Liberal Khan to cross floor to Tory backbench

[scribblet]

My own feeling is that a person crossing the floor should sit as an independent. It doesn't stop them from voting with whomever they choose but I guess that is a matter between them and their conscience. With a minority government, I certainly don't blame Harper for taking him, he would be an idiot not to. At least he didn't give him a cabinet position as a reward. Not yet at least.

Actually I feel they should sit as an independant, or have a by-election, but a full blown election isn't too far off so sitting as an independant would be proper.

As for him working with the CPC, it is a minority gov't and it appears to have been a co-operative working relationship with another party, all working nicely together for the good of the country. Well, I can dream.

[Riverwind]

Actually I feel they should sit as an independant, or have a by-election, but a full blown election isn't too far off so sitting as an independant would be proper.

I don't understand what all of the fuss is about defections.

1) In our system you vote for the individual - not the party. If you cast a vote thinking you are voting for the party then you are misinformed.

2) The last thing we want is a system where our local representatives are bound to tow the party line in all cases. Ensuring MPs have freedom to vote against their party without facing a by-election is essential to our democratic system.

3) Any MP that votes against a party risks getting kicked out of that party so that means we cannot have a system where an MP is prevented from leaving a party without a byelection.

4) If the system ensures that MPs can vote whatever way they want without facing a by-election then arguing over whether they crossover or become an independent is irrelevant. An 'independent' that declares he will support Party X on all issues is the same as an MP that is a member of the party.

I realize that some MPs may abuse this freedom for person gain but I would rather live with these abuses in order to preserve the democratic basis of our system.

[Canuck E Stan]

Quite simply, there is no role for an adviser to the government from the opposition benches. The Official Opposition gives advice and critiques but they don't taken an official role as an officer of the government.

Khan was in that role because he was qualified and wanted to help CANADA.Just because it usually isn't done, why not?

What's wrong in having a role as an advisor from the opposition benches.

Don't you think people will see the opposition in a better light, with more credibility?

After all it was the Liberals who put us in Afghanistan.

If the situation was a national crisis, would you say the same thing?

"Gee Steven,sorry, can't help you here, although I know a lot about the situation,I'm part of the opposition,not my job to help the government help Canada.

Anything I can do, to maybe minimize deaths, well,that's your job,I'm in opposition, my party is before Canada and Canadians."

[jdobbin]

Khan was in that role because he was qualified and wanted to help CANADA.Just because it usually isn't done, why not?

What's wrong in having a role as an advisor from the opposition benches.

Don't you think people will see the opposition in a better light, with more credibility?

After all it was the Liberals who put us in Afghanistan.

If the situation was a national crisis, would you say the same thing?

"Gee Steven,sorry, can't help you here, although I know a lot about the situation,I'm part of the opposition,not my job to help the government help Canada.

Anything I can do, to maybe minimize deaths, well,that's your job,I'm in opposition, my party is before Canada and Canadians."

What's wrong with an adviser from the opposition benches? Everything. It is unethical but you cannot fulfill both the role of opposition and government at the same time.

[Canuck E Stan]

It is unethical but you cannot fulfill both the role of opposition and government at the same time.

Unethical? Who said you can't be in Opposition and give advice to the government, just because it normally isn't done?

Governments get advice from Canadians from all walks of life,why not from a Canadian in the Opposition?

Unless of course you don't feel Canada comes before the party.

Khan is the Canadian in opposition, who offered the same service to Dion, who never replied to Khan.

You know who Dion is,he's the leader of the Liberal party, the guy from Quebec, who had a hard time deciding whether to be a Separatist or a Canadian during the first referendum.

[jdobbin]

You know who Dion is,he's the leader of the Liberal party, the guy from Quebec, who had a hard time deciding whether to be a Separatist or a Canadian during the first referendum.

There you go about Dion again.

I would have the same problem if it was a Conservative advising the Liberals or an NDP advising the Bloq.

The way to serve Canada was to act in the manner he was elected. He can advise within committee. He was in a conflict of interest acting as an agent of government while remaining an Opposition member.

[Figleaf]

... a CPC-NDP coalition ...

Wow. Could these two parties find a more bizarre, desperate and ultimately self-destructive course!? It's perfect -- Dion in '07!

[Figleaf]

Speaking of Garth Turner, did the tories ever back up their slander about breaching confidentiality? Or should we just chalk that one up as yet another CPC fiction-of-convenience?

[mikedavid00]

What isn't part of the system is to have a key adviser from another party working for the government party.

That's false actually. The point of the parlimentary system, sentate in the US, etc. is so this sort of thing can happen. All parties are supposed to work together.

Of course, this is age old idealism that is historical, not a reality in todays world of opertunism so it's time to change the system to a US based one.

We aren't Europe.

[Canuck E Stan]

The way to serve Canada was to act in the manner he was elected. He can advise within committee. He was in a conflict of interest acting as an agent of government while remaining an Opposition member.

You said it.

The way to serve Canada was to act in the manner he was elected

The Oath or Solemn Affirmation of Allegiance

Before a duly elected Member may take his or her seat and vote in the House of Commons, the Member must take an oath or make a solemn affirmation of allegiance or loyalty to the Sovereign and sign the Test Roll (a book whose pages are headed by the text of the oath). When a Member swears or solemnly affirms allegiance to the Queen as Sovereign of Canada, he or she is also swearing or solemnly affirming allegiance to the institutions the Queen represents, including the concept of democracy. Thus, a Member is making a pledge to conduct him-or herself in the best interests of the country. The oath or solemn affirmation reminds a Member of the serious obligations and responsibilities he or she is assuming.

Khan did exactly that, Canada first, as he said he would when he swore his allegiance as an MP.

Agent of the government? Advisor,Dobbin,advisor.

This isn't KGB agents and the USSR we're talking about.

We're all Canadians here, all on the same side, unless of course you think because the natural governing party somehow is more Canadian than anyone else.

Why didn't the interm leader Graham tell Khan way back when,after he approached Harper,that he was out of line.

Gee, maybe some Liberals understand that serving CANADA comes first.

[mikedavid00]

You know who Dion is,he's the leader of the Liberal party, the guy from Quebec, who had a hard time deciding whether to be a Separatist or a Canadian during the first referendum.

He also seems to have a hard time speaking to the 'coloured people'.

Dion is a segregated, French, elitist. A complete Quebecer in every sense of the word.

Supposedly everyone around him is French and he's known to only speak French the majority of the time in meetings and such. Those who can't speak French don't participate and feel uncomfortable.

Also I heard the Rona Ambrose in meetings didn't have her papers together or her facts straight.

[mikedavid00]

We're all Canadians here, all on the same side,

I actually disagree with that notion.

It's a nice thought, not reality here in Canada.

[Canuck E Stan]

Speaking of Garth Turner, did the tories ever back up their slander about breaching confidentiality? Or should we just chalk that one up as yet another CPC fiction-of-convenience?

Read Turner's blogs.

Unlike Turner,Khan didn't do anything negative to the Liberal party except make them look good by advising the government.

Dion's stupidity couldn't see that.

[jdobbin]

We're all Canadians here, all on the same side, unless of course you think because the natural governing party somehow is more Canadian than anyone else.

Why didn't the interm leader Graham tell Khan way back when,after he approached Harper,that he was out of line.

Gee, maybe some Liberals understand that serving CANADA comes first.

It's such a load of garbage and you know it. As most Conservatives have already said, it was one step into the Conservative party. Dion told Khan to make a choice.

Now, he can serve one party and his country rather than two.

The political party system *is* about Canada. It is how the system has been set up. Government-Opposition.

You are the only one I know who is making this a Canada issue. The only one.

[Ricki Bobbi]

It's such a load of garbage and you know it. As most Conservatives have already said, it was one step into the Conservative party. Dion told Khan to make a choice.

It's a valid question.

Why didn't Graham say no to Khan being a special advisor?

[jdobbin]

Graham only heard about the appointment by Harper after Khan had made it.

http://www.canada.com/cityguides/toronto/s...ee82213&k=63880

t was Khan who approached Harper about offering his expertise to the government and when he took on the role, some of his Liberal caucus colleagues were uncomfortable with it.

They expressed concern that he would spy on the Liberals for the Conservatives and urged Khan, who was first elected in 2004, to resign from the advisory post or quit caucus temporarily.

At the time, interim Liberal leader Bill Graham's spokesperson said Khan told Graham about the appointment only after it was already done.

He also said that Graham sought and received assurance that Khan did not plan to cross the floor.

But in the last few days, news reports have fueled speculation that Khan might do exactly that.

Media speculation swelled Thursday that a development on Khan's political allegiance may come within a week. When asked whether Khan was switching parties, the Prime Minister's Office and Khan himself both refused to comment.

[mikedavid00]

It's a valid question.

Why didn't Graham say no to Khan being a special advisor?

I heard a pundit on the radio say that these sorts of things are supposed to be common place in parliment. It's just not done in Canada anymore.

Dion is a French, Quebecer, Elitist.

Khan said that he heard about this whole thing when all of a sudden he had journalists calling him asking 'what he was going to do'. He was like 'what?'

This is how he found out about this.

Nice going Dion. I'm really looking forward to the next polls. If Harper did the same he would be called and accused of being a racist by the CBC and other media.

If this was a French guy in the Party, Dion would have spoken to him over a 5 course dinner with wine and discussed the issue. But dion wouldn't even TALK to the 'colored' person.

That's just sad and speaks volumes about Dion.

Come polls! Hurry!

[mikedavid00]

Graham only heard about the appointment by Harper after Khan had made it.

I heard Khan on the radio and he specifically said that he asked Graham if he could do it and he had no problems with it.

[Canuck E Stan]

Graham only heard about the appointment by Harper after Khan had made it.

Liberal Khan becomes advisor

Khan said he offered his services to Harper. He later said interim Liberal leader Bill Graham approved the plan.

"The way I talked to [Graham], he just couldn't say no because he understands my passion, he understands what the international situation is," said Khan.

With full aproval from Graham.

[jdobbin]

With full aproval from Graham.

And Graham said this week that he heard of it after Harper announced it.

[Canuck E Stan]

You are the only one I know who is making this a Canada issue. The only one.

Dobbin,

Canada and what's best for Canada and Canadians will always be an issue with me.

Being a Liberal or a Conservative is secondary. I've voted for both in the past and presently I lean very heavily towards the Conservatives.

The party that puts Canada and Canadians first and foremost will always get my vote.

The Liberals have shown me in the last dozen years that they think they are more important than Canada and Canada's interests.

Sorry Dobbin that you feel Canada is an "issue", but I bet a lot of Canadians like me and Khan,feel

Canada is far more important.

More imporant than a bunch of self righteous hacks who only want what's best for themselves and their party's political agenda and that is, getting in power and being in control.

[jdobbin]

Dobbin,

Canada and what's best for Canada and Canadians will always be an issue with me.

Being a Liberal or a Conservative is secondary. I've voted for both in the past and presently I lean very heavily towards the Conservatives.

The party that puts Canada and Canadians first and foremost will always get my vote.

The Liberals have shown me in the last dozen years that they think they are more important than Canada and Canada's interests.

Sorry Dobbin that you feel Canada is an "issue", but I bet a lot of Canadians like me and Khan,feel

Canada is far more important.

More imporant than a bunch of self righteous hacks who only want what's best for themselves and their party's political agenda and that is, getting in power and being in control.

I think that self righteous hack was Khan.

[Canuck E Stan]

With full aproval from Graham.

And Graham said this week that he heard of it after Harper announced it.

But he didn't contest it , or make issue of it, or tell Khan he was out of the party....his silence on the matter tells me says he approved of it.

Probably he understood the whole thing better that Dioin does.

[jdobbin]

But he didn't contest it , or make issue of it, or tell Khan he was out of the party....his silence on the matter tells me says he approved of it.

Probably he understood the whole thing better that Dioin does.

He said Khan couldn't sit in caucus.

Since the rumours about Khan crossing the floor have been circulating all this time, Dion had no choice but to ask where Khan stood.

Khan was not about Canada. He was ambitious for himself.

[Canuck E Stan]

I think that self righteous hack was Khan.

I guess anyone like Khan,who wants to serves Canada first, before their party is a self righteoue hack.

That group will include a lot of Canadians.

I would be proud Canadian to be a member of that group.