Posted by True Blue Tory Peter MacKay MacKay said Brison voted for and supported the ratification of the Alliance/Tory merger. "It's really quite irreconcilable what he has done today," MacKay said. "What's the motivation?" Saying the Liberals better reflect his personal values, Brison said Wednesday he was leaving the Progressive Conservatives to join a Paul Martin government. Martin made the announcement at an Ottawa news conference with the Nova Scotia MP. MacKay said Brison failed to show up at caucus Tuesday and only heard about his defection Wednesday morning. "That speaks volumes," MacKay said. MacKay said he's received calls from people in Brison's constituency "and they're calling it what it is, a completely cynical manipulative move by Mr. Brison to enhance his own personal career." Brison made the decision to cross the floor following two conversations with Martin, who becomes prime minister on Friday. INDEPTH: Uniting the right Brison received a standing ovation at a Liberal caucus meeting Wednesday. Scott Brison and Paul Martin arrive for announcement (CP photo) A member of the PCs for more than 25 years, Brison said he struggled with the merger between the Progressive Conservatives and Canadian Alliance. He had said he would endorse the new party if it adopted progressive policies. "The PC party the party I grew up in no longer exists," said Brison. PROFILE: Scott Brison He says the Liberal party better reflects his personal values and the values of his constituents. "There is great angst as to the direction of the new conservative party," said Brison. YOUR SPACE: Readers respond to this story Martin welcomed Brison to the Liberal caucus, saying he will make a "tremendous addition" to the party. Brison, who is openly gay, has told friends he expects the new conservative party will have problems with intolerant members of Parliament. He says he wants to avoid becoming what he calls a poster boy for gay issues. "This nonsense about the party leaving him makes no sense," MacKay said. "This is about Scott Brison himself. This isn't about the political future of this new conservative movement. This is about his own future." As a Liberal, Brison has decided he would be able to focus on economics and tax policy. He has also said he believes Martin will make an exceptional prime minister. FROM DEC. 2, 2003: Bloc MP crosses over to Liberals An MP from the Bloc Québécois recently joined the Liberals. The Liberals say the defections illustrate Martin's drawing power to what they like to call a "big tent" party. The Conservatives' failure to keep Brison is political ammunition for the Liberals, who have called the new party little more than the Canadian Alliance with a fresh logo. Earlier in the year, Brison ran against MacKay for the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives. Written by CBC News Online staff Name: C.H. Name: Charlie Name: Canadian Name: Charles Fallon Name: Desrosiers Link: Scott Brison M.P. for Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
on 12/10/2003, 4:12 pm, in reply to "Re:Scott Brison M.P. for Kings-Hants Nova Scotia P.C. Finance Critic defects to the PaulMartinLiberals"
MacKay slams Brison for joining Liberals
Last Updated Wed, 10 Dec 2003 16:16:11
OTTAWA - Tory leader Peter MacKay slammed MP Scott Brison's jump to the Liberal Party Wednesday, saying it's a cynical and manipulative move to advance his career.
Occupation: practitioner
Location: Hamilton
The dust is beginning to settle now that this "new" party is fumbling around and individuals that understand the importance of political stability at the federal level are showing there support for Canada and not just a political party within Canada. We can complain all we want about politicians on either side of the spectrum, but I can't remember ever seeing a political party coming together with no real established consensus on what it is suppose to represent. Canada is geographically, ethnically and socially massive, we do not need a pseudo-federal party and it's cronies trying to justify it's existence and ability to govern by simply complaining about the liberals. Give me something to vote for, not complain about. Conservatism is not what any progressive and strong society is based on. Diversity with similar ethics and values is what we are based on.
Occupation: Student
Location: Vancouver
Members of Parliament should be able to switch paties at random as they were not elected to do so. The people who put them in office should decide which official party they want representing them in Ottawa. Mr. Brison should be asking permission before doing anything.
Occupation: Engineer
Location: Calgary
I am disappointed with Scott's departure from the PC party. I was hoping he would form a new party so that there would still be a viable national altenative to the liberals!
E-mail: bullmoosefallon@aol.com
Occupation: Project Director
Location: Montreal
If the Conservative Party wins only 1 seat in the next election, please Lord, let it be Mr. Brison's. This guy was telling us 8 months ago that we urgently needed to replace the Liberal government. He told us he was the man to face-down Paul Martin. Now, he thinks Paul will make an outstanding PM. How much booze was on that Irving jet that flew him into Liberal country?
Occupation:
Location: Manitoba
Hey maybe He and Joe who can start thier own party. He is just looking for his own good. Talk about being double minded here is the example