Angry in the Great White North

When Garth Turner decided to mock Dean del Mastro's vehicle, suggesting that driving an older model car in turn suggests old non-progressive thinking, Garth might have thought he was being witty.

He wasn't.

When Garth Turner decided to mock Dean del Mastro's job as a used car salesman, Garth might have thought he was being witty.

He wasn't.

Though I suspected as much, it turns out that this car has a great deal of meaning to the entire del Mastro family, and is a symbol of what makes Canada such a great country. And like all of us, del Mastro finds himself where he is today as a consequence of choices forced upon him by the vagaries of fate. In del Mastro's case, they were hard choices that represented personal sacrifice and dreams left by the wayside. Those are symbols of what makes a great Canadian and a great family man.

But Dean del Mastro can tell it better than me:

Well just when it seems that you can stoop no lower, the member from Halton goes one better. I find it remarkable that the very pension income splitting plan that Garth was lobbying for he no longer supports. While I choose to believe the testimony of David Dodge, the governor of the Bank of Canada on income trusts, Garth has decided to team up with the very individuals that were exploiting the lack of fairness in the tax system for their own benefit to the expense of the overwhelming majority of Canadian taxpayers. While this may gain him favor with the Leader of the Opposition and CAITI, hard working Canadians that expect tax fairness will ultimately have their say on this subject.

For the sake of clarity, the car that Garth has posted on his site is a 1973 Buick Lesabre. It was purchased new by my immigrant Grandfather nearly 35 years ago; he gave it to me just prior to his death. He washed it twice a week and was so proud that after more than 40 years of service to CP Rail that he could afford such a car having arrived in Canada poor from Italy.

With respect to my qualifications as a "Used Car Salesman", once again Garth demonstrates incredible ignorance. When I returned home from University in 1994, my father was dying with terminal cancer, I did what I could to earn a living in Peterborough. I wanted to be there to support my family despite that fact that my business education would have earned me more money elsewhere. The economy in Peterborough was not good in 1994, the NDP was in power provincially and the Liberals in Ottawa. The readers of this blog may find it interesting that my father had been a Liberal supporter, and volunteered on many of their campaigns as I did in 1993. From modest beginings, I built a company that I am proud of with my family. It continues to employ 20 people in my riding and donate to charities like the Canadian Cancer Society, Easter Seals, MS Super Cities Walk, the new Peterborough Hospital, the new Family YMCA and many, many more. I am not ashamed of where I come from, nor should the thousands and thousands of automotive professionals be that work long hours in an unforgiving business throughout Canada.

I have overcame a lot to be where I am, and I have not forgotten where I came from or whom it is that I was sent here to stand up for.

Dean Del Mastro M.P. – Peterborough

Recall Garth Turner's dismissive words:

Turns out my colleague is a used car salesguy in Peterborough, Ontario. His taste in transportation may explain his progressive approach to the nation’s finances.

Yes, it turns out del Mastro is a used car salesguy. And I think del Mastro's grandfather and father would be very proud of the member of parliament from Peterborough.

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