Emerson frustrated, ex-aide says
Said to complain Tories `too partisan'
Minister's office denies remarks made

OTTAWA—Trade Minister David Emerson is telling former associates privately that he is frustrated being a member of the Conservative government, according to an ex-aide.

His main complaints are that the government is too partisan and too tightly controlled under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the ex-aide says. ...

Jay Epworth, Emerson's legislative assistant when he was industry minister in the Paul Martin government, said Emerson recently told him he has been shocked by the Harper government's fierce adversarial approach.

"Behind closed doors, the Conservatives are worse partisans than the Liberals ever were," Emerson said, according to notes Epworth wrote after his conversation with the minister.

"They hate the f---ing Liberals and they're doing everything they can to screw them," he quoted Emerson as saying .. [Read the rest of the story]