Former Staff Member Criticizes d'Entremont's Party Switch
Brian Hirtle expressed strong disapproval of Acadie-Annapolis MP Chris d'Entremont's decision to join the Liberal Party, labeling it as "self-serving."
Reaction to the Party Change
Hirtle, a Viewmount resident, was stunned by the news of d'Entremont’s floor-crossing. Having actively supported all three of d'Entremont’s federal election victories and served as the electoral district association president before retiring six months ago, he felt deeply taken aback.
“I woke up from a nap and the phone lit up everywhere. It was all over the news that he was considering it. I was as shocked as anybody.”
A Betrayal of Community Effort
Hirtle emphasized the collective effort behind d'Entremont's previous success and viewed the switch as a betrayal to the community that helped elect him.
“It’s a slap in the face to the residents. It takes a village to get an MP elected. It takes a community of hard-working folks from Argyle to Long Point Road. It’s a team effort.”
He added the team had been proud to maintain the only Conservative seat in Nova Scotia, which d’Entremont effectively “gave away” by his decision.
Personal and Community Impact
Although Hirtle and d'Entremont have been both friends and colleagues, he is uncertain about their future interactions. He also noted younger voters who supported d'Entremont in April feel deeply disappointed.
“He feels very betrayed.”
Brian Hirtle’s condemnation highlights the personal and communal strain caused by a high-profile political defection.