Bi-partisan Politics Not On Dion's Agenda

Us or them? Dion tells MP to choose
Susan Delacourt
Toronto Star

OTTAWA–Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion says he won't allow Mississauga MP Wajid Khan to keep serving as a "special adviser" to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Calling it "bizarre" for a Liberal MP to be advising a Conservative prime minister, Dion said it's time for Khan to choose his political team.

There are persistent rumours that Khan is being wooed to join the Conservatives – rumours the MP for Mississauga-Streetsville hasn't denied this week.

"You can't have a foot in the government and a foot in the opposition," Dion told reporters yesterday.

"He needs to choose. I hope he will stay with us,"

Khan was named in August by Harper as a special adviser on the Middle East and Afghanistan, over the protests of some of his Liberal colleagues who were incredulous that he intended to stay as a Liberal while working for the Conservative prime minister.

This week, the former car salesman and Pakistani fighter pilot told the Star he had submitted a report on the Middle East recently to Harper and that he had enjoyed doing the work.

But Dion, who became leader in early December, made it clear yesterday he wouldn't have allowed Khan to accept that job and still remain in the Liberal caucus.

"I think it was not a very wise move to do that," Dion said.

Khan had no immediate response to Dion's ultimatum.

He was due to meet with Dion by week's end to discuss his political future.