MP Turner suspended from Tory caucus

The suspension of Halton MP Garth Turner from the federal Conservative party caucus was announced in Ottawa yesterday by caucus chair Rahim Jaffer.

Mr. Turner, owner of Belfountain General Store and the Cataract Inn, will sit as an Independent in the House of Commons.

Mr. Jaffer said Mr. Turner was ousted in part for critical comments made about the party on a blog he has maintained on his website since the federal election last January.

"There have been different attacks at different times. We've got quite a significant record of them," Mr. Jaffer told reporters, adding that the posts included criticism of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "This has been a culmination."

The decision to oust Mr. Turner came on the recommendation of the party's Ontario caucus. Mr. Jaffer

said there were concerns regarding caucus confidentiality.

"The theme of confidentiality was not being respected in their opinion and it restricted the ability of members to operate," Mr. Jaffer said, adding that the suspension was a long time coming and the votes were unanimous.

Shortly after the Conservatives came into power, Mr. Turner spoke out against former Liberal MP David Emerson's defection to the Tories.

The latest development leaves the party standings in the 308-seat House of Commons at 124 Conservatives, 101 Liberals, 50 Bloc Québécois, 29 New Democrats and two Independents. The Commons also has two vacancies. Liberal MP Joe Fontana resigned recently to run in a municipal campaign and BQ MP Benoit Sauvageau died in a traffic accident.