Emerson's people: Will they stay or will they go?
From reader dmorris on the issue of David Emerson crossing the floor to join Stephen Harper's Conservatives and to enter cabinet as Minister of International Trade:
I've always wondered; when a pol crosses the floor, what happens to all the folks in the background who worked for the candidate before his/her election, ie the campaign manager? What about the riding office staff? Are they all miraculously converted to their boss' new faith, or fired and replaced by members of his new party?
Under the Parliamentary system, the fiction we maintain is that we vote for a particular person to be our member of parliament. Parties are created once the people show up in parliament and see who shares their concerns. As such, the staff could certainly stay with the MP. In practise, of course, most of us are philosophically aligned with a party. If the MP switches sides, there will be plenty of people who would resign.
However, this case might be different.
Given Emerson's business background in the lumber industry and his focus (and continued focus in the new cabinet) on one issue, the softwood lumber dispute, I think a fair number of people would stay, more than usual is this sort of situation. They are committed to solving this problem for BC's lumber producers, and staying with Emerson means they can continue their work. From their point of view, they aren't working for Stephen Harper, as such, but for the people of British Columbia, especially those whose livelihood is tied to softwood lumber. If Stephen Harper is willing to give David Emerson the ability to continue his work on this file, why leave?
Indeed, if the relationship with the United States thaws as a result of Stephen Harper becoming prime minister, the chances that this dispute might finally be resolved might have improved significantly. For people committed to solving this problem, Emerson's crossing the floor is a shock, but a happy one.
How many of Emerson's people cringed when Paul Martin played the anti-American card during the election? Each one thinking that none of this helps Emerson reach some sort of modus vivendi with the US. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Emerson crossed the floor. Maybe he realized that his efforts were being undercut by his own party.
I can think of worse reasons to cross the floor than to complete the work you have started, and to reach a goal you firmly believe is attainable and that would benefit the people you represent.
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Comments
Emerson just commented that his riding office staff are all non-partisan anyway.
His minister's office however was full of Liberal partisans.
Posted by: fjm at February 6, 2006 04:43 PM
Aw, Steve...you're going to strain yourself doing handsprings like this. Now Emerson has always been a closet CPCer? That's what you're suggesting.
Why not be morally consistent and tell it like it is. This is politics as usual. It's wrong and undemocratic, and that doesn't change because it's one of your guys doing it and Liberal voters were betrayed this time.
Posted by: Dr.Dawg at February 6, 2006 04:52 PM
Although I still feel that a by election should be held when a member crosses the floor, I think the constituents in this case will be more forgiving. Mr. Emerson will be a lot more productive in his position with the government rather than in opposition. This was the Prime Ministers reasoning today as well.
Posted by: Platty at February 6, 2006 04:54 PM
Oddly, the oath Ministers (and MPs) take is one of loyalty and service to the Queen, not to Stephen Harper nor to the Conservative Party.
Posted by: Paul O at February 6, 2006 04:57 PM
is that about swingers club?
Feel cheatted after so many high speaches.
Cancelling mambership and stopping the cheque.
Posted by: george at February 6, 2006 05:06 PM
One must wonder if Harper knew about this statement:
"I'm going to be Stephen Harper's worst enemy," he (Emerson after election win) warned. "We're going to stir the pot and you better believe we are going to make a heck of a lot of noise."
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/2006/01/24/1408892.html
I guess if Emerson could get the softwood lumber issue resolved, a lot of folks would be forgiving and in hindsight see it as a smart move. But Emerson needs to come clear about his statement.
Posted by: Mikofox at February 6, 2006 05:07 PM
"Mr. Emerson will be a lot more productive in his position with the government rather than in opposition. This was the Prime Ministers reasoning today as well."
Same was true for that "whore," Belinda Stronach, I guess. Only this time Harper is the whoremaster.
Posted by: Dr.Dawg at February 6, 2006 05:14 PM
This is politics as usual. Harper is not the fresh change we hoped for. Appointing a senator to cabinet is also bizarro. This is not what the west was hoping for.
Posted by: aa at February 6, 2006 05:15 PM
"Same was true for ... Belinda Stronach"
Uhh ... no.
The problem with Belinda's crossing was that it occured after the Government had lost the confidence of the House, but before an explicit confidence motion was voted by the House.
It was done for entirely partisan reasons.
Such is very clearly not the case with Emerson. If Martin hadn't created such a partisan atmosphere it might even have been possible for Harper to appoint Mr. Emerson to cabinet without sitting as a Conservative. Unfortunately, that would not have been possible given today's political realities.
Posted by: Paul O at February 6, 2006 05:26 PM
Continue the work he started, ya thats why he crossed and Belinda did it for Canada. You Tories are just the same as everyone else.
Posted by: Adam G at February 6, 2006 05:26 PM
I really wonder what the people of Emerson's riding think of all of this. They haven't elected a Tory to parliament since the 50s, and this riding was considered a Liberal/NDP battle, with the Tories in third, which is how it ended up. I'd imagine the 81% of voters who didn't vote Tory are pretty surprised to discover they'll be represented by a Tory for the first time in almost 50 years.
And appointing a Tory campaign co-chair to the Senate so you can put him in Cabinet? On the first day?!?! Wow. I'm not an aggitator for Senate reform, but if I'd been bitching about it for years I wouldn't appoint a political figure to the Senate on my first day as PM. And then put him in Cabinet. In Public Works. Gagliano's old stomping grounds. I swear, if you made this stuff up no one would believe you!
Meet the new boss.... same as the old boss...
Posted by: Lord Kitchener's Own at February 6, 2006 05:34 PM
Ahh,, The fog lifts,, Emmerson was the mole,,and Fortin was his contact,,, Its so clear now
Posted by: Ken at February 6, 2006 05:39 PM
Opps,, Fortier,,,me bad
Posted by: Ken at February 6, 2006 05:40 PM
I couldn't give a diddlers damn about Emerson leaving the Libreals but in no way should he or anyone else, who quits his/her party, be allowed to sit anywhere other than Independant.
This happened in Richmond B.C. when Chan was defeated by Joe Pesca.....(TURNCOAT) then Joe Turncoat walked over to the Libs. Turned this city on its ear with talk of not trusting any
politician.
Can't beleive Harper let this happen.
Thorouly discusted!
Posted by: capt_bob at February 6, 2006 06:02 PM
Oddly, the oath Ministers (and MPs) take is one of loyalty and service to the Queen, not to Stephen Harper nor to the Conservative Party.
There is nothing odd about it. A minister is signing up to be a member of the Queen's government. Someone who governs for the benifight of all Canadians, not just the ones who voted for the government... thats how its supposed to work anyhow.
Posted by: Curtis at February 6, 2006 06:02 PM
Again, I support the best person for the job in any cabinet position, regardless of party affiliation. In the US, it's fairly common.
In the case of Emerson, everything I have read about him indicates that he will be very well suited for his cabinet post. The softwood lumber dispute is a critical issue for BC & much of Canada. The previous governments have made almost no progress. If Emerson gets results in that, I'll forever praise Harper for his brilliant manouvering. If Emerson flops on it, meh, Harper's the whoremaster. :)
I hope that Emerson remains a Liberal MP howerver. I find floor crossing distasteful. Brison I understood. Stronach sold herself for temporary power, and seemed very self serving when she did it. In the next election, if Emerson feels he is best represented by the Conservatives, then he can seek their nomination in the riding.
Posted by: Andrew at February 6, 2006 06:12 PM
What would be truly frightful would be a situation where any individual MP could not cross the floor. We have too much "party" control now. The leader of the Liberal party in particular has almost life and death political control over his MPs. In a true democracy elected members of Parliment must be able to side with whomever they so choose. The only problem I had with Belinda's crossing is that it was apparent that the Liberals were offering cabinet posts and ambassadorships as personal inducements to get the needed votes to stay in power.
Posted by: Joe at February 6, 2006 07:21 PM
Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
Speech To The Electors Of Bristol
Excerpt:
Parliament is not a congress of ambassadors from different and hostile interests, which interests each must maintain, as an agent and advocate, against other agents and advocates; Parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest—that of the whole—where not local purposes, not local prejudices, ought to guide, but the general good, resulting from the general reason of the whole. You choose a member, indeed; but when you have chosen him, he is not member of Bristol, but he is a member of Parliament. If the local constituent should have an interest, or should form an hasty opinion evidently opposite to the real good of the rest of the community, the member for that place ought to be as far as any other from any endeavour to give it effect. I beg pardon for saying so much on this subject; I have been unwillingly drawn into it; but I shall ever use a respectable frankness of communication with you. Your faithful friend, your devoted servant, I shall be to the end of my life: a flatterer you do not wish for. On this point of instructions, however, I think it scarcely possible we ever can have any sort of difference. Perhaps I may give you too much, rather than too little trouble.
Posted by: maz2 at February 6, 2006 07:38 PM
Does he really need to sit as a minister to complete his work? Could he not have been a consultant to work with an elected CPC Trade minister?
If the work he had done was important to his decision to cross the floor, he could have sited this to his constituants, stepped down or called a by-election and sat as a CPC minister. It would have improved the optics of this situation.
I personally DO NOT condone this type of behaviour regardless of political stripe.
The CPC have lost credibility in my eyes and to many Canadians.
Posted by: Jan Schaafsma at February 6, 2006 08:50 PM
Stephen likes to get up front with controversial moves. Remember putting same sex marriage out on the first day of the campaign. Consider today the first day of the next campaign. Keeping friends close and enemies closer. Stephen has been making deals for a long time.
Emmerson knows where skeletons are buried. He also sees the real mess the Liberal Party is in, the mess nobody is willing to openly talk about, the mess nobody wants to lead. He may be the first of several as Liberal move to NDP and Conservative opportunities.
Quebecers are deeply humiliated by ADSCAM. A scandal developed by Liberals at Public Works. Who better than a Conservative Quebecer to lead the cleanup?
Belinda jumped to the Liberals at a time when they desparately needed her vote to stay alive. It was crass opportunism by both her and Martin. Stephen does not need David Emmerson to save the day; parliament will be fighting to avoid another election in the near term. This move is strategic, and is aimed two years down the road, when the real majority is realized.
Posted by: john at February 6, 2006 10:03 PM
Difference between Belinda and David - he is not just a pretty face with a rich Daddy. He has become well known by successes he has had in the past and is, I believe, fairly well to do on his his own. Yes, Stephen Harper brought up Same Sex Marriage on the first day, but don't forget Paul Martin brought it up on the last day - when several Opposition members were terminally ill, some gone home for the week end because the vote was supposed to be on Monday. Then rushed around and got enough NDP to support it. This was passed which affeted perhaps 1/4 of 1% of Canadians, but bills were left on the table, which affected all Canadians - such as health, justice. and financial. kmc British Columbia
Posted by: Kay at February 6, 2006 11:04 PM
Mikofox; Harper said last week that he doesn't take what Layton said and did during the election, personally. He said he was playing to win and he understands that. I'm sure it is likewise with many other adversaries. To most of these guys it's just a job. Sometimes it's heated personal etc. but in the end they all have a lot in common, are coached NOT to take things personally and some actually thrive in the enviroment. At the end of the day they congratulate each other on their good show and off they go at our expense.
For those of you huffing and puffing about hypocrisy ask yourselves what party is 100% ethical all the way. Now who are you going to vote for next election? Stay home? Or get over it, roll up your sleeves and get something done? I'd say the Liberals set precedence here.
Posted by: Cheri at February 6, 2006 11:30 PM
Hilarious. Paul Wells is taking nominations for an award: "accepting nominations for the first SDA Award, for the most comically abject refusal to criticize Harper for behaviour that was so recently held up as proof of Martin's moral vacuity. The SDA Award applauds blind partisanship at its most absurd."
Steve, I think you just won.
Posted by: Mark at February 6, 2006 11:31 PM
There's no question that it's a major coup to have a star candidate feel more comfortable in another party and leave his own. As his first loyalty is to Canada and his work of dealing with the soft wood lumber, he's done the right thing.
Would I say the same thing if a Conservative left for the Liberals, of bloody course not. We just won that one, I am a Conservative and I'm behind Stephen totally for the foresight to arrange his cabinet as he has.
Posted by: Pat at February 7, 2006 12:15 AM
Emerson is the best choice to represent the needs of BC at the present time. Harper needs competence at this time of transition in Canada's political system.
To address the 'democracy issue' regarding this (and this is important re governance legitimacy) Harper-Emerson need to NOW set the time for a by-election in Emerson's riding to re-elect Emerson (hopefully).
Setting a future date now will settle the matter. Setting the by-election date a year or two hence, will ensure that Emerson has a chance to prove by performance why he should be elected once again under a new banner.
Posted by: brock at February 7, 2006 12:40 AM
After giving it a bit of thought, I've realised that I am falling into the "Partisan Trap".
What does it matter who is sitting in the Ministers seat provided they are able to perform the duties of the position? As long as the member isn't whipped into voting for the party as opposed to the direction his constituents direction, the nametag they wear doesn't make a difference.
I still think it would have been prudent of Mr. Emerson to consult his constituency first, but if he is allowed to vote on social issues of conscience the way his riding directs he is still representing them fairly.
We will see how serious the CPC was about "free votes" and find out if this coes back to haunt them later.
We will all be watching very closely.
Posted by: Jan Schaafsma at February 7, 2006 12:49 AM
What a brilliant morphing to wiser reasoning in this thread compared to the previous unthinking reationary string of comments.
Reading from John 10:03 through Kay, Cheri and others this is the more correct realization by far. I*m feeling much relieved now. TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at February 7, 2006 02:23 AM
While I disagree with what Harper did regarding Emerson I know he will come out as the winner in about 18 months which is what this cabinet was designed to do.
In politics, you have to think a few steps ahead. First, he did not break any laws - just stepped back on his principle in these 2 cases – Fortier and Emerson. Second, when Emerson breaks the softwood impasse this will, hopefully, make Vancouver all blue and produce increased seats in Quebec and Ontario. Now was not the time to change International Trade Ministers for these reasons.
I still trust Mr. Harper’s judgement even though I don’t have all the facts.
Posted by: Fiumara at February 7, 2006 04:19 AM
Crossing the floor is a time honoured tradition and shouldn't be restricted or regulated. To do so, would only give more power to the party leaderships and whips. Who should have their power restrained whenever possible. Often it seems that MPs get turned around, instead of representing us in Ottawa, the return to promote the views of the government to us.
If we want a freer, more democratic parliament, we have to expect more people will cross the floor.
Posted by: Curtis at February 8, 2006 06:07 PM
Toss your rant on Emerson's floor crossing at http://emersonissue.com
This is a new exercise in our Canadian democracy. Don't miss it.
Posted by: Keyvan at February 18, 2006 05:01 AM
Toss your rant on Emerson's floor crossing at http://emersonissue.com
This is a new exercise in our Canadian democracy. Don't miss it.
Posted by: Keyvan at February 18, 2006 05:01 AM
 
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