Conservatives Suspend Outspoken MP Garth Turner

Take an outspoken politician who isn’t afraid to criticize his own party or its leader and you’ll eventually wind up with an explosion.

It happened in Ottawa Wednesday, when maverick MP Garth Turner was officially suspended from the federal Conservative caucus. The Halton area politician has frequently been critical of Stephen Harper, who has forbidden party members from talking government policy with the press.

House leader Rahim Jaffer claims it was Turner’s tendency to violate that edict that led the Ontario wing of the party to recommend his suspension. He called the vote ‘unanimous’ and indicated it was a long time coming.

“The theme of confidentiality was not being respected in their opinion and it restricted the ability for members to operate in a confidential way,” he explains.

Turner remains stoic and defiant in the face of his banishment.

“Of course I’m upset,” he concedes. “It’s always upsetting when you lose your family. Am I angry? No. Life’s too short.”

The Prime Minister’s office has denied any involvement in the decision.

Turner has criticized the government often on his weblog and has taken issue with his colleagues over a number of different topics.

He was critical when Harper chose former Liberal David Emerson for his cabinet, arguing it smacked of the Belinda Stronach party switch that so angered fellow Tories.

And he doesn’t like his party’s stance on the environment, calling the Conservative measures to fight climate change “half measures”,  “junk science” and “a sell-out to the tar sands.”

He’s also opposed the Tories on their tax credit plan.

But he remains stoic in the face of his very public censure.

“I believe all MPs need to answer to the voters first, to the constituents, to the taxpayers,” he maintains. “That’s who we work for. And we answer to our party leaders and our parties themselves second.”

The Liberals aren’t surprised by the move.

“One thing we’ve seen about this government and this prime minister is tremendous reluctance to accept criticism,” accuses interim Grit boss Bill Graham. But he doesn’t intend to tempt Turner with an offer to cross the floor and join the other side.

What do the people in his riding think?

“I’m not surprised really,” comments Halton voter Tom Watson dryly. “No, no surprise.  He’s a tough character.”

But others are angry that the man and the party they voted for have been forced to part ways without their permission. “I think it’s a bad reflection really on the Conservatives,” fumes Keith MacKay. “They don’t have a lot of people in Ontario, and he was a very strong supporter, well liked and respected.”

Turner was prepared for the coming blast, having already been forced to sit in the backbenches in the House of Commons. He’ll now work as an independent, although there’s a chance he could one day get back into his party’s good graces.

“After today I’m expecting the Whip will be assigning me a renovated washroom somewhere in a forgotten corner of a vermin-infested dank basement in Ottawa,” he wrote in one blog entry. “That should go well with my seat in the House of Commons that will be visible only during lunar eclipses.”

Here’s what Turner wrote on his blog Wednesday, in response to his ousting:

“Well, this has turned out to be one interesting day. This blog has been melted down a few times over the last couple of hours with Canadians logging on because, I would presume, they’d like to see why it is I have been removed from the Conservative bosom.

Well, knock yourself out. All my words are here. Judge for yourself.

I have said here many times, and consistently since I was elected this last time, that I work for the voters – the people, the taxpayers. After that I heed my party and the political establishment. All are important, of course, but the people come first.

And people, seems to me, want political leaders and MPs who look at every opinion, chew over ever idea, kick every notion, and then decide what’s best. The older I get and the mose people I run into, the more I understand this is not a black-and-white world. Despite the yelling in Question Period. Despite the events of today in the caucus room.

So, being kicked out of the Conservative Party is unfortunate, and I’ll be going back to my riding soon to explain things to those voters who wanted a Tory to represent them. But no party – in fact, none of us – has a lock on perfection. The irony is that I’ve been a Conservative longer than most people who call themselves that these days, and my beliefs have not changed. I did not leave my party, or my convictions, at the caucus room door.

Now, I’ll be the best MP I can. Count on it.”