If you’re in Western Canada, watch out, Liberal MP Garth Turner is bringing his “Lost Tory” tour near you.
Now, when Turner was a Conservative, many of his caucus colleagues resented it when he’d show up in their Western riding. They thought he was grand-standing (and stealing their thunder). For many Conservative MPs, Garth’s forays into other ridings contributed to their decision to kick him out of that caucus.
But the Liberals have a different view.
“Turner will be contributing to the Party and the Leaders' narrative on broken promises and policy missteps by the Conservatives and explaining the rationale for his decision to leave the Conservatives and join the Liberals,” wrote Nicolas Ruszkowski, Director of Communications for the Opposition Leader’s Office, in an e-mail reply to a query I had. “He's also helping by spending a significant portion of time in unheld ridings, and we welcome the initiative.”
Here’s the release from Turner’s office:
The lost Tory tour
Despite a cabinet shuffle and promises of new ideas, legions of Canadians who supported the notion of a new Conservative government are very disappointed.
Income taxes were raised. Income trusts taxed. Government spending bloated. Interest rates raised. Inflation rekindled. This is not what taxpayers expected of a Tory administration. It’s not what Garth Tuner expected. The former life-long Progressive Conservative, twice-elected Conservative MP and former minister and leadership candidate was summarily tossed out of Stephen Harper’s caucus almost a year ago. The career financial author and broadcaster is now a member of the federal Liberal caucus. His daily blog (garth.ca) has become a lightening rod of opinion for those Conservative voters who, like him, think Mr. Harper has lost his way.
In response to a flood of invitations, Garth Turner will be holding a series of public, Town Hall meetings across Western Canada next month. He will be speaking on ‘What every Investor and Homeowner needs to know.’
Town Halls will be held in the following sequence:
- Tuesday Sept 4 LaBroquiere, Manitoba
- Tuesday Sept 4 Winnipeg
- Wednesday Sept 5 Regina (2)
- Thursday Sept 6 Duncan, BC
- Thursday Sept 6 Victoria
- Saturday Sept 8 Vancouver
- Sunday Sept 9 Abbotsford
- Monday Sept 10 Kelowna (2)
- Tuesday Sept 11 Edmonton (2)
- Wednesday Sept 12 Red Deer
- Wednesday Sept 12 Calgary
- Thursday Sept 13 Lethbridge
“Conservative voters who expected Mr. Harper to govern without raising taxes, increasing spending or making life harder for investors, retired people or families are asking to be heard,” Turner says. “In each of the communities I am visiting, grassroots organizers have come together to stage these meetings. I’m eager to hear the people, and bring their voices to Ottawa, where they’ve been all but lost.”