Former d'Entremont Staff Member Criticizes Floor-Crossing
Brian Hirtle expressed strong disappointment after Acadie-Annapolis MP Chris d'Entremont decided to join the Liberal Party.
Background and Reaction
Hirtle, a Viewmount resident, supported all three of d'Entremont's federal election victories. He served as the electoral district association president and worked closely with the Conservative MP before retiring six months ago.
“I woke up from a nap and the phone lit up everywhere. It was all over the news that he was considering it,” Hirtle recalled. “I was as shocked as anybody.”
Criticism of the Decision
He called d'Entremont’s move "self-serving" and described it as:
“a slap in the face to the residents.”
Hirtle emphasized the collective effort behind electing an MP:
“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 that the team was proud to have held the only Conservative seat in Nova Scotia, which d'Entremont essentially gave away.
Personal Impact and Uncertainty
Despite their friendship and professional relationship, Hirtle is uncertain about their future interactions. He also mentioned younger voters who supported d’Entremont for the first time in the April election now feel betrayed.
“He feels very betrayed,” Hirtle said.
Summary: Brian Hirtle views Chris d’Entremont’s switch to the Liberal Party as a betrayal to the community that helped elect him and questions what this means for their friendship going forward.