Garth Turner Speaks
I took notes during Garth Turner’s press conference held at the National Press Gallery today, as its highly unusual for a governing party, particularly one leading minority government, to expel a member from caucus. Here to the best of my ability are the key things said:
GT: I can’t tell you why this happened
Q: We heard about concerns over confidentiality
GT: http://garth.ca/ go and read it and make up your own mind.
GT: There are some questions that come to mind in light of what has happened. Why now. Why today? Why this week? I’ve been talking all along about the same things: an effective green plan, income splitting, views on tolerance, and my views that only elected officials should be in cabinet.
GT: Perhaps if you want to know why I’m out, see (CPC Director of Political Operations) Doug Findlay – talk to him.
GT: Have my comments from time to time crossed the line in terms of party direction? I’m not new here in Ottawa. I’ve been a MP, been a Cabinet Minister, and ran for the leadership of the former Progressive Conservative Party. I’m just a guy doing the same job in the past.
And I’m pretty surprised that not all conservative voices are being welcomed.
GT: Am I a bad conservative?
By my standard, no. I’ve been a conservative, a Tory, all my adult life. I believe in less govt, more rights for citizens.
What is proper role for MP in Ottawa? All MP’s need to answer to voters, to constituents, to the taxpayers first, to party leaders SECOND.
I have to listen to voices from all kinds of folks, and I think that is to me just smart politics.
What comes next? For taxpayers and citizens, don’t let Turner take eye off ball—I’m not the story. I’m a one-day story, the real story is about the Green Plan, the environment, the next budget. I’ll keep fighting for issues, environmental sustainability…
What’s next for me? Well, I don’t need to sit in caucus meetings any more. I’m going to go back to my riding and talk to them; to my constituents and to my riding association. I need to go and talk to people about what they want.
Am I upset? Of course I am.
Am I angry? No, life’s too short. This episode is not going to stop me from fighting for the right things.
Q: On confidentiality – the issue of caucus confidentiality had come up, from a couple of people.
GT: Nothing I have done or said is hidden from view, its all on the public record. Recently some colleagues expressed concerns; they gave examples, they discussed this with me and that seemed to be the end of it.
At the caucus meeting [where Turner’s fate was decided] they did not discuss caucus confidentiality.
The issue was my beliefs on policies.
There are no secrets. Everything I’ve said is on the public record.
I’ve not spoken to PM, he has not called me
Q: Another question about confidentiality
GT: The only thing was “the fact that I had mentioned in my blog, right after the Dawson College shooting, that we discussed gun control. I didn’t disclose what we discussed. I didn’t think the day after the Dawson shooting that it would be a big shock to anyone that we discussed gun control.”