Angry in the Great White North

The Halton launch of former Liberal MP Garth Turner's book, Sheeple: Caucus Confidential in Stephen Harper's Ottawa, is just over a month away.

I've already written about this upcoming book, pointing out that focusing entirely on Garth Turner's short time as a Conservative MP means ignoring two-thirds of his time as an MP since the 2006 election.  For most of this time, Garth Turner was a Liberal MP.  It was during this time that we witnessed all that juicy Liberal in-fighting, a struggle in which Garth Turner played such a key role, or so he says.   But it looks like we won't be learning much about that time.

Nevertheless, the date approaches, and the Halton Liberals are stepping up their promotion of the book launch.  According to the latest flyer, you cough up $100 and get an autographed copy of the book and a tax receipt for you political donation to the Liberals, that being the portion of the $100 that doesn't cover the cost of the book launch party and the cost of the book itself.

You can fax your pre-order to 416-913-2139, which happens to be the corporate fax number for AdvizeIT Consulting Services Inc.  AdvizeIT is not a political organization, but an IT consultancy firm that helps "clients achieve their business goals by providing competitive and practical solutions through the appropriate use of innovative technologies".  The company is owned by Steve Savage, who is also the president of the Liberal riding association in Halton and a big Garth Turner booster.  It was Steve Savage who wrote a letter praising Garth Turner as MP, and suggested that no one has emerged who can fill Garth Turner's shoes:

Most callers have been fully supportive of the Hon. Garth Turner and the work that he did. Garth was a good MP who delivered as promised. His town hall meetings and open communicative style made him a favourite in Halton and with Canadians from coast to coast. Other callers have shared concerns regarding who is best to represent the Liberals in Halton.

Now if Steve Savage wants to use his company, and presumably the time of his employees, to process Liberal Party paperwork, that's certainly his business.  As it is also his business to report the monetary value of this labour to Elections Canada as a form of donation to the Liberal Party.  But not from his firm.  Only individuals can make donations to political parties, so if anyone at AdvizeIT is processing this paperwork, they would have to declare their work on behalf of the Liberal Party as personal non-monetary donations.  If there are expenses that have to be absorbed by AdvizeIT as a corporate expense (perhaps the fax bill) then legally AdvizeIT, being a corporation, can't donate this to a political party, and the Liberal Party riding association would have to reimburse AdvizeIT for those costs, and bills and receipts for this being made available to Elections Canada.

But then these guys know all that.  Let's assume all the paperwork will be filed appropriately.

What is interesting is this focus on the past.  You look on the home page of the Halton Federal Liberal Association website, and there is no mention or picture of Michael Ignatieff.  It's all about Garth Turner, and how no one seems to be able to replace Garth Turner.

To be clear, I've walked through every page of the HFLA website, and Michael Ignatieff is not mentioned on any page.  Whatsoever.  Not even an oblique reference.  But on the home page, in big letters, we are greeted with news of the launch of "Garth's latest book".  The Halton Liberals are still about Garth Turner, and only Garth Turner, it seems.

Is this a focus on the past?  Or is Steve Savage laying the groundwork for the future, with Garth Turner once again carrying the Liberal Party banner in Halton?

What would Michael Ignatieff have to say about this?  Funnily enough, Michael Ignatieff has a perfect opportunity to say something this week.  Wednesday, to be exact.

That's because Michael Ignatieff is going to be addressing the Oakville Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. 

Is Michael Ignatieff going to have something to say about Garth Turner's recent and upcoming appearances with the Halton Liberals?  Is someone going to ask Ignatieff to comment on Garth Turner's upcoming book, given that some federal Liberals are using the book as a fundraising tool?  Has anyone in the Liberal Party read an advance copy?  Is Michael Ignatieff comfortable with the Halton Liberals leaning so heavily on Garth Turner still, instead of promoting a new candidate, especially given Garth Turner's well-documented infatuation with former Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion and the ill-fated Green Shift carbon tax?  Is Michael Ignatieff going to say anything to signal that he wants the Halton Liberals to move past Garth Turner?

Or am I going in the wrong direction here?  Is there a movement to bring Garth Turner back?

But it gets better.  By way of rumour, I hear that Garth Turner will be emerging from his survivalist bunker to make a return visit to the Ivy Arms in Milton this Wednesday night.  That's right.  The same day Michael Ignatieff is addressing the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, assuming this rumour is accurate.

Are the Liberals coordinating these appearances in order to launch more than Garth Turner's book?  A return of Garth Turner himself? 

Or is this shaping up to be a clash?

This could be a very interesting Wednesday.