Joe Comuzzi, who has been representing the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario as a Liberal since 1988, was expelled from his caucus after he said he would vote in favour of the Conservative budget tabled Monday. His leader, Stephane Dion, says budget votes, like Throne Speech votes, are confidence votes and, as a result, the caucus must vote as a group.
This morning, Comuzzi released this statement:
I just want to be sure that the people are clear on my position on the budget. I have had the opportunity to represent my constituents for the past 18 years and over that time we have arrived at a point where our region is in a state of serious transition. This budget contains funds and addresses some of the critical issues we face today. For example the Molecular Medicine Research initiative is essential to this transition. The municipal government, the provincial government and private sector partners are all at the table with committed money, yet the Liberal Party expects me to be critical of a budget that can complete the funding formulae that would launch a facility that has huge economic and employment implications.
I have no desire to go against the Liberal Party however this is the right thing for the people of my riding. They are who have entrusted me to represent them for the last 18 years.
Furthermore, if you study the budget and it's implications there are opportunities for the forest industry to look at themselves in new ways. Research and development and knowledge – based opportunities in the forestry sector are clearly eligible to be part of it. The 195 million dollars contained in the budget over the next two years is designated to put knowledge to work for the social and economic benefit of Canadians. Why aren't we developing new and innovative manufactured forest products, new equipment design and silviculture procedures or linking pharmaceutical research to the Boreal Forest? The representatives of the labour and the forest industries need to redefine their industry, the old way of doing things has clearly changed. I love Canada and my region and if doing the right thing has consequences, I must accept them. However I will never, never put my gain in front of representing my constituents.