Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative government are off to a flying start.
Harper appointed his new cabinet Monday in Ottawa. Everyone knew it was coming, but what we didn't know was that Harper was in discussions with a B.C. Liberal MP to switch teams.
Enter David Emerson.
During the federal election campaign, Emerson, representing Vancouver Kingsway, promised voters that if he was re-elected, he would be Harper's "worst nightmare."
Guess the nightmare suddenly turned into a pleasant dream.
Emerson has now crossed the floor and defected to the Tories. His reward - a cabinet position as the new minister of international trade and minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Winter Olympics.
Voters in Emerson's riding are outraged. Can you blame them?
Emerson ran as a Liberal. His supporters were Liberal. They could have voted Conservative. They could have voted NDP, but they chose him. Now, Emerson turns his back on the party and joins the other team.
Emerson is upset this week because he's being criticized for the move. His children are also feeling the brunt of this. While we don't condone that (his children should be left out of this), is Emerson that naïve to think he could pull this off and everything would be hunky dory?
You also have to question Harper's decision here as well.
When Belinda Stronach crossed the floor to join the Liberals, the Tories went ballistic. Several MPs questioned her loyalty and values. One even went so far as to say she was prostituting herself.
But no such outrage this time. Tory MPs are calling Emerson a man of conviction for standing up for his moral values. So basically, if it helps our team, we're in favour of it, but when it doesn't, we attack the move. Is that correct Mr. Harper?
Harper dealt himself a credibility blow with this move. All through the election he promised to stand up for change. He promised to bring credibility back into government. How can you call this move credible? Harper should have asked Emerson to resign and get re-elected as a Conservative before being given his cabinet post.
With a minority government in place, a new election is not far off. The voters in Emerson's riding will get their chance to voice their feelings loud and clear.
