Stephen Harper shrugged off voters' failure to deliver big-city cabinet talent to the Tories by conventional means and opted for the spectacular Monday by luring a Vancouver Liberal star as his trade minister and an unelected Montreal businessman to head public works.
David Emerson - who was elected as a Liberal just two weeks ago - drew gasps as he arrived completely unexpectedly at Rideau Hall to be sworn in as the Conservative minister of international trade. He took the oath while still in possession of a Liberal party card.
Harper's penchant for the unforeseen was underscored by his parachuting of former Progressive Conservative party president Michael Fortier into the public works portfolio.
The Montreal businessman was the Conservatives' election campaign co-chair but did not run for Parliament. He has agreed to run in the next election and will hold a temporary Senate seat until then.
The absolute necessity of representing Canada's second-and third-largest cities in cabinet forced Harper to catapult Fortier into his inner circle via the Senate.
Harper introduced his 26-member cabinet as the Conservatives officially took power Monday for the first time since November 1993.
The new prime minister, who once campaigned on the slogan The West Wants In, made up the bulk of his cabinet with ministers from Ontario and Quebec. Those two provinces will take up 14 seats around the cabinet table. Six new ministers are from the Prairie provinces and four are from British Columbia.
The cabinet is one-third smaller than the Liberals' 39-member ministry but Harper said it manages to reflect the entire country. "Our team is talented and diverse - reflecting all of Canada," Harper, 46, said outside Rideau Hall after being sworn in as the country's 22nd prime minister.
Harper arrived at Rideau Hall less than an hour after Paul Martin resigned, marking the end of a troubled two-year tenure that saw the scandal-plagued Liberals humbled.
Emerson's defection is the second surprise floor-crossing in less than 12 months. Belinda Stronach joined the Liberals earlier this year, prompting howls of outrage from the Tories.
This time it was the Liberals crying foul. "The prime minister - even before he was named prime minister - entered into negotiations with him to get him to come over," said interim Liberal leader Bill Graham. "I know of no historic examples . . . where it has been done immediately upon an election."
The move could have a major impact on the balance of power in the 308-seat House of Commons. By raising the Conservative seat count to 125, it potentially gives the 29-member NDP caucus the ability play kingmaker - provided the Speaker, who votes only in a tie, is a Liberal. Emerson joined the Martin government in 2004 after a long career as a business executive and public servant, and said he always considered himself a "small-c Liberal."
He said he was flattered when Harper called to offer him a cabinet role. Emerson said he took the job because that would be his best way to contribute. "The fact that Mr. Harper has reached out to someone like me is an indication that they are becoming a middle-of-the-road party. I think I can be helpful moving in that direction," he said. "It's not a matter of being in cabinet. It's a matter of, if I'm going to dedicate another two years to public service, how can I have the most impact? And I feel I could have the most impact by being in cabinet."
Harper vowed to move swiftly on his campaign promise to clean up government. "We will improve Canadians' faith in public institutions by making government more accountable and effective." Harper also reaffirmed his commitment to cut the GST, crack down on crime, establish medical wait-time guarantees, and provide money to parents to help care for young children.
Top cabinet ministers include:
-Jim Flaherty, a former Ontario finance minister, at finance.
-Peter MacKay, co-founder of the new Conservative party, at foreign affairs.
-Vic Toews, an ex-Manitoba justice minister, at justice.
-Gordon O'Connor, a former army general, at defence.
-Tony Clement, a one-time Ontario health minister, at health.
-Maxime Bernier, a Quebec MP, at industry.
-John Baird, former Ontario cabinet minister, at Treasury Board.
-Rob Nicholson, a former federal cabinet minister, is House leader and democratic reform minister.
-Chuck Strahl, who is battling cancer, at agriculture.
-Rona Ambrose, from Alberta, at environment.
Three high-profile MPs who were touted for cabinet spots were notably absent: Diane Ablonczy, Jason Kenney and James Moore. Flaherty, a former Ontario finance minister, was a longtime lawyer with a practice on Toronto's Bay Street, giving him the kind of connections that should help reassure the barons of Canada's financial capital. MacKay's assignment to the foreign affairs portfolio follows something of a tradition in Canadian politics that has seen party leaders giving the post to their formal rivals for the leadership. Jean Chretien was given the job after he lost the Liberal leadership to John Turner in 1984. Joe Clark was made minister of foreign affairs by Brian Mulroney.
Marjory LeBreton's appointment as leader of the government in the Senate is sure to be popular among Conservatives. LeBreton has served every Conservative leader since John Diefenbaker.
LeBreton had a distant relationship with Harper for years. His move toward the political centre coincided with Harper's reaching out to more moderate conservatives such as LeBreton.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Wow Talk about shock and awe.
Stevie is showing some ballsy leadership that reminds me of his hero to the south.
Who else but "W" would have the cojones to Put his unelected old leadership organizer into public works ( Didn't Harper come to power on the strength of outrage against the Liberal sponsorship program, specifically, abuse of public works money by unelected backroom partisans in Quebec?) — Not only that but giving him a Senate appointment too after saying he would only name elected senators — seemed almost a brazen challenge to his potential critics. What courage!
But he wasn't done! no no!
In an unflinching show of Alberta Swagger, former Liberal industry minister David Emerson, a star of the last cabinet, unabashedly walked into Rideau Hall and was sworn in as Harper's new international trade minister — a jaw-dropping reversal of last spring's party-switching dramas between Liberals and Conservatives. Man You got to give Credit to him... Change is on the March!
Speaking of "credit", You forgot some credits in the list of ministers... showing the kind of in-your-face boldness that Mr. Harper surrounds himself with.
for example
-Vic Toews, an ex-Manitoba justice minister, at justice. He has extra experience since Toews did plead guilty last year to breaking provincial election laws.
or
when reporters asked Gordie " Rummy" O'Connor how a former defence lobbyist could be put in charge of the department, especially given how the Conservatives' first legislative act will include a crackdown on lobbying.
"Just watch me," O'Connor said, as Harper explained that his strict attitude toward lobbying and public service applied when public servants became lobbyists and not vice-versa. OH YEAH! Take that CBC!
Man this should be an entertaining 12 months!
How could I forget the jewel in the Crown of this Cabinet.
Stockwell Flanders, Public Safety.
A few selected Stockisms;
"God's law is clear. Standards of education are not set by government, but by god, the bible, the home, and the school. If we ask for (the minister of education's approval) we are recognizing his authority."
-"As a Christian, I acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ over the whole universe, I
believe that The Bible is the infallible word of God and every word in it, cover to
cover, is true.''
-It is widely reported that in a presentation in Red Deer during 1997, Stockwell Day
claimed the following things to be true:
1) The Earth is 6,000 years old
2) Adam and Eve were real people
3) Humans and dinosaurs co-existed
4) There's as much evidence for creation as evolution.
"there is a growing body of literature suggesting that, as sex education becomes more comprehensive, there is a corresponding increase in sexual activity."
On Banning books
"When you're talking about schoolchildren, you have to respect the fact that most Canadians profess to be of the Christian faith, and they're sending their kids to school. They don't need to be exposed to the name of Jesus Christ being taken in a blasphemous
sense."
"Women who become pregnant
through rape or incest should not qualify for government-funded abortions unless their pregnancy is life-threatening."
-"I believe that everybody has the freedom to make their own choices on how they're going to live. My personal belief in scripture leads me to believe there are negatives incurred when we engage in activities the Bible warns us of engaging in."
-"Homosexuality is a mental disorder that can be cured by counselling."
-"if you can cut a child to pieces or burn them alive with salt solution while they're still in the womb, what's wrong with knocking them around a little when they're outside the womb."
Well at least Stevie's making attempts to bring the country together. Sure you may not agree with his first steps. But he's making an attempt to include these major cities. Even though they didn't vote for him. He realizes our cities need representation in the cabinet.
He pulled a Belinda!
It's too bad that these few appointments bowled over the news of a smaller though exciting, young, diverse and seasoned cabinet. Many say Harper has proven he's no different than the Liberals, and that's what's wrong with this, the perception.
Nevertheless, this is, in fact, quite different from how Jean Chretien and Paul Martin acted.
Remember what happened to Calgary after it shut out Chretien from gaining any seats in 1993? Chretien didn't try to include Calgary in some way. Instead, Chretien became vindictive and punitive. He decided to remove Calgary's Canadian Forces Base and give it to Edmonton -- which had elected liberals Maclellan and Kilgour. The move was a blow-- culturally, historically and financially -- to Calgary and cost taxpayers an estiomated $1 billion for the move, money the military could have desperately used.
Harper's actions the other day is the exact opposite. He's sticking his neck out and taking a lot of political hits to embrace those who wouldn't vote for his party.
His actions are inclusive rather than punitive. He's ensuring that Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto are represented, not just in caucus, but at the cabinet table.
That's a 180-degree turn from the way the liberals operated.
Nevertheless, these two appointments appear undemocratic and in the case of Emerson, opportunistic and unethical. And as the saying goes, in politics, optics is everything.
About Vic Toews he said "If you read what the judge said in that particular case, he said it wasn't deliberate, wasn't intentional on my part, that I took responsibility for what happened in my campaign." That happened 7 years ago. What would be any different if he had a speeding ticket? he plead guilty and pay your fine.
Also about O'Connor and his lobbyist background. He said "I have no shares in any company, I get no renumeration from any company, I don't have any layalty to any company, so no there was no concern at all"
Hey as soon as these Conservatives are found to have lined their party and their friend pockets with taxpayers money. I'm 100% on your side. Until then I'm more then willing to give these guys a shot. Even if you aren't. I understand you position; your 'red' security blanket is gone. we want you to use a 'blue' one. But the smell and the stains from the 'red' one feel more at home. That's ok. We still want you guys to be part of Canada. And we're more than happy to give you guys a seat at the table. but we have to make room for everyone.
Yup, Stock's a christian. Is that a bad word out east? What's with all the dislike for christians? Wasn't Canada built by christians and religious settlers?
I don't think I was this upset at a liberal cabinet before. Even though a major western Canadian city was shut out. wink,wink.
i think it's going to last longer than 12 months. I hope you can stand it. haha
Inclusive huh? where's Toronto?
How is Toronto Included? Only the biggest city in Canada. Well funny that, they didn't elect any Conservatives, and they get no Conservative Cabinet ministers. Sounds like revenge to me.
Oh wait it's called DEMOCRACY. You Know like when Calgary didn't elect any Liberals, they got no Cabinet members. Honestly dude could you imagine if in the last election Martin Appointed the head of his Calgary Riding association to the senate and put him in the cabinet. I'm sure the Calgary sun would have said " oh isn't that nice, he's being inclusive!"
Speaking of inclusive, 6 women, Fewest in Years one Minority (Bev Oda), no non-christians. Mabye he should appoint a black person to the senate, or a Muslim, or Hey a First Nations Person. Sure none got elected, but Hell! if were doing things in the name of inclusion let's go the whole nine yards.
As for Stock and the Christians, every Prime Minister has been a christian. end of story. However FUNDAMENTALISTS are another story. Stock is the public safety minister and believes...
1. AIDS is a punishment from god.
2. Homosexuality is a disorder that can be cured.
3.Abortion is murder in every case.
4.God's Laws trump Man's laws
Do you not see anything wrong with this man being a lawmaker in charge of Public Safety?
Guess I'm not inclusive enough
you quip
" he Pulled a Belinda"
If you are unfamilar with the Conservative reaction to Belinda crossing the floor, please check out my latest post.
for clarification...
Hypocritical (hypo·criti·cal adv.) refers to the act of criticizing others for behavior which one engages in as well, or in other words, not practising what you preach. An example would be a parent who smokes, but admonishes their adolescent child not to smoke.
Well, I'm not sure how the areas are located but their are some cabinet members which are close to Toronto, like Tony Clement and Jim Flaherty.
I'm sure if Martin did appoint, then give his calgary riding a cabinet seat. their would of been some outrage. but bottom line is we would of been happy their was someone their speaking for Calgary.
Yeah it's a smaller cabinet, more efficient (well, we'll see). I'm sure if Harper was more left wing he would of doubled his current cabinet to include every race and colour, and sexual orientation. Just like the liberals. Give everyone plum jobs with a single task. Add lots of bearucrats so there's always someone to blame if someone fucks up. but they're conservatives. hello!
So every prime ministers been a christian. You seem like your upset all cabinet ministers are christian. Are you as equally upset that all Canada's prime ministers are and were christians?
So is Stock the end all of lawmakers. What he says goes? I;m pretty sure any ideas he has have to get passed in the house of commons. Before they become law. But your telling me he has ultimate power. Am I wrong? Because if he has "dictatorship-like" power for all laws. then yes I am concerned. But if your just overreacting. Then I'm not too worried. As that's why we have a democracy not a dictatorship. PLus, it's only a minority. So nothing extreme's goign to happen. der.
Am I wrong? didn't emerson do exactly what belinda did. except he did it earlier, that's all. Yes it is hypocritical. But dude, all politicians are hypocritical. Except for the religious right and the socialist left. They're both too extreme,nowadays, to ever form a government. because they stick to thier beliefs. There's nothing wrong with that. You actually have to respect them for not "whoring' themselves out to opportunity or to power.
Post a Comment