Hi all,This is my first attempt at a blog and this post features an email I have just sent to The Honourable Garth Turner MP. He was recently kicked out of the Conservative Caucus in the House of Commons. Currently he is open to the possibility of becoming canada's first ever green mp. I felt inspired to encourage him as such in this email I sent to him:
(For Context He was talking about his siberian Pooch on his blog that day)Hi Garth,
First off, I'd like to wish cheka well.
Second, I've been watching your situation consistantly ever since that fatefull day last week and have a few things to say. (for once writing to an MP I might actually get a human response rather than the usual one response fits all letter you receive after like 6-8 months)
Thirdly, I'd like to state my possible biases. I am a current Green Party member. I was previously a member of the 'Progressive' Conservative Party. As such I would love to see a prominant (Can I say Red Tory?) Tory confirm the switch I have made. Also, I would love for the Green Party to be taken much more seriously by having an MP.
Besides that, I really appreciate the way in which you are acting as an MP. Its quite impressive to see an MP who cares enough to actually listen well rather than just speak his mind. I love what you are accomplishing with your Weblog and VideoBlog(MPTV). As a political junkie I am greatly appreciative :)
Lastly, I would like to make some reasoned arguments on why making a switch to the Green Party would be in your interests and those of your Constituants. It also seems to me that fellow Green party supporters aren't making a great argument for you as it seems they keep making passionate arguments about what you could do for them and not what they could do for you. So I hope to resolve that.
As others have pointed out, your interview with Elizabeth May followed by your ouster from the Conservatives seems to be fateful coincidence, not necessarily as a cause and effect, but as an opportunity. Especially true considering your own admition that many conservatives consider the Green Party their second choice. As you are no longer welcome in the party we once both supported, it seems fit to try your next best option. Based on my understanding of where you are coming from and that of the Green Party, it would seem to be a perfect match as you both share much in common, especially true of your position on the Climate Crisis, and that of your support of Digital Democracy. I'm not sure if you are aware, but the Green party recently brought Joe Trippi to their National Convention. Joe Trippi is largely heralded as the pioneer in 'Digital Democracy', as the former campaign manager of Howard Dean's Presidential bid, essentially "pioneering the use of online technology to organize what became the largest grassroots movement in presidential politics."(Green Party Site)
In Terms of this being the best option for your constituants, lets discuss your options. As was rightly pointed out in your Townhall meeting yesterday, you have two realistic choices. Either to remain an independant or to make a switch to the Greens. It is highly unlikely and probably not in your best interests to try to get back into the Conservative Caucus as you would likely have to be muzzled, effectively killing your responsibility to speak on behalf of your constituents. The other non-option would be to join the Liberals , who in my opinion would be more happy to use you as ammunition to fight their perennial battle with the Conservatives than to support you, your ideas and those of your constituents. I really don't see you fitting with the NDP so I won't even give that option much credence.
Having said that, the reason I believe it would be best for you and your Constituents to become a Green over remaining an Independant is that you would remain relevent. Right now you are the story, and yes it really should be more about the terrible 'Green Plan', but at the moment you really have the nations attention, as you have I'm sure taken note of. Moreover, you are remaining a story in the national spotlight largely because of the possibility of you joining the Green Party and making history. (Making history for history's sake is not what I am arguing here.) This National spotlight presents a unique opportunity for you to convey your ideas and insights into policy and the way in which MP's should behave and act, as well as that of renewing Canadian Democracy. That is quite a fortunate position to be in considering not long ago you were just a Conservative backbencher. In that sense, it would probably be advisable to remain in the national spotlight for the sake of those previously stated issues(upon which many canadians would be quite grateful, I'm sure), and that of advancing the positions you were voted for in the firstplace by your Constituents.(Albeit some folks did not vote for you for those reasons) Remaining an independent seems to me not likely to result in you keeping this spotlight, largely because Independents don't usually affect any major votes or are granted much speaking time, and you would no longer be much of a story, but more of an afterthought. (I should know, I worked as a page in the House.)
Essentially, you remain a story at the moment but it is temporary, I respect the urge to become a very good independent, but I believe much more could be accomplished as a Green. You would remain in the spotlight, largely because there is an appetite for what the Green Party would be like in the House and possibly in Government. Many Canadians would consider voting Green and would therefore be interested in you if you were to become one, hence why I believe you would continue to be in the spotlight since media search for stories that have an audience. You should know this as you have worked in this industry. I believe if you became a Green it would be like being an Independent with the added benefit of having added attention, and would also encourage other dissafected tories to find a new home.
Anyway, enough of my spiel. I wish you all the best!
Truly,
Jaya Seeley
