Atlantic MPs target Tories over Casey ejection

Opposition members from Atlantic Canada grilled the Conservative government Wednesday for kicking out a Nova Scotia MP who broke ranks and voted against a bill to implement the federal budget.

The MPs said the removal from the Conservative caucus of Bill Casey went against a statement by Foreign Minister Peter MacKay, who had told the House of Commons that the Tories would not be "whipping, flipping,hiring,or firing" any of their members for opposing the bill.

"He stuck to that comment as well as he did the David Orchard agreement and the Atlantic Accord," Nova Scotia Liberal MP Scott Brisontold reporters Wednesday.

Casey was ejected fromtheTory caucus hours after he cast his vote Tuesday night. He said he couldn't support the budget because it doesn't allow his province to fully benefit from offshore oil and gas revenues without losing equalization payments from Ottawa.

MacKay, also a Tory MP from Nova Scotia and the minister responsible for the province,avoided reporterson Wednesday outside the House of Commons and did not speak for the government on the matterduring question period.

"Is there an Atlantic minister with the guts to tell their constituents that they will do everything in their power to fix the mistake?" NDP MP Alexa McDonough asked during question period. "Will the minister of foreign affairs admit that last night, his government broke a promise to Atlantic Canadians?"

Unfamiliar territory

For the first time in a career that spans 18 years as a Conservative, Casey rose as an independentin the House Wednesdayandadded his voice to the chorus againsthis former colleagues.

"It's an easy problemto solve," he said. "Will the minister now just say, 'It's all over. We'll honour the Government of Canada's signature?' "

Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn told the House of Commons Wednesday that talks between the federal government and Nova Scotia and his home province of Newfoundland and Labrador over the provinces' offshore accords are continuing.

MacKay andFinance Minister Jim Flaherty tried to use a promise of another deal for the province to get Casey to change his mind just before the vote, but Casey said it wasn't clear what they were offering.

The current budget offers the two provinces a choice between two options:

• Anew, enriched equalization formula that includes a cap on the amount of offshore oil and gas revenues the provinces can keep.
• The old equalization formula,with the benefits from the Atlantic Accord on offshore oil and gas revenues that wasnegotiated by the formerLiberal governmentin 2004.

Casey, who was first elected toParliament as a Progressive Conservative in 1988,said the new budget could cost Nova Scotia up to $1 billion.