The wrath against Khan

Liberal defector goes down to defeat after crossing floor to Tories last year,
Oct 15, 2008 04:30 AM 'Tess Kalinowski


Liberal tradition trumped Conservative party favours as Mississauga-Streetsville stayed true to its roots by electing first-time candidate Bonnie Crombie last night
Repeated visits to the riding by Prime Minister Stephen Harper weren't enough to persuade voters to back incumbent Wajid Khan, this time running as a Conservative. Khan won as a Liberal in the two previous elections but crossed the floor of Parliament in 2007.

Speaking to supporters after his defeat, Khan said, "I'm proud of the contribution, the benefits I have brought to Canada through my work will never be diminished.

"I don't believe in making things personal," he said. "We worked hard, but at the end of the day it is the constituents who decide and I respect their decision."

For many observers though, the race was personal in the affluent, diverse riding. Throughout the campaign, Crombie had referred to Khan's floor crossing as a betrayal of voters' sacred trust. Wearing a smart, Liberal-red suit, Crombie told supporters last night, "Together we're going to make Mississauga-Streetsville the best place to live in Canada."

Crombie was flanked by her two sons, a daughter, and husband, Brian.

A corporate marketing expert and fundraiser, she capitalized throughout the campaign on her strong local connections in Mississauga.

Despite the Conservatives' dedicated push to win over ridings like in this one in the 905 region, voters here weren't ready to accept Khan's decision to join the Conservative party after the former Pakistani air force pilot had already been named the Prime Minister's special advisor on the Middle East.

The riding had returned a Liberal to Parliament in every election since 1993. Harper signs were planted next to Khan's own blue election signs in the riding and the former car dealer repeatedly deflected campaign questions to the issue of federal leadership, contrasting Harper's style with that of Liberal leader Stéphane Dion.

"The leadership of Stephen Harper has made this country better. Canadians are confident in their government," Khan told supporters last night.

Throughout the campaign, Crombie had talked about herself as "a Liberal of conviction rather than convenience."

Last week, before TV cameras, Crombie countered Khan's support of Harper by holding up a picture of the Conservative candidate standing beside Dion.

In a riding where the average annual household income is about $85,000 and more than 80 per cent of residents own their own home, Crombie said the Liberals had the best experience to deal with the country's economic difficulties.

"Everyone's interested in the economy, the prosperity agenda, and the people of Mississauga-Streetsville are no different," she told the Star in an interview.

http://www.thestar.com/article/517321