Former Liberal cabinet minister David Emerson's decision to join the Conservative government has provoked shock and surprise back in his Vancouver-Kingsway riding.

The Liberals' secretary-organizer for the riding, John McNamee, says he had no word of the move until he received a phone call on Monday morning, and is now feeling betrayed.



David Emerson, while still a Liberal
cabinet minister, responds to opposition
questions in the House of Commons,
November 2005. (CP Photo/Fred Chartrand)
"I thought I was being tricked at first, because it seemed like a prank," said a "very disappointed" McNamee.

McNamee says he worked for a Liberal and voted for a Liberal during the recent election – and that if Emerson wanted to sit as a Conservative, he should have run as one.

"I worked hard on the campaign and I know a lot of people worked a lot harder than me on the campaign as volunteers day in and day out. And it's really a shock to find out that in helping to elect a Liberal, you in fact elect a Conservative."

Emerson had been known to joke that he was a "small-c" Liberal. Now he is a "large-c" Conservative in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's new government. And he is now trying to play down the differences between the two parties.

"The overlap between the Liberals and Conservatives leaves a little ground where people can be comfortable in either one."

He says he always ran his constituency office on a non-partisan basis, and that his decision to join the Harper government was in the best interests of his constituents in Vancouver-Kingsway

"I think what you'll find at the constituency level is that people want a Member of Parliament who can help them, who can get things done," said the new Tory.

I think I can be more effective in helping them in cabinet than in opposition. They will have their opportunity to pass judgment on me at the next election."

Some voters in Vancouver-Kingsway interviewed by CBC News appear to have already made up their minds about Emerson's move.

  • "I wouldn't have voted for him. It was a toss-up between [him and] the NDP candidate, who I thought I was incredible. And I just went with Emerson because of his experience. I'm shocked. I'm disgusted.That is not right. That's very deceiving."

  • "I think there's going to be a lot of people who are really disappointed because I think a lot of people voted strategically, so that they could not get the Conservatives in."

  • "I think once you find a party that you believe in, you should stick with it. It sort of tells me that he doesn't really believe in his party. He's looking for personal gain."

  • "I personally did vote for the Conservatives. So I'm very disappointed that he did that."

  • "I think it's really disrespectful of people who voted for him. And I also think that politicians, if they're really sincere, would probably stay stay with their own party."