MacKay slams Brison for joining Liberals

Last Updated Wed, 10 Dec 2003 21:49:00

OTTAWA - Tory Leader Peter MacKay slammed MP Scott Brison's jump to the
Liberal party Wednesday, saying it's a cynical and manipulative move to
advance his career.

MacKay said Brison voted for and supported the ratification of the
Alliance-Tory merger. "It's really quite irreconcilable what he has
done today," MacKay said. "What's the motivation?"

Saying the Liberals better reflect his personal values, Brison said
Wednesday he was leaving the Progressive Conservatives to join a Paul
Martin government. Martin made the announcement at an Ottawa news
conference with the Nova Scotia MP.

MacKay said Brison failed to show up at caucus Tuesday and he only heard
about his defection Wednesday morning. "That speaks volumes,"
MacKay said. MacKay said he's received calls from people in Brison's
constituency "and they're calling it what it is, a completely cynical
manipulative move by Mr. Brison to enhance his own personal career."

Brison made the decision to cross the floor following two conversations
with Martin, who becomes prime minister on Friday. Brison received a
standing ovation at a Liberal caucus meeting Wednesday. A member of the PCs
for more than 25 years, Brison said he struggled with the merger between
the Progressive Conservatives and Canadian Alliance. He had said he would
endorse the new party if it adopted progressive policies. "The PC
party I grew up in no longer exists," said Brison.

He says the Liberal party better reflects his personal values and the
values of his constituents. "There is great angst as to the direction
of the new Conservative Party," said Brison. Martin welcomed Brison to
the Liberal caucus, saying he will make a "tremendous addition"
to the party.

Brison, who is openly gay, has told friends he expects the new Conservative
Party will have problems with intolerant members of Parliament. He says he
wants to avoid becoming what he calls a poster boy for gay issues.
"This nonsense about the party leaving him makes no sense,"
MacKay said. "This is about Scott Brison himself. This isn't about the
political future of this new conservative movement. This is about his own
future."

As a Liberal, Brisonhas decided he would be able to focus on economics and
tax policy. He has also said he believes Martin will make an exceptional
prime minister. An MP from the Bloc Qubcois recently joined the Liberals.
The Liberals say the defections illustrate Martin's drawing power to what
they like to call a "big tent" party.

The Conservatives' failure to keep Brison is political ammunition for the
Liberals, who have called the new party little more than the Canadian
Alliance with a fresh logo. Earlier in the year, Brison ran against MacKay
for the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives

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