Tory MPs say Emerson should run in a byelection 
by Romeo St. Martin

[PoliticsWatch Updated 3:25 p.m. February 9, 2006]

OTTAWA  — Two Conservative MPs are now publicly urging Trade Minister David Emerson to resign his seat and run as a Conservative in a Vancouver byelection. 

Tory MPs Garth Turner and Myron Thompson both made the comments to reporters outside a Tory caucus orientation on Parliament Hill. 

"I think being a Member of Parliament is a very important thing and I think being elected is a very important part of that," Turner said. 

"So I said during the campaign that I think anyone who crosses the floor ultimately should go back to the people for ratification and I stick by it.

"And hopefully in this case that will happen. Sooner? Later? I don't know when. But the prime minister took a calculated gamble in what he did."

Turner, however, said he wanted to be careful not to contradict Prime Minister Stephen Harper with his decision to name Emerson to cabinet two weeks after he was elected in Vancouver as a Liberal.

"The guy's obviously got a plan, but I'm not privy to it."

Turner said he was going to work within his caucus to get legislation put forward to discourage floor crossing. 

He also expressed dismay about the Emerson appointment on his blog.

Other Tories were more tight lipped and walked briskly past reporters or offered up "no comments."

But Alberta MP Myron Thompson, one of the original members of the Reform caucus, said the Emerson decision is not sitting well with him or his constituents. 

Thompson said also wants to see legislation in place to prevent people from crossing the floor. 

When asked if Emerson should resign his seat and run in a byelection, Thompson said. 

"Without the legislation in place to force it, I wouldn't suggest that has to be the case. I would say if he did it it would be the honourable thing to do."

While backbench Tory MPs are now starting to publicly question Emerson's appointment, no cabinet minister has cross that line yet. 

"I don't think he's required to run in a byelection," said Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay. "It's certainly not legally necessary."

Harper, Emerson and controversial Senate appointee Michael Fortier did not speak with reporters on Thursday. 

Emerson was scheduled to hold a teleconference with reporters late in the afternoon. Reporters waited on hold for half an hour before the operator informed them Emerson was "caught in traffic" and would have to reschedule the call at a later date. 

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