Free at Last - Free at Last - Conservative MP Rathgeber breaks the chains of oppression

What a pleasant surprise it was to turn on the news today and hear that there was one Conservative MP who, not only believed in transparency, had the courage of his conviction to leave the party and sit as an independent.

Brent Rathgeber

 

"I’m obviously very, very disappointed both with the government position and certainly with the [committee’s Conservative] colleagues, many of whom philosophically support this legislation unequivocally, but seemed powerless to resist the instructions that were given to them by the [Prime Minister’s Office], by the whip or wherever the final instructions came from," Rathgeber told the Globe after the committee vote.

"…I think we fought the good fight, but we’re simply dealing with a government that is not interested in transparency."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/unchained-mp-brent-rathgeber-voices-frustrations-other-tory-195942230.html

It should be interesting to hear the nasty spin the PMO puts on this one.

Rathgeber's departure comes after several episodes of mostly polite rebellion by Conservative MPs:

— A dozen Tories, including Rathgeber, spoke out in the House of Commons about the autonomy of MPs and their right to make statements in Parliament without first clearing them with the party leadership.

— Several Conservatives said they would not mail out a taxpayer-financed pamphlet attacking Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, which was produced by the Conservative research group.

— Saskatchewan MPs said they were caught flatfooted on the redistribution of ridings in their province because the party unwisely told them to back off early in the process.

— Caucus members are less than thrilled with how the Senate expenses scandal has been handled, and are watching flagging support in the polls with a wary eye.

Putting a fine point on Rathgeber's main gripe about control, colleague Brad Trost said Thursday he was disappointed in the way Harper's office responded to the resignation. Director of communications Andrew MacDougall tweeted Wednesday night that Rathgeber should resign his seat and run in a byelection.

"That was not a respectful way to handle this," said Trost.