tories In Next Election (March 1): If the electors of Vancouver Kingsway want to be represented by a Liberal, I suggest they bide their time and keep electing David Emerson. The Liberals are bound to win an election at some point. Mr. Emerson will then most likely defect again, and will be greeted with open arms by the Liberals.

Humourous, possible, but not probable, and should the federal or provincial Liberals take on Mr. Emerson in the future, they deserve to lose, and will.