Brazeau calls on voters to oust Harper

OTTAWA— Sen. Patrick Brazeau, who was expelled from the Conservative caucus, is urging Canadians to vote Stephen Harper out of office in an online essay that likens his leadership style to a dictatorship.

“Harper is a control freak,” Brazeau wrote in a 1,608-word column published by the online political news site Loonie Politics. The essay begins with his thoughts on how Harper has been responding to questions about the criminal trial of Sen. Mike Duffy.

“When I was in caucus, very few challenged him. Those who did were shut down, those who had differing opinions were silenced,” wrote Brazeau, claiming he once “shamed” Harper in front of his caucus for not calling an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.

“When you contradict, shame or make the PM look bad regardless of its significance, watch out because some of his soldiers are coming after you,” Brazeau wrote. “Is that ‘PROVEN LEADERSHIP?’ No, it’s ‘PROVEN DICTATORSHIP’ and it scares me and it should scare you. I’m afraid of what Harper and his entourage will do to achieve their ends because I have lived it and they have done everything imaginable to ensure I lose my job even though I have been honest, open and accountable. For heaven’s sake, I haven’t had a fair trial yet. Luckily, that day will come for me. Unfortunately, that day will come for the Harper Conservatives,” Brazeau wrote.

Brazeau declined to be interviewed about some of the points he raised in his column, telling the Star in an email Wednesday that he would be “offering more details at a later date.”

Asked for a response Wednesday, Conservative spokesman Stephen Lecce referred the Star to a comment he made Aug. 6, when Brazeau posted to Twitter that he had attempted suicide: “It’s concerning, and we sincerely encourage Mr. Brazeau to seek the help he needs.”