Nova Scotia riding backs ousted Tory

A Conservative riding association in Nova Scotia is taking on the prime minister bybacking Bill Casey, the longtime MP who was kicked out of caucus.

Riding officials in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley reaffirmed Casey as their choice at an emergency meeting in Truro Sunday.

"We are not prepared to give up either as the Conservative party or as supporters of Bill Casey. We support both and we hope to continue to do so," said riding president Scott Armstrong.

There could be little doubt Casey was among friends. They applauded his arrival.When the meeting was over, they crowded around to shake his hand and hug and kiss him.

Casey urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to listen to Conservatives in his riding.

"The long-standing riding association from Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley just overruled the prime minister," Casey said to applause.

"There's a gentleman here that campaigned for Percy Black in 1938, to give you an idea of how far back this riding association goes. This is democracy at its best and they've made a decision. I'm very grateful for that decision and I expect the prime minister to honour it."

Casey has represented the northern Nova Scotia riding for four consecutive terms. In the 2006 election, he took more than 50 per cent of the vote.

He has been sitting as an Independent since June, when he was turfed from the Conservative caucus for voting against the federal budget he said contradicted the promises laid out in Nova Scotia's 2005 offshore oil and gas revenue deal with Ottawa.

Last week, Harper said Casey would not be welcomed back and would not be the Conservative candidate in the next federal election.

It was tough for many of Casey's supporters to hear.

'Our heart is with Bill'

"I am a true blue Tory conservative. This is very, very difficult for me. But Bill's also excellent. He was an excellent MP so our heart is with Bill," Roseanne MacIsaac, who has worked on every one of Casey's campaigns, said Sunday.

Edith Ripley, a Tory for 60 years, is also backing Casey, who has said he would run as an Independent.

"I guess whatever happens, I'll still be with Bill," Ripley said.

Ultimately, it will be up to Harper to decide whether to sign Casey's Conservative nomination papers.

Casey's supporters expect the prime minister to refuse and are planning to meet again in a week to decide their next move.