Ontario MP Garth Turner, ousted from the Conservative party over allegations he broke caucus confidentiality, says he plans to speak with Elizabeth May about an offer to join the Green party.

The future is "a bit of an open question now," Turner told CBC Newsworld on Thursday, a day after the federal Conservative party's Ontario caucus indefinitely suspended him.

MP Garth Turner, who was suspended from the Conservative caucus Wednesday, makes his way to a news conference in Ottawa later in the day.
(CP PHOTO/Fred Chartrand)

Turner says he "believes" May, the party's leader, was one of the hundreds of people who called and e-mailed him on Wednesday.

"I've certainly heard from one major political party who has asked me to come and join them," he said.

Turner says he won't rush to make a decision, but will speak to May, who became the party's leader in late August.

"It's important to speak to her because I respect the fact that she's called me," he said.

When asked whether he thinks he'd be a good fit with the party's fiscally conservative, socially liberal policies, Turner said he doesn't know yet.

"That certainly will be part of the conversation I'll be having with Elizabeth May when I hook up with her," he said.

Turner joked that he was "shocked" he doesn't appear to have a future with the NDP or Bloc Québécois, and said he hasn't heard from the Liberals.

Constituents my boss: Turner

The newly independent MP says he'll quickly begin consultations with his constituents in the Ontario riding of Halton, outside of Toronto, to find out what they want him to do.

"I work for them, which is part of the reason I got into this pickle in the first place," said Turner. "I don’t feel my boss is the prime minister; I feel my boss is the voters."

"It's important for me to find out what they want and what they think is effective right now. If they want me to run again, I will."

Turner acknowledges sitting as an Independent is a "tough row to hoe" in Canada, which doesn't "have a tradition of Independents meaning that much in the House of Commons."

He repeated earlier denials that he broke caucus confidentiality, the reason the Conservatives gave while explaining his ouster. Turner has used his blog to criticize government policies, including tax breaks and its environmental policies.

Musings on the contents of the next federal budget, written in his blog, were simply speculation, he said.

"The finance minister gave me no indication at all as to what would be in the budget," said Turner. "It was merely conjecture. It's what I would do in a newspaper column or in an internet column."

Turner admits he did test the limits within party ranks.

"Have I gone close to the edge with party discipline? Of course I have and I know that," he said. "I am an experienced guy … I know how the system works. I have not breached caucus confidentiality."

Turner says governments have to face facts that communication through the internet is a fact of life. 

"That's where so many people get their information today. Get used to it — the 'internetization' of politics is here."

With Turner's departure, the standings in the House of Commons are as follows: 124 Conservatives, 101 Liberals, 50 BQ, 29 NDP, 2 Independents, and 2 vacancies.