A reader passed along this link – Ministers Named from Outside Parliament 1867 to date.
Painful memories are pouring back… we all remember the immediate and highly publicized explosion of outrage, Canadians still seeth over the undemocratic and unprincipled appointments of the unelected Brian Tobin, Pierre Pettigrew, and Stephane Dion to cabinet. The Fortier appointment just rips open that scar, and pours fresh salt on the wounded national psyche.
Breaking – Canadians shocked and worried over Feb 8 announcement from the Prime Ministers Office that future Supreme Court appointments will be subject to a majority vote in Parliament.
Just kidding.
“The US president appoints unelected people to cabinet. As a general course, Canadian prime ministers don’t.”
Note, as well, that cabinet appointments in the U.S. are subject to approval by the Senate (at least, the ones in the presidential line of succession), which is elected. Since cabinet appointments in Canada are subject to no such approval, it’s a quite reasonable compromise that, by convention, only elected MPs are appointed. In the event that a cabinet minister isn’t an elected MP, he needs to stand for election as soon as possible — I’m disturbed by the G&M report Robert linked to, above. The alternative, if this is going to become a habit, is to subject cabinet appointments to Parliamentary approval before they take office.
Sheesh. Trudeau was voted the “greatest” Canadian of all times and he started out his political career as an activist with the Communist Party of Canada.
Maybe crossing the floor to become a Liberal from there was a short walk.
Emmerson said he has never been a card carrying member of any polotocal party until his friend Paul Martin encouraged him to run in 2004. He also said he did it for Martin NOT the Liberal party and that on election night Martin quit as leader.
Who actually abandoned who here?
Gee – not too sure if this guy is qualified…
might know a little bit about legality of awarding public works contracts- hmmmm
Michael Fortier is a financier and lawyer in Montreal, Quebec.
As a partner at Ogilvy Renault, he specialized in securities, mergers and acquisitions. From 1992 to 1996, he managed Ogilvy Renault�s office in London, England. In 1999, he became the Managing Director and Senior Advisor (Eastern Canada) at Cr�dit Suisse First Boston, the largest business bank in the world. In 2004, Mr. Fortier became Corporate Financing Director (Quebec) for TD Securities.
Mr. Fortier has been involved in politics for many years. He was a candidate in Laval West, Quebec, in 2000. Mr. Fortier was co-chair of Mr. Harper�s leadership campaign for the new Conservative Party of Canada in 2003, and during the last election, he was co-chair of the national campaign.
Mr. Fortier is married and has five children.
Kate, you mock the ‘poor voters’ in Vancouver but tell me how you would feel had the Liberals got a minority and Skelton jumped ship to take a cabinet post in their government. Tell me you wouldn’t have tarred and feathered her within an inch of her life. I understand why this doesn’t bother you — it’s a lot easier to rationalize something when it benefits you — but you’re on way more shaky ground than usual with this.
Harper was just scraping the brnacles off the botton of the barrel when he put THIS guy in Cabinet. Poor Vancouver, BC and Canada…
Vancouver Kingsway (British Columbia)
David Emerson was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and was named Minister of Industry in July 2004. He was re-elected in 2006.
In 1975, Mr. Emerson joined the Government of British Columbia, becoming the province�s Deputy Minister of Finance in 1984. In 1986, Mr. Emerson left government to become President and CEO of the Western and Pacific Bank of Canada. Four years later, he returned to the provincial government as Deputy Minister of Finance, then Deputy Minister to the Premier, and later President of B.C. Trade Development Corporation.
In 1992, Mr. Emerson was appointed to lead the newly created Vancouver International Airport Authority. In 1998, he was appointed President and CEO of Canfor Corporation.
Mr. Emerson attended the University of Alberta and obtained his bachelor�s and master�s degrees in economics. He then went on to Queen�s University where he received his doctorate in economics.
Mr. Emerson and his wife, Theresa, have two children.
Mr. Emerson also has three grown children.
We will see if Pettigrew and Dion are the loudest voices opposing unelected cabinet ministers. along with Paris Stronach denouncing crossing the floor.
when Pettigrew made cabinet did he come with a chauffeur or was he given one??
Molarmauler, with respect, Lew did not do that. He pointed you to a globe and mail article where the writer claimed that Harper, in an unnamed, un-referenced earlier interview with someone other than the writer said that he would not have un-elected folks in his cabinet. I have yet to see that in quotes.
Couple of points, or three… Look for Emerson to be one term unless this is a short government. He won’t likely run again. He’s there to fix/finish two things: the softwood lumber ad infinitum, and the 2010 Olympics.
Harper clearly stated during the election, on more than one occasion, that depending on how the vote went, he would consider inviting members of the other parties to participate in cabinet in order to give the representation he wanted. I heard it, the media should have.
What exactly, do the people of Kingsway want? Representation in the House of Commons, or a wasted vote in the opposition backbenches. Their elected representative went to cabinet. For any riding, it doesn’t get any better than that, regardless of the party. Used to be called “voting for the man…”
Emerson’s Decision : How/when/where/why did Emerson arrive at his decision to exit the Liberals? The answer is at the end of Norm’s piece.
Emerson exited the Liberals as a result of Martin’s surprise announcement that he, Martin, was quitting the leadership of the Liberals. As Emerson says he, Emerson, was “encouraged” to run again for the Liberals by Martin.
Martin hung Emerson out to dry; Emerson realized then that Martin was an all-round loser.
Emerson realized that his loyalty to Martin had been dissolved by Martin himself. Martin had moved on; Emerson also moved on.
This explains the fury/sour grapes of the Liberals; it also explains why Emerson is the lightning rod for the slagging from the Liberal fellow-travellers. Liberal MP’s & etc. are muted. This also serves to take the heat away from Martin/Earnscliffe. The Liberals are covering up the fact that their party is moribund; almost dead.
Prime Minister Harper must have foreseen this faux fury; Harper is a brilliant strategist. Meanwhile, Harper and his cabinet meet at Meech Lake, which evokes the dreaded word, “Mulroney”. Love it. >>>
http://www.members.shaw.ca/nspector4/MIND.htm
Norman Spector
–What I wrote about Liberal David Emerson during the election campaign
Liberal Leader Paul Martin, who said in the last campaign that he would consider himself a failure if he did not end our alienation in his first term, proudly brought up the names of strong western cabinet ministers such as Finance Minister Ralph Goodale and Treasury Board President Reg Alcock. When he reached B.C., however, he considerably debased the coin by mentioning the invisible Multiculturalism Minister Raymond Chan and the ineffectual Health Minister, Ujjal Dosanjh � Gurmant Grewal’s oleaginous partner in the taped defection negotiations � in the same breath as Industry Minister David Emerson, who has done a first-rate job on our behalf.
–What I’m writing about Conservative David Emerson today
Liberal Leader Paul Martin, who said in the last campaign that he would consider himself a failure if he did not end our alienation in his first term, proudly brought up the names of strong western cabinet ministers such as Finance Minister Ralph Goodale and Treasury Board President Reg Alcock. When he reached B.C., however, he considerably debased the coin by mentioning the invisible Multiculturalism Minister Raymond Chan and the ineffectual Health Minister, Ujjal Dosanjh � Gurmant Grewal’s oleaginous partner in the taped defection negotiations � in the same breath as Industry Minister David Emerson, who has done a first-rate job on our behalf.
–The smartest thing said about David Emerson
Mr. Emerson said he was never a political partisan and only entered politics in 2004 because of former prime minister Paul Martin�s persistent urging.
�I nearly didn�t run in the last election. Mr. Martin encouraged me to run. I did so. Mr. Martin has now made his decision to move on and I was approached by Mr. Harper.� >>
http://www.voy.com/178771/131399.html
“Because the other guy did it is not a valid counter argument.”
Mark this date on the calendar, folks: today is the day that I agree with Robert McClelland.
Alright, that’s it. Ding. Let’s have an election.
Harper’s had 3 days, for Christ’s sake, and he hasn’t fixed everything.
Just heard a great comment on CBC radio 1. David Emerson is not crossing the floor!!! The rest of the Conservatives are!!!
There’s no integrity issue with either Emerson or Fortier. “Crossing the floor” is a time-honoured tradition in parliamentary governments, as is appointing non-elected ministers. Our constitution allows both, and our history books record both as regular occurences. Chretien appointed 3 non-elected people to cabinet.
While we endure the hypocrisy of “voting for the party”, Canadian electoral practice has always been premised in voting for the man, not the party. Its just that pragmatism gets in the way.
Emerson’s Kingsway riding got the best possible deal – a cabinet minister even though they didn’t elect the party that chose them. As a Liberal, on behalf of his constituents, he’d been pissing into the wind. Now they actually have a voice. His one vote as a liberal opposition backbencher wouldn’t have been worth squat. Unlike any Toronto riding, Kingsway actually got value for their 100 grand.
Harper said during the election that he would invite members of the opposition parties to be in cabinet if it resulted in a balanced representation, the media missed it entirely, and he’s done exactly what he said.
Emerson made the decision to bail when he saw Paul Martin go – felt his time would be wasted sitting as a liberal in an abandoned rudderless ship. Unlike Stronach, who crossed for personal benefit and amorphous “ideals”, Emerson crossed to continue to do what he was doing for Martin, in pretty much the same jobs. That to me says integrity of the man – determined to give value for dollar to the Canadian people, rather than sit and await a pension like 99 of his colleagues.
Judge is shocked, shocked, by Emerson’s betrayal of Martin. (Not even mentioned.)
Where’s the beef? was mentioned. Judge was ready with his answer: At his farm; which is not too far distant from Cowboy Martin’s spread.BTW, Martin’s brand is well-known in beef-cross-border-sales circles: Librano$.
Seriousement,Prime Minister Harper wins kudos from the Judge. >>>
Justice Gomery says he is pleased with how his report was received
By PETER RAKOBOWCHUK
MONTREAL (CP) – Justice John Gomery says he is optimistic the recommendations of his final report into the federal sponsorship scandal will be given serious consideration by Stephen Harper’s government. via cnews
Right On Maria, Saint Pierre was a member of the Communist Party but you never hear anything about that in the MSM. Not only did he have communist views but he instilled many of them into our lives. We are paying for them to-day. He stayed too long at the table. Now we have to undo alot of what he did. Unfortunately, not too many voters actually know what the hell they are voting for.
Prime Minister Harper is a brilliant politician. Da proof is da proof (H/T U Knowhoo): The left liberals are in complete disarray, confusion, depression; they are flumoxxed. PEST is the diagnosis.
The Liberal party is profoundly unhappy/disturbed by Chretien/Martin’s legacy. Evidence here:
12: Paul [sic] >>
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?RDE&2051
Tobin, Pettigrew and Dion were NOT also appointed to the Senate after the PM went across the country trumpeting elected senators and sliming the government for “appointing” Liberals, NDP and Conservatives to the Senate. Instead they were given portfolios in the House and then had to run in a by-election, which Fortier has said he will not do.
Harpocrisy.
Todd writes:
“tell me how you would feel had the Liberals got a minority and Skelton jumped ship to take a cabinet post in their government.”
I’d have screamed bloody murder, just as I did when Belinda sold herself out. Why is this so hard to understand? I have stated that Emerson’s constituants have EVERY RIGHT to be angry and to say so. He has the job of defending his actions – I don’t, and I haven’t.
I’ve also watching politics long enough to lose count of the number of federal and provincial floor crossers, and to see that the real hypcrosy being exhibited here is on the part of a disingenuous media punditry (some bloggers included) who were apparently introduced to the world of Canadian politics and parliamentary convention sometime after 2002 – because there’s precious little evidence that they know one existed prior to that date.
It was a coup by Harper to get Emerson, just as the mainstream media told us it was when Paul Martin so “cleverly” pulled the rug out from under Harper’s feet last spring.
Well, the rug has just been pulled out from under the Liberals this time, and I’ll enjoy every damned moment of it, thankyouverymuch.
Thanks for the link – great list … many distingished names on it … who knew …
Emerson was a good choice – Harper sought him out, he said yes. Get over it, we had to get over Belinda … futhermore this is alot more like Scott Brison than it is the Belinda thing and no one really got that angry with Scott Brison either. Niether Scott nor David moved to prop up a corrupt and dying government immediately before a non-confidence vote. Both got cabinet posts. Enough already – move on.
I am having a hard time with all of the hoopla concerning these two appointments. I am sure I will be corrected but…..did not the voters of Canada give Mr. Harper the position to govern (albeit a minority) and to do what is best for the country? To me, he has done exactly what was expected – picking the people he thought would do the best job, regardless of their political affiliations.
If every person in Cabinet has to be “elected” why did we have Mr. Martin thrust upon us? He was “elected” by the liberal party insiders, the voters were not given the chance to vote him in (the first time).
Just because the liberals were in power when their leader chose to step down, we were given a new PM. There should have been an immediate election so that the people of Canada could decide if they wanted Mr. Martin. Instead, he had a free shot at the top post whether Canada wanted him or not.
IMHO
Like I said earlier, Fortier should not be Public Works Minister. Only elected (meaning ethical, honest, and competent) MP’s should have such an important job.
Such as Alfonso Gagliano.
As for Emerson, well, it’s disgusting. Never in the history of Canadian politics has something like this happened.
Especially not since 2000….
Pat O’Brien
Liberal: Oct. 25, 1993 to June 5, 2005
Independent: Since June 6, 2005
Left the Liberal Party to sit as an Independent because he was uncomfortable with Liberal policy on same-sex marriage.
Belinda Stronach
Conservative: Jan. 1, 2004 to May 16, 2005
Liberal: Since May 17, 2005
Left the Conservative Party because she was unhappy with the direction of the party. She took a job as Minister of Human Resources and Minister of Democratic Renewal (Ha HA HA HA) when she crossed.
Carolyn Parrish
Liberal: Oct. 25, 1993 to Nov. 21, 2004
Independent: Since Nov. 22, 2004
Kicked out of the Liberal caucus for making comments about U.S. President George W. Bush and her party.
Chuck Cadman
Reform: June 2, 1997 to March 26, 2000
Canadian Alliance: March 27, 2000 to Dec. 22, 2003
Conservative: Dec. 23 to April 27, 2004
Independent: April 28, 2004 to July 9, 2005
After failing to receive the Conservative nomination during the 2004 election campaign, he sat as an Independent and later won back his seat as an Independent.
John Bryden
Liberal: Oct. 25, 1993 to Feb. 16, 2004
Independent: Feb. 17, 2004 to Feb. 24, 2004
Conservative: Feb. 25, 2004 to June 28, 2004
Left the Liberal Party over concerns about Paul Martin as Prime Minister. He sat as an Independent for a week and then joined the Conservative Party but failed to win his the party nomination last year and retired from politics.
Larry Spencer
Canadian Alliance: Nov. 27, 2000 to Dec. 22, 2003
Conservative: Dec. 23, 2003 to Feb. 4, 2004
Independent: Feb. 5, 2004 to June 28, 2004
Kicked out of Conservative caucus for making anti-gay comments.
Andr� Bachand
Progressive Conservative: June 2, 1997 to Feb. 1, 2004
Independent: Feb. 2, 2004 to June 28, 2004
Refused to join the new Conservative Party of Canada when the Canadian Alliance merged with the Progressive Conservatives. He sat as an Independent and didn’t run in the 38th general election.
Joe Clark
Progressive Conservative: Oct. 30, 1972 to June 10, 1983; Nov. 14, 1998 to May 30, 2003
PC/DR Coalition: Sept. 19, 2001 to April 9, 2002
Independent: Feb. 2, 2004 to June 28, 2004
Refused to join the new Conservative Party of Canada when the Canadian Alliance merged with the Progressive Conservatives. He sat as an Independent and didn’t run in the 38th general election.
John Herron
Progressive Conservative: June 2, 1997 to Feb. 1, 2004
PC/DR Coalition: Sept. 24, 2001 to April 9, 2002
Independent: Feb. 2, 2004
Liberal: June 28, 2004 to June 28, 2004
Refused to join the new Conservative Party of Canada when the Canadian Alliance merged with the Progressive Conservatives. He sat as an Independent then ran for the Liberals during the 2004 election but lost his seat.
Keith Martin
Reform: Oct. 25, 1993 to March 26, 2000
Canadian Alliance: March 27, 2000 to Dec. 22, 2003
Conservative: Dec. 23, 2003 to Jan. 13, 2004
Independent: Jan. 14, 2004 to June 27, 2004
Liberal: Since June 28, 2004
Left the Conservatives to sit as an Independent before seeking Liberal nomination in his riding because he felt his views differed from the newly merged Conservatives’ policies.
Scott Brison
Progressive Conservative: June 2, 1997 to Dec. 10, 2003
PC/DR Coalition: Sept. 24, 2001 to April 10, 2002
Liberal: Since Dec. 11, 2003
Although supporting the merger between the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party, he felt that it was too dominated by the Canadian Alliance wing so he left to join the Liberal Party.
Robert Lanct�t
Bloc Qu�b�cois: Nov. 27, 2000 to Dec. 10, 2003
Liberal: Dec. 11, 2003 to May 24, 2004
After rumours that his riding association didn’t want him to run in the 38th general election, he resigned from the party and joined the Liberals. He dispelled the rumours and said that he’s seen the future and “it’s Canadian.”
Pierre Brien
Bloc Qu�b�cois: Oct. 25, 1993 to Jan. 15, 2003
Independent: Jan. 16, 2003 to March 15, 2003
He resigned from his seat as a BQ to sit as an Independent in preparation to join the provincial ADQ party.
Ghislain Lebel
Bloc Qu�b�cois: Jan. 17, 1994 to Aug. 19, 2002
Independent: Aug. 20, 2002 to May 24, 2004
Left the BQ because he felt the party was not hardline enough on the sovereignty movement.
Joe Peschisolido
Canadian Alliance: March 27, 2000 to Jan. 27, 2002
Liberal: Jan. 28, 2002 to May 23, 2004
Left the Alliance to join the Liberals after racist comments were made and not dealt with to his satisfaction.
Jean Guy Carignan
Liberal: Nov. 27, 2000 to Dec. 13, 2001
Independent: Dec. 14, 2001 to Oct. 6, 2002
Independent Liberal: Oct. 7, 2002 to Oct. 7, 2003
Liberal: Oct. 8, 2003 to Oct. 9, 2003
Independent: Oct. 10, 2003 to May 23, 2004
He first resigned from caucus after he was involved in a drunk-driving car accident and then rejoined the caucus, despite opposition from Jean Chr�tien’s Quebec caucus. Mr. Chr�tien later kicked him out again but he was reinstated after Paul Martin took over.
Jim Jones
Progressive Conservative: June 2, 1997 to Aug. 14, 2000
Canadian Alliance: Aug. 15, 2000 to May 23, 2004
Suspended from caucus July 5, 2000 but continued to sit as Progressive Conservative although not a member of the caucus. He later became a member of the Canadian Alliance.
David Price
Progressive Conservative: June 2, 1997 to Aug. 13, 2000
Liberal: Sept. 14, 2000 to May 23, 2004
Left the PC party to join the Liberals with other PC members.
Diane St-Jacques
Progressive Conservative: June 2, 1997 to Sept. 11, 2000
Liberal: Sept. 12, 2000 to May 23, 2004
Left the PC party to join the Liberals with other PC members.
Andr� Harvey
Progressive Conservative: Sept. 4, 1984 to April 25, 2000
Independent: April 26, 2000 to Oct. 3, 2000
Liberal: Oct. 4, 2000 to May 23, 2004
Left the PC party to join the Liberals with other PC members.
Jack Ramsay
Reform: Nov. 21, 1988 to April 5, 2000
Independent Canadian Alliance: April 6, 2000 to June 27, 2000
Independent: June 28, 2000 to Nov. 26, 2000
Suspended from caucus but continued to sit as Reform although not a member of the caucus. He later sat as an Independent Canadian Alliance MP and then as an Independent.
John Nunziata
Liberal: Sept. 4, 1984 to June 1, 1997
Independent: June 2, 1997 to Nov. 26, 2000
Left the Liberal caucus after the Liberals reneged on their promise to dispose of the GST.
David Kilgour
Progressive Conservative: June 25, 1968 to Oct. 24, 1990
Independent: Oct. 25, 1990 to Jan. 30, 1991
Liberal: Jan. 31, 1991 to April 12, 2005
Independent: Since April 13, 2005
Left the PC party over the GST and sat as an Independent for a few months before crossing the floor to the Liberal Party. He then left the Liberal Party over foreign aid policy and same-sex marriage, as well as the sponsorship scandal.
Jean Lapierre
Liberal: May 22, 1979 to June 25, 1990
Independent: June 26, 1990 to Dec. 17, 1990
Bloc Qu�b�cois: Dec. 18, 1990 to Aug. 23, 1992
Liberal: Since Feb. 5, 2004
Left the Liberal Party after Jean Chr�tien became leader of the party and helped found the Bloc Qu�b�cois. He sat as a BQ member for two years and then left politics. He came back in 2004 as a Liberal.
“He has the job of defending his actions – I don’t, and I haven’t.”
I have to admit, partisan Lib that I am, that one had me laughing, Kate. That is the first, genuine, no-pretzel twisting contortion of an honest answer that I have heard from any Conservative supporter, blogger, MP, “leader”. And, frankly, it is has the ring of brass knuckles truth to the bone about politics.
Harper wouldn’t be in the mess he’s already in if he’d hired you.
Cheers.
Ted
Cerberus
But just because I’m being nice, don’t think I didn’t notice how you still haven’t responded to my 3:32 pm response to your challenge though.
G’night.
Ted
Cerberus
Ted – I’ll let you in on a little secret. I don’t read all the comments, especially on long threads.
And when I do, I often just read the first line or two, check the author and set my eyes to “autoscan” for profanity.
There are now about 300 comments posted here a day – in addition to a LOT of emails. I don’t know that many people have much appreciation for what time sucking monster this thing has become.
Will someone please tell me who was elected that even comes close to the qualifications of David Emerson?
Give your heads a shake people.
Im willing to bet that when a lot of good things happen for our country, we will still hear all kinds of bitching.
Im getting tired of people who dont bother to do their homework, then make all kinds of wild statements as if they are speaking from a platform of knowledge.
I find it kind of refreshing that we have a man in such an important job who is NOT a politician.
There may be hope for us yet.
Kate writes:
“I’d have screamed bloody murder, just as I did when Belinda sold herself out.”
So Belinda sold herself out while Emerson is making a principled move. Uh huh.
Kate, one word. Ads.
At least let the monster make money for you.
Kate:
Blog comments don’t convey humour all that well. I hope you took that as a friendly elbow in the ribs. I don’t get one tenth the traffic you get and I find it hard to keep up with comments and emails and… oh, yeah, work in the meantime.
Ted
Cerberus
The only question I want answered is………………………….Will this tory Prime Minister be as much of a total flop as the last 3 or 4 tories we’ve had. We should have a pool on how bad will Harpers’ government be?????!!!!