[Dion]

Preston Manning has come out with a apology for his part in the floor crossings saying he gave bad advice.

Manning, the former leader of the Reform Party, said he should have advised the floor-crossing MLAs to consult with the party grassroots before making any decisions about the future.

When Manning was involved in the "unite the right" movement at the federal level, the merger that eventually created the Conservative Party included a long process of consultation and a vote by party members.

"My failure to strongly recommend a similar process to the Wildrose caucus was a mistake on my part," Manning said in a statement.

"It was a disservice to those who sought my counsel and to those who have placed their trust in my commitment to democracy - a mistake for which I now sincerely apologize to all concerned."

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews...23-074206.html