In Their Own Words: Conservative MPs on Stephen Harper’s Watch List

May 10, 2013

Stephen Harper is spending millions of Canadians’ tax dollars to keep tabs on his own Members of Parliament. A quick review indicates why some of these Conservative MPs may have found themselves on Harper’s watch list.

Larry Miller, MP for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound:

“I don’t participate in criticizing anybody else. I like to talk about me. I don’t like negative advertising, I don’t use it, and that old saying – I control what I can control. I’ve voiced my opinion on it, I don’t like it.” (On why he won’t be sending out the anti-Justin Trudeau Conservative flyers)

CBC News, May 1, 2013

Laurie Hawn, MP for Edmonton Centre:

“I haven’t sent out an attack ten-percenter for over four years. It’s just not my style.” (On why he won’t be sending out the anti-Justin Trudeau Conservative flyers)

CBC News, May 1, 2013

Patricia Davidson, MP for Sarnia–Lambton:

“‘The myopic policy of supporting the asbestos industry without fail must be viewed rationally and scientifically, and from both viewpoints the current policy our government supports falls well short,’ she told Natural Resources Minister Christian Paradis on March 25, 2010…‘In my view, this is not a partisan political issue, nor is it an issue where electoral politics should trump human health concerns that are truly at issue with the policy,’ she stated.” (On her opposition to her government’s policy on asbestos)

Maclean’s, June 3, 2011

Michael Chong, MP for Wellington–Halton Hills:

“Unfortunately, over the decades the coordinating and scheduling function of party House leaders and party whips has shifted to that of a command and control function.” (On the Conservative Party Whip blocking CPC MP Mark Warawa from making a statement in the House of Commons without permission)

Hansard, House of Commons, April 15, 2013

LaVar Payne, MP for Medicine Hat:

“What is unfortunate is that some members are denied the ability to speak if what they are going to say is unacceptable to the powers that be. I was elected by the people of my constituency to represent them in Ottawa. When the majority of my constituents feel strongly on one particular issue, I feel it is my duty to speak freely in the House about that issue.” (On the Conservative Party Whip blocking CPC MP Mark Warawa from making a statement in the House of Commons without permission)

Hansard, House of Commons, April 18, 2013

Dan Albas, MP for Okanagan–Coquihalla:

“Albas wants to take the high road and says the material isn’t his style. ‘I personally prefer to be aggressive on the issues and not necessarily the people involved.’” (On why he won’t be sending out the Anti-Justin Trudeau Conservative flyers)

AM 1150, April 30, 2013

Daryl Kramp, MP for Prince Edward–Hastings:

“I think the politics should be played in the House of Commons, and maybe out in peoples’ minds, but the day it becomes personal that’s the day that I’m not involved with that. There’s a lot of good people in politics, on all sides, there’s people that I don’t respect, but I’ll say that to them personally.” (On why he won’t be sending out the anti-Justin Trudeau Conservative flyers)

Quinte News, May 1, 2013

Brad Trost, MP for Saskatoon–Humboldt:

“If everyone in a party thinks the same on every issue, not a lot of thinking is going on… We need to have a cultural change. I think it would relax everybody. The whip needs to have less authority over members.” (On the Conservative Party Whip blocking CPC MP Mark Warawa from making a statement in the House of Commons without permission)

Postmedia, February 1, 2012

Russ Heibert, MP for South Surrey–White Rock–Cloverdale:

“The schedule of who gets to participate in introducing private legislation is arranged in a rotation, regardless of party affiliation, as we all know. The same principle should apply to S.O. 31s. A rotating schedule would allow every MP an equal opportunity to participate in this critically important speaking opportunity.” (On the Conservative Party Whip blocking CPC MP Mark Warawa from making a statement in the House of Commons without permission)

Hansard, House of Commons, April 16, 2013