Turner top preformer on the Hill

Independent M.P. Garth Turner
Media Release

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Halton's independent member of Parliament, Garth Turner, has been named the "Top Performing MP" by the respected, Ottawa-based organization, Politics Watch.

Of the 308 politicians in the House of Commons, Turner was cited as the top performer, in a year-end review of 2006 that also picked Finance Minister Jim Flaherty as the best performer in the Stephen Harper cabinet.

Of Turner, Politics Watch says, "Love him or hate him, Garth Turner has made his mark in Ottawa this year. In addition to getting booted out of the Tory caucus, Turner has been a leading advocate of democratic reform and income-splitting."

Turner spearheaded the movement in the House of Commoms to have the tax rules changed so two million retired Canadian couples could to split pension income between them, reducing income taxes. The government agreed to do that on October 31, and the change takes effect next week.

Currently Turner is leading Parliamentarians in a drive to extend income-splitting to all Canadian families. That would allow spouses to share income, ending the unfair tax disparity between single-income and dual-income families, and allowing stay-at-home parents to share money with working spouses, to reduce family tax and let them make RRSP contributions. Turner is hosting a National Conference on income-splitting January 30th on Parliament Hill.

Politics Watch also praised Turner for his communications, saying his online blog, published at www.garth.ca , "has become a must-read for Press Gallery reporters." Turner is unique among federal MPs for providing his constituents, and all Canadians, with daily reports on his activities, and national issues. In addition, Turner has held 20 Town Hall meetings in Halton since being elected less than a year ago, and had published more than 18,000 comments from voters on his interactive web site.

"It certainly is gratifying being singled out like this, Turner says, "since the main themes I promised voters in the last election were middle class tax breaks, and an MP they could count on to listen, respond and always be in touch. Canadians are very tired of electing people who seem to disappear, so I hope in a small way I can set a new standard for MPs who are always available and accessible."

In 2006, Turner also spoke out strongly against MPs who cross the floor and switch parties for their own gain, following the appointment of Liberal David Emerson to the Conservative cabinet. He blew the whistle on extra pay being given quietly to MPs, called into question Canada's actions in shipping 12,000 dual citizens out of Lebanon at Canadian taxpayer expense, sharply criticized Ottawa for a green plan that failed to address climate change, lobbied for a series of family tax reductions and, following his ouster from Mr. Harper's caucus, has introduced motions in Parliament to bolster independent MPs and reduce the influence of big political parties.

"It's been a tumultuous year," Turner admits, "and on the night of the election I could never have predicted what would happen to me. However, one thing's been constant, and that's my simple commitment to get up each day and try to do the ethical and principled thing for the people of Halton. I said a year ago I work only for them, not a political party, and that will never change."

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