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Nine lives

Garth Turner walks out on the Liberals

Elected by 12,000 votes in 1988 as a Progressive Conservative, ran for party leadership, sat as a cabinet minister, defeated by 4,000 votes in 1993, elected by 2,000 votes as a Conservative in 2006, kicked out of caucus less than a year later, sat as an independent for several months, welcomed into the Liberal caucus in 2007, defeated by 7,000 votes in 2008, declared as a candidate to be the Liberal candidate in a different riding in 2009, Garth Turner walks away.

After being recruited to run for MP in the Ontario riding of Dufferin-Caledon, and having my candidacy approved by the Liberal Party last July, today I informed the leader of my resignation.

My hope in returning to Parliament was to help clear the path to a viable economic future. Stephen Harper’s $56 billion deficit and profligate spending are massive threats. But also threatening is a lack of debate about viable options and an honest conversation with voters and citizens on the looming consequences.

Therefore it’s hard to see what the coming election will be about if we’re not prepared to discuss the options in the wake of the Harper fiscal disaster. Economic growth alone won’t wipe out an historic debt load or the need for spending cuts and tax hikes. The looming HST in Ontario and BC is likely but a taste of medicine to come. This is what Canadians need to understand.

See previously: Slap fight! Life in a swing riding

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