Garth Turner

Last updated

On October 18, 2006, the Ontario members of the Conservative caucus voted to suspend Turner for what they claimed were violations of caucus confidentiality as published in his weblog. Within hours, Turner was dismissed from the Conservative Party caucus, and ultimately from the Conservative Party of Canada, by edict of the party's political leadership. The Conservative Party never furnished evidence of Turner's alleged breaches of confidentiality, while Turner argued Prime Minister Stephen Harper could not tolerate an independent-minded MP within his caucus.

On October 19, 2006, the Toronto Star reported that Turner was being courted to become the first ever Green Party of Canada member of Parliament. Turner praised Green leader Elizabeth May on his blog and campaigned for her in her bid to win a seat in the London by-election. [7] According to Turner's weblog, his constituents were consulted over a number of weeks, and various options for action were considered: that he remain an independent Member of Parliament with no party affiliation; that he reconcile with the Conservative party; or that he join the Green Party. After a period of introspection and deliberation, on February 6, 2007, Turner surprised many observers by joining the Liberal Party caucus at the invitation of its leader, Stéphane Dion.

The Conservative Party has criticized this decision as contrary to Turner's often-declared principle of electoral accountability to voters. In response, Turner repeatedly offered to run in a by-election in his constituency of Halton, Ontario, should David Emerson and Wajid Khan (floor-crossing members in the Conservative caucus, each former Liberals) also run in by-elections in their constituencies held at the same time.

In the 2008 federal election, Turner ran unsuccessfully for the Liberal Party in Halton, being defeated by Conservative Lisa Raitt.

In April 2009, Turner published the book, "Sheeple: Caucus Confidential in Stephen Harper's Ottawa," through Key Porter Books. It is an account of his experiences within and without the caucus of the Conservative Party, and the clash between backroom-style politics and the open blogging Turner pioneered as a web-based MP.

In October 2009, Turner resigned his candidacy for the Liberal nomination in Dufferin—Caledon, stating that then-leader Michael Ignatieff's failure to allow a nomination meeting was a signal that his views are unwelcome. [8]

Financial advisor

Turner works as a financial lecturer and an independent, fee-based, licensed financial advisor based in both Toronto and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. [9] [10] He is also a blogger, posting daily on economics and real estate at GreaterFool.ca. Throughout his work at GreaterFool.ca, he has been emphasizing the importance of allocating balanced investments in both real estate and financial markets.

Footnotes

  1. "Maverick MP Garth Turner joins Liberals". CBC News, February 6, 2007. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  2. garth.ca blog entry
  3. Turner, Garth (2015-09-04). "Lessons" . Retrieved 2015-09-15.
  4. CTV News (December 20, 2008). "Garth Turner says hard times have just begun for Canada". The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  5. Pachner, Joann (19 June 2012). "Toronto's housing forecast according to Garth Turner, the Dr. Doom of real estate". Blog Toronto.
  6. "Emerson denies stalling on softwood solution". CTV News. 2006-02-10. Archived from the original on 2006-02-20. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
  7. "Maverick MP Turner resigns from Conservative party". CBC News, November 14, 2006. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  8. "Garth Turner quits Liberals, slams Ignatieff, Harper". CTV News. 13 October 2009. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021.
  9. "Former Lunenburg bank spared from becoming 'another hipster café,' says new owner". CBC News.
  10. "Hon. Garth Turner - Turner Investments". Turner Investments. Archived from the original on 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
Garth Turner
PC
Garth Turner (cropped).jpg
Turner in Oakville, 2008
31st Minister of National Revenue
In office
June 25, 1993 November 3, 1993