david emerson $97,000 down

Vancouver Liberals want Emerson to repay $97,000
Feb. 7 2006
CTV.ca News Staff

The Vancouver Kingsway Liberal Riding Association wants turncoat MP David Emerson to repay it almost $97,000.

"Countless people donated money to support the election of a Liberal candidate in our riding. Some gave what little they could afford to support the election of a Liberal MP," said the letter, obtained by CTV Vancouver on Tuesday.

"That money was spent to elect you as a Liberal, not a Conservative." ... signed by Ivan Curman, the riding association's president. ... it suggested Emerson resign and run in a byelection. ...

Just over 20,000 people voted for Emerson. In comparison, Conservative candidate Kanman Wong won the support of about 8,700 voters (NDP candidate Ian Waddell finished second with about 15,600 votes).

The working-class riding does not have a tradition of supporting Conservatives federally. ...

In another surprise move on Monday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Montrealer Michael Fortier, the Conservative's campaign co-chair, a senator and then appointed him as public works minister. The Tories had elected no Montreal MPs.

Riding resident Margaret Wong said of Emerson, "he's a good guy, you know," but Liberal campaign volunteer Jack Mudaliar wasn't in a forgiving mood, saying, "he betrayed our democracy."

Mudaliar had worked on both of Emerson's campaigns, and said his efforts to contact the MP were unsucessful, and that Emerson's staff were trying to tell him not to talk to the media.

Asked what he would say to Emerson, Mudaliar said: "I would say, 'I like you as a person but you cheated me and my community, simple as that'."

The B.C. MP left to speak on this issue Tuesday was James Moore of the Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam riding, who was passed over for cabinet but made a parliamentary secretary on Tuesday. ... NDP MP Libby Davies of the Vancouver East riding said Emerson should face voters in a byelection to pass judgment on his switch.

However, "he's not willing to take that risk. He doesn't have the guts to do that," she said.