A Conservative MP has shocked his Ottawa constituents by saying they should have voted Liberal if they want more federal agencies and offices in their riding.

MP Royal Galipeau, who represents Ottawa-Orléans, made the comments in an article published Friday in the newspaper Le Droit.

On Monday, Galipeau clarified his comments by telling CBC News that a greater federal presence might benefit his riding.

'But I will not support the moving of a federal department only for political gain.'—Royal Galipeau, Conservative MP for Ottawa-Orléans

"But I will not support the moving of a federal department only for political gain."

He gave the example of National Research Council laboratories that were sent to New Brunswick by the previous Liberal government.

"The former government moved NRC facilities to Moncton where it made no economic sense except to buy Liberal votes. I'm not going to do that."

Galipeau also told CBC's French language service Radio-Canada on Monday that he has been quietly working to bring those parts of the NRC back to Ottawa.

But he added that moving government offices does not necessarily generate economic growth.

'Economic development always needs a catalyst': Feltmate

His comments did not sit well with Orléans residents such as Doug Feltmate, head of a group that has been trying to get federal offices into the riding.

'It's not about political gain as he refers to constantly.… What we're after is balanced growth.'—Doug Feltmate, chair of Team Ottawa-Orléans

"Economic development always needs a catalyst," said Feltmate, chair of the group Team Ottawa-Orléans, which lobbies for social and economic development in the community.

"It's not about political gain as he refers to constantly.… What we're after is balanced growth." 

Feltmate said local municipal and provincial representatives are already backing his group's efforts, and it needs Galipeau's support, also.

"When we met with [the Department of] Public Works, they told us quite frankly that we would need political involvement."

He said only 100 of almost 98,000 federal jobs in Ottawa are in Orléans even though 23 per cent of its 104,000 residents work for the government. More federal offices in Orléans would reduce the number of long-distance commuters driving across the city, Feltmate said.

He added that the National Research Council facility in Ottawa's east end does not currently benefit Orléans.

Galipeau's clarifications did appease some residents.

Pierrette Woods, co-chair of the local Innes Rezoning and Development Group, which lobbies on behalf of the neighbourhood on a variety of issues, spoke out against Galipeau's original comment.

But she said now that he has explained himself publicly, she appreciates his good intentions and is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.