Tory MPs Sell Out Constituents

Last week, in a disgusting display of partisan party politics, Conservative MPs from Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada voted to approve their party’s budget implementation bill. Legislation that will see Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador combine to lose billions in oil and gas revenues so badly needed to grow their economies and become fully contributing members to the federation.

Thanks to the votes of those MPs, including cabinet ministers Loyola Hearn and Peter Mackay, and with the assistance of the Bloc Quebecois, the bill passed second reading and moved one step closer to impeding the financial futures of the Province’s affected and the Country as a whole. Their actions also helped Stephen Harper break his often repeated promise and proved once again that when it comes to party politics the wishes of voters mean nothing in the scramble for position inside the party machine.

The Tory MPs involved all appear to believe they are in Ottawa to serve their leader rather than their constituents. They’ve vehemently argue that the PM has kept his promise, when it’s quite clear to anyone even vaguely familiar with the situation that he hasn’t, whether you agree with the concept of resource removal from the equalization formula or not.

One back bench MP, Newfoundland and Labrador member Fabian Manning, even allowed himself to be made a fool of by sitting in the House of Commons on the minister's bench a few weeks ago. In the Finance Ministers seat no less.

At the time the PM was standing in the House to taunt the province of Newfoundland and Labrador saying it had been treated so well in the federal budget bill the province wanted more of the same from Ottawa. Manning could be seen beside the PM clapping on cue like a trained seal. The only thing absent was a bucket of fish for harper to feed the newly elected MP.

Can anyone say “electoral suicide”?

When a politician puts his or her career, salary, perks, connections and retirement funds before the wishes of people they were elected to represent, publicly they say they are protecting their place in caucus so they can accomplish other good works. They say that because it usually works and because history has proven that they can get away it. This time that isn’t likely to happen.

There’s a saying that goes, “For every rule there is an exception”. I believe this is the exception that proves the rule. This time the people are angry enough to remember their MPs actions no matter how long it takes for the next election to roll around. This time the feeding frenzy at the parliamentary trough will be cut short long before those involved have taken their fill.

As the summer break approaches many MPs will be returning to their ridings and getting back in touch with their constituents for a couple of months. Up to now most of what they've been hearing of public reaction to their betrayal has come second hand through media reports, constituency workers, advisors and the like. This summer will be their first opportunity to actually walk down the street in their home towns and get a good look at the faces of those they’ve sold out. Each of them may want to think long and hard about what they hear from those voters and what they see in their eyes.

If it was me and I was on the BBQ circuit this summer, I think I’d avoid eating anything I hadn’t personally prepared.