Bill Casey's legacy

Bill Casey votes against the federal budget in the House of Commons in 2007. (Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)

What would Sir Charles Tupper say about this Monday's by-election in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley?

Sir Charles Tupper was one of the Fathers of Confederation. He was elected in this riding in 1867 and held it for twenty years.

Tupper held a strong belief that a Canadian union would be beneficial to Nova Scotia and himself. During his career he became known as an outspoken advocate of an imperial federation. Sir John A. MacDonald was not always pleased with Tupper's views, but Tupper's political standing, according to historians, allowed him to speak freely.

Tupper easily won most of his elections.

It's a legacy in this riding that allows Members of Parliament to do something the vast majority of politicians across this country shy away from - speak openly and critically about issues even if it means shooting your career in the foot.

Tupper did it and got away with it.

Roughly a century later Bill Casey did it... although with a few ramifications.

In the 2006 election, Casey, running as a Conservative, swept the polls, beating the runner-up, Liberal Gary Richard, by 12,140 votes.

Then, in 2007, Casey was kicked out of the Conservative caucus after voting against the budget. His beef was it didn't allow Nova Scotia to fully benefit from offshore oil and gas revenues without losing equalization payments from the federal government.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper told Casey to tow the line or get out. Casey chose the latter.

He ran again last year, this time as an Independent, and won with almost seventy per cent of the vote. He topped the second-place NDP candidate by roughly 22,000 votes. The message to politicians and Mr. Harper was clear: voters in this part of Nova Scotia want a politician who actually sticks up for the constituency.

During this by-election campaign you can't have a conversation without someone mentioning Bill Casey. A local debate this week in Truro was dominated by Casey and his ideals and legacy.

I was talking with a couple of dairy farmers about the contest. They both said the choice is simple. Whichever candidate is most like Bill Casey is the person they'll vote for. They didn't care if electing a Conservative gets them closer to those infrastructure cheques with the party logo on them. They didn't care about their candidate making it into cabinet.

They just want someone to stick up for them. Someone who will put the region's interests ahead of a political career.

During the debate all the candidates appeared to love Bill Casey, and made a point of calling him a friend.

But the two farmers say they would rather a candidate who is true to him or herself . All they want is someone who will stand up in the House of Commons and politely say this is not good for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley and allow me the courtesy to tell you why.

That's what Bill Casey did. That's what Sir Charles Tupper did. And my farmers are hoping the MP elected on Monday will do the same.