NDP demanding a probe on Emmerson case

[betsy]

They're citing the ruling of the Ethics Commission on the Grewal-Dosanghj affair. Something about luring a person to cross the floor with promise of personal gain or reward.

What can come out of this?

[cybercoma]

Is it luring if they walk into your office and say, "give me a job"?

[BubberMiley]

Harper said himself that he called Emerson first.

[tml12]

Harper said himself that he called Emerson first.

That's right Bubber.

Look, I voted Conservative and I want to see PM Harper remain in power.

But this whole thing has left me angry. I criticized Belinda and I'll criticize this. I am no hypocrite...but I wouldn't bring the gov't down over it...

[cybercoma]

If Harper called Emerson over, then that's not cool at all.

[tml12]

If Harper called Emerson over, then that's not cool at all.

I know...still hope this dies down soon...

[cybercoma]

There should be a rule that they have to call a by-election or sit as an independant. Or, anyone who changes parties cannot get a cabinet position until they've been re-elected....something....anything.

[sharkman]

This is the way the political game is played in Canada, and it was done by the rules. However, it was not done with the best judgement, they could have made this play 6 months after the election instead of 2 weeks. Personally, I don't see the benefit of one Liberal crossing the floor, it's not like it changed the balance of power or anything.

Liberals who want to cry foul over it should remember how pleased they were about Belinda crossing when it saved the government from a downfall.

[betsy]

Besides, people from Vancouver who knows about politics and trade all seem to applaud having Emmerson on board. They say right now people should just hold their noses on the stink and wait, for in the end they'll see the wisdom in Harper's decision.

This Emmerson crossing did not happen to bring a government down, unlike Belinda's. It happened for it will benefit Canada.

[Melanie_]

The people of Vancouver elected him based on lies and deceit. Read posts from Vancouver King if you think they are happy about the defection. And Belinda didn't cross to bring the government down, she crossed because she disagreed with Harper's right wing agenda.

[tml12]

The people of Vancouver elected him based on lies and deceit. Read posts from Vancouver King if you think they are happy about the defection. And Belinda didn't cross to bring the government down, she crossed because she disagreed with Harper's right wing agenda.

You know Melanie,

While I can't disagree...you must admit Belinda crossing when she did was VERY suspicious given a confidence vote was impending on the then-Liberal government,

[Melanie_]

OK, Belinda may have had some other motivations as well.....

[geoffrey]

The people of Vancouver elected him based on lies and deceit. Read posts from Vancouver King if you think they are happy about the defection. And Belinda didn't cross to bring the government down, she crossed because she disagreed with Harper's right wing agenda.

The business community and political community there have all supported it. I've seen numerous interview with these people.

The only ones that don't are his volunteers that got screwed and the general less-than-intelligent people (some call them the Molson drinkers, but I resent that) that can't see that having a cabinet minister is better than having a nobody.

If anyone should support this, its Vancouver.

[tml12]

"some call them the Molson drinkers, but I resent that."

Geoffrey...

Somehow I feel that was directed at me. I know I have spoofed Molson Canadian on this board many times based on the Joe Canadian anti-american commercials but it should be known...it should be known that I have Molson Dry in my house right now. Although (apparently) only available in Quebec...this beer is the best and I am a proud drinker of it...all politics aside...

[geoffrey]

"some call them the Molson drinkers, but I resent that."

Geoffrey...

Somehow I feel that was directed at me. I know I have spoofed Molson Canadian on this board many times based on the Joe Canadian anti-american commercials but it should be known...it should be known that I have Molson Dry in my house right now. Although (apparently) only available in Quebec...this beer is the best and I am a proud drinker of it...all politics aside...

Molson Dry is the reason why I don't go to Quebec anymore. Canadian is a better beer than Dry by far. On the Molson products, the best, we all must agree, its the great Rickards Red.

Though being from Alberta, I need to support the great work of the locals at Big Rock, if you non-Albertans can give this beer a try, I strongly recommend it. The best variety out there too, I highly recommend "Warthog" and their wheat beer Grasshopper. I'm assuming all Albertans have sampled the great work of Big Rock. (I do own shares in Big Rock I must admit ).

Anyways, back to the NDP. Probe all you want, nothing illegal happened. It's not a surpise that the NDP enjoys wasting our money as usual.

[justcrowing]

When we vote for an MP what exactly are we voting for? If it's the man or woman, then what are the voters of Vancouver-Kingsway complaining about? If they wanted Emerson to represent them in Ottawa, they’ve got him. He is their representative and, in the parliamentary tradition now too often forgotten, it's his duty to act and vote as he thinks best in their interest and in the national interest. He is not, or should not be, a delegate obliged to follow instructions from the voters back home.

He ran as a Liberal and, he says, would have been happy to serve in a new Liberal cabinet. But that option was not available. When the Conservatives won and Harper offered him a place in his cabinet, Emerson had to consider whether he could best serve his constituents by sitting on the Liberal opposition benches or crossing to sit on the Conservative government side. He decided he could do more for Vancouver-Kingsway, and Vancouver in general, if he were in the cabinet. He is almost certainly right.

So, again, why are the voters outraged? The answer is that they did not vote for Emerson so much as they voted for the Liberals. Many election studies have found that most people vote for party first and candidate second. Party is often a synonym for party leader, in this case Paul Martin. And leaders stand for values and policies.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_westell/20060210.html

[shoop]

I have heard that same general type of insult used in the past. (I think it was Blue-drinkers when I heard it.)

wtf? People are getting snotty over the type of beer they drink?

Generally comes from silver spoon socialists who never *really* had to work hard and wonder why everybody's parent's don't *help* them with their down payments on their *first* homes.

Come to think of it these people usually support the NDP ... coincedence?

the general less-than-intelligent people (some call them the Molson drinkers, but I resent that)

[Hicksey]

I have heard that same general type of insult used in the past. (I think it was Blue-drinkers when I heard it.)

wtf? People are getting snotty over the type of beer they drink?

Generally comes from silver spoon socialists who never *really* had to work hard and wonder why everybody's parent's don't *help* them with their down payments on their *first* homes.

Come to think of it these people usually support the NDP ... coincedence?

the general less-than-intelligent people (some call them the Molson drinkers, but I resent that)

I wonder ... the NDP are championing a new program that gives alcoholic homeless people more beer/wine ...

So shoop, you are probably right on this one.

[Vancouver King]

When we vote for an MP what exactly are we voting for? If it's the man or woman, then what are the voters of Vancouver-Kingsway complaining about? If they wanted Emerson to represent them in Ottawa, they’ve got him. He is their representative and, in the parliamentary tradition now too often forgotten, it's his duty to act and vote as he thinks best in their interest and in the national interest. He is not, or should not be, a delegate obliged to follow instructions from the voters back home.

He ran as a Liberal and, he says, would have been happy to serve in a new Liberal cabinet. But that option was not available. When the Conservatives won and Harper offered him a place in his cabinet, Emerson had to consider whether he could best serve his constituents by sitting on the Liberal opposition benches or crossing to sit on the Conservative government side. He decided he could do more for Vancouver-Kingsway, and Vancouver in general, if he were in the cabinet. He is almost certainly right.

So, again, why are the voters outraged? The answer is that they did not vote for Emerson so much as they voted for the Liberals. Many election studies have found that most people vote for party first and candidate second. Party is often a synonym for party leader, in this case Paul Martin. And leaders stand for values and policies.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_westell/20060210.html

Global TV (BCTV) - no friend of West Coast lefties - reported results of a phone poll conducted by Mustel Group for CTV involving voters in Vancouver Kingsway. Responses were taken over the last 48 hours from 202 respondents and the margin of error is approx. 7%.

Of all respondents, 42% voted Liberal, 24% NDP and 14% CPC. Of those that voted Liberal, 23% voted for the candidate, David Emerson, 62% voted for the party. To the question, "Would you vote for David Emerson if ran as a Conservative candidate?", the result was an astonishing 11% yes and 76% no.

Apparently the Vancouver Board of Trade endorsement of Emerson's move is, to put it mildly, at odds with the voters in the riding.

[Vancouver King]

When we vote for an MP what exactly are we voting for? If it's the man or woman, then what are the voters of Vancouver-Kingsway complaining about? If they wanted Emerson to represent them in Ottawa, they’ve got him. He is their representative and, in the parliamentary tradition now too often forgotten, it's his duty to act and vote as he thinks best in their interest and in the national interest. He is not, or should not be, a delegate obliged to follow instructions from the voters back home.

He ran as a Liberal and, he says, would have been happy to serve in a new Liberal cabinet. But that option was not available. When the Conservatives won and Harper offered him a place in his cabinet, Emerson had to consider whether he could best serve his constituents by sitting on the Liberal opposition benches or crossing to sit on the Conservative government side. He decided he could do more for Vancouver-Kingsway, and Vancouver in general, if he were in the cabinet. He is almost certainly right.

So, again, why are the voters outraged? The answer is that they did not vote for Emerson so much as they voted for the Liberals. Many election studies have found that most people vote for party first and candidate second. Party is often a synonym for party leader, in this case Paul Martin. And leaders stand for values and policies.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_westell/20060210.html

Global TV (BCTV) - no friend of West Coast lefties - reported results of a phone poll conducted by Mustel Group for CTV involving voters in Vancouver Kingsway. Responses were taken over the last 48 hours from 202 respondents and the margin of error is approx. 7%.

Of all respondents, 42% voted Liberal, 24% NDP and 14% CPC. Of those that voted Liberal, 23% voted for the candidate, David Emerson, 62% voted for the party. To the question, "Would you vote for David Emerson if he ran as a Conservative candidate?", the result was an astonishing 11% yes and 76% no.

Apparently the Vancouver Board of Trade endorsement of Emerson's move is, to put it mildly, at odds with the voters in the riding.

[JerrySeinfeld]

When we vote for an MP what exactly are we voting for? If it's the man or woman, then what are the voters of Vancouver-Kingsway complaining about? If they wanted Emerson to represent them in Ottawa, they’ve got him. He is their representative and, in the parliamentary tradition now too often forgotten, it's his duty to act and vote as he thinks best in their interest and in the national interest. He is not, or should not be, a delegate obliged to follow instructions from the voters back home.

He ran as a Liberal and, he says, would have been happy to serve in a new Liberal cabinet. But that option was not available. When the Conservatives won and Harper offered him a place in his cabinet, Emerson had to consider whether he could best serve his constituents by sitting on the Liberal opposition benches or crossing to sit on the Conservative government side. He decided he could do more for Vancouver-Kingsway, and Vancouver in general, if he were in the cabinet. He is almost certainly right.

So, again, why are the voters outraged? The answer is that they did not vote for Emerson so much as they voted for the Liberals. Many election studies have found that most people vote for party first and candidate second. Party is often a synonym for party leader, in this case Paul Martin. And leaders stand for values and policies.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_westell/20060210.html

Global TV (BCTV) - no friend of West Coast lefties - reported results of a phone poll conducted by Mustel Group for CTV involving voters in Vancouver Kingsway. Responses were taken over the last 48 hours from 202 respondents and the margin of error is approx. 7%.

Of all respondents, 42% voted Liberal, 24% NDP and 14% CPC. Of those that voted Liberal, 23% voted for the candidate, David Emerson, 62% voted for the party. To the question, "Would you vote for David Emerson if he ran as a Conservative candidate?", the result was an astonishing 11% yes and 76% no.

Apparently the Vancouver Board of Trade endorsement of Emerson's move is, to put it mildly, at odds with the voters in the riding.

this is a classic. i am conservative and have no doubt that the "conservative agenda" is not something that reflects can-kingsway beliefs (i live in van centre). that said, it will be interesting to see 2 things:

1. many voters - including van kings may be surprised that the harper agenda is not what it was touted in lib ads

2. van-kings voters may be happy to have a voice in government, especially one that curreys favour in softwood lumber disputes.

if these two things happen, we may be surprised at the result when emerson faces voters in the next election

[Vancouver King]

I am beginning to believe the chances of Emerson resigning his seat are increasing day by day. CTV Newsnet just reported that web recall sites cannot handle the traffic. Nothing indicates opposition is losing steam. There will be considerable fallout if he decides he's had enough.

Perhaps Emerson and Harper chose the wrong flock of sheep to disenfranchise.

[Concerned]

"some call them the Molson drinkers, but I resent that."

Geoffrey...

Somehow I feel that was directed at me. I know I have spoofed Molson Canadian on this board many times based on the Joe Canadian anti-american commercials but it should be known...it should be known that I have Molson Dry in my house right now. Although (apparently) only available in Quebec...this beer is the best and I am a proud drinker of it...all politics aside...

Yuuuuuck. I suppose you drink Budweiser too (being the pro-American that you are ) ??? BELCH.

Try Granville Island Brew..... a great BC beer.

[BigGunner]

Anyways, back to the NDP. Probe all you want, nothing illegal happened. It's not a surpise that the NDP enjoys wasting our money as usual.

HAHAHA...how laughable. Accusing the NDP of wasting federal dollars when it was the Liberals that were defeated for their ill-fated gun registry, HRDC mess, AdScam.

Sometimes, accountability demands money...and its refreshing to see at least the NDP haven't forgotten the promise to clean up government ethics that the liberals and conservatives seem to now ignore...

Bring on the investigation.

[willy]

Vancouver King, you mentioned the poll and a plus minus. You did see the same story I did. Much of the sample questions showed a response of 62 participants. This is a focus group not a poll. Stick to the facts, this was not a popular move and amateur spin is unbecoming. A point of notice Mustel is an NDP poling firm.