Garth to go Green?

[August1991]

Early Sunday, National Newswatch received information that suggested MP Garth Turner will announce that he has decided to officially join the Green Party ....... ......making Canadian political history by becoming Canada's first Green MP. Our source, under the condition of anonymity, indicated the announcement will come shortly - as early as this week.....

Green Party leader Elizabeth May did not respond to our requests for comment on this developing story. However, a second source close to the Greens indicated the wheels are in motion for Garth to turn over a Green leaf....

Link

[Canuck E Stan]

And the people in his riding are happy with this?

[August1991]

The straw poll from his website:

And then we voted. A few minutes later, this was the tally on the tiny little perfect blackboard with the bright yellow feet:

Stay Independent - 19

Go Liberal - zero

Go Green - 18

Negotiate with CPC - 4

Resign now - zero

Don’t know yet- 6

Elizabeth May is the type to roll out the red carpet.

[Canuck E Stan]

Elizabeth May is the type to roll out the red carpet.

When she loses her try for a seat in London, Garth could then be King Green

Don't know how he can accept the Greens economic agenda, it's so far out there.

That could turn off his riding.

[watching&waiting]

There are very few MP's that have a following where they really support the man over the party he represents. I do not see Grth Turner being one of them. If he goes green, he will definitely be out come next election.

[Canadian Blue]

Is he definitely joining the Green Party, or is this just a rumour.

[betsy]

Garth is apparently known for being a "maverick." Maybe the Liberals and the NDP will have second thoughts about welcoming him in. He could mean t-r-o-u-b-l-e.

Green seems desperate enough...anyway, they hardly have anything to lose.

[B. Max]

He could be the Garth Vader of the evil watermelon empire.

[Michael Hardner]

Don't know how he can accept the Greens economic agenda, it's so far out there.

That could turn off his riding.

Wasn't the former leader a former Ontario PC ?

[Canuck E Stan]

He could be the Garth Vader of the evil watermelon empire.

He could be, but more likely to be Garth "the babbling" Brooks of the Greens.

Just a plain ole Ontario country boy who loves singing his own tunes.

[Charles Anthony]

Don't know how he can accept the Greens economic agenda, it's so far out there.

That could turn off his riding.

Actually, maybe quite the contrary. Here is a selection from their website:

We can build a sustainable fiscal framework

Fair Taxes

Green Party MPs will work to:

* Reduce taxes for Canadians earning less than $45,000 per year.

http://www.greenparty.ca/fair_taxes.html

This is the first thing on their list. They may have other confusing aspects to their economic platform but no more confusing than other parties. Anybody who puts reduce taxes for such a high income level deserves praise -- in my book.

Aug91 will argue for reduced government spending first before reduced taxes, fine. I would rather my taxes be reduced. I do not give a damn about anybody else finances and I doubt anybody gives a damn about mine. Garth Turner's constituents may look at this first thing on the Green Party's list (because it is not buried anywhere) and be impressed. The rest of their platform may be ignored as it is incomprehensible.

Between staying independent and joining the Green Party, I personally think he is better off as part of the Green Party myself. Politics is just a different form of show-business and you need all of the friends you can get. He may be a milestone in history by making the Green Party platform more noticeable.

Even if you think the Green Party platform is extremely naive, that is fine. [Their talk of "fair-trade" -- hell, anybody's talk of "fair-trade"! -- is vacuous.] In all walks of life, extremists make moderates feel more at ease.

[gc1765]

Looks like it's not gonna happen....

Link

[newbie]

deleted

[fellowtraveller]

Garth has endless ambition, sees himself as a national leader and was crushed when he was not selected for a Cabinet post. I suspect he has also figured out he won't ever be an Important Guy in the CPC.

So, he can be an Important Guy for a little while in the Greens.

Makes sense from his worldview.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Garth has endless ambition, sees himself as a national leader and was crushed when he was not selected for a Cabinet post. I suspect he has also figured out he won't ever be an Important Guy in the CPC.

Maybe he should have shut his f*cking mouth and been a team player after not being named to cabinet instead of causing a stink and giving the PM a black eye.

Part of why he was left out of cabinet was his reputation for not being a team player. It was a critical time for him after Harper named his first cabinet. Garth failed the test big time. There was no way he was ever making it into a Harper cabinet after that ouburst.

[MightyAC]

Garth has endless ambition, sees himself as a national leader and was crushed when he was not selected for a Cabinet post. I suspect he has also figured out he won't ever be an Important Guy in the CPC.

Maybe he should have shut his f*cking mouth and been a team player after not being named to cabinet instead of causing a stink and giving the PM a black eye.

Part of why he was left out of cabinet was his reputation for not being a team player. It was a critical time for him after Harper named his first cabinet. Garth failed the test big time. There was no way he was ever making it into a Harper cabinet after that ouburst.

Yeah what a terrible guy...he put is constituents before the party. Anyway, the CPC likes to talk the talk but they don't seem to practice what they preech.. IMO MPs should be accountable to their voters not the dictatorial PM and his office.

The one thing I will tell you is that before I arrived, the board passed a motion asking the national council of the Conservative Party to give written answers to these 10 questions within a week.

1. Have I been suspended or expelled from caucus?

2. Is it definite or indefinite?

3. What was the reason?

4. Will I be formally notified?

5. What evidence will the board get to justify my ouster?

6. Are there conditions for reentry into caucus?

7. Am I still the nominated Conservative candidate?

8. Is my membership still valid?

9. If I am stripped of my nomination can I seek it again?

10. Is my suspension or expulsion a directive of the national party?

I look forward to the answers. After all, this is the party that campaigned on accountability and transparency in government, and is the one with a rich heritage of grassroots populism and the empowerment of MPs.

I spent nine months convincing the voters of Halton to trust me on exactly this. Like them, I now say, show me.