Guergis Affair Bigger Than Her
I’ve been reading extensively about the dismissal of Helena Guergis from the Conservative cabinet and caucus. I blogged about the really big break her husband, former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer, received after being charged not only with impaired driving but also possession of cocaine, and the red flags it raised.
Now that didn’t directly mean his wife, then a Conservative cabinet minister, was involved. It did however provide truly bad optics. Justice not only has to be done, it has to be seen to be done. Jaffer’s case doesn’t show justice being done, it shows someone with money and connections walking away from some very serious charges.
As the result of some investigative reporting by Kevin Donovan at the Toronto Star, we’ve since learned that being nailed with impaired and drug possession that night was just the end of what could well be seen as a rather questionable evening. He spent the evening partying with Nazim Gillani, a rather shady business person with criminal charges hanging over his head and apparently being investigated in regards to some serious fraud.
Jaffer and Gillani apparently have been involved in some business dealings over a period of time. According to reports read, Jaffer has approached current MPs to make enquiries about the availability of government funding. Gillani felt cocky enough about the link between the two men to make claims of having access to the Prime Minister’s office and to green funding from the government.
None of those events are known to directly involve Guergis. Somewhere within the information that private investigator brought forward to the Conservatives is what directly involved Guergis and brought about her downfall. It prompted Harper to dismiss her not just as a cabinet minister but from the Conservative caucus and refer the information to the Ethics Commissioner’s office and the RCMP.
Yes, I know, Guergis resigned — moot point, resign or be fired, was her options at that point.
From those two actions, one can learn that what was brought forward was either questionable behaviour on the part of Guergis or criminal. At this point the RCMP are not even admitting to actually doing an investigation and the Ethics Commissioner is claiming no request was made to her office.
Interesting that the RCMP would announce in the midsts of an election campaign they were investigating a Liberal candidate, Ralph Goodale, and thus influencing the outcome of an election which brought the Conservatives to power but wont even say if they are investigating a Conservative MP at the request of the PM. BTW, it was later found there was no basis for an investigation of Goodale.
In reading through reports of an interview conducted by the CBC with the private investigator, Daryl Snowdy, who brought forward this MP toppling information it becomes clear that the Ethics Commissioner’s office received some sort of official communication which prompted a call from that office to Snowdy.
It appears that because Snowdy made it clear he had brought forth information and had not made allegations the Ethics Commissioner’s office has chosen to decline to investigate further. In my understanding of the role of the Commissioner, she has the right to act pro actively in holding the feet of government officials and in particular MPs to the fire over their behaviour.
This isn’t the first time I’ve read reports of questionable behaviour being referred to her office and her declining to act. So, just what is she doing to earn her keep and just what are we paying her for? If she comes into possession of information which indicates a potential problem, it should not take that information being accompanied by allegations for her to act.
The PM and in fact, Parliament, should be insisting on this. The commissioner should never be allowed to say she hasn’t received an official request therefore she isn’t responding. That’s a little like a fireman saying just because there’s smoke he’s not going to check if there is a fire.
This is one more area where the promise of accountability and transparency which Harper used to bring him to power has not been delivered. I thought the Chretien government was bad for flipping the bird at the public and refusing to allow information about their behaviour out, they didn’t hold a candle to the antics that have been wafting out of the Conservative government.
Harper took the right actions by removing Guergis but trying to do so behind a wall of silence is not helping. Then again, the wall of silence is the trademark of his contempt towards Parliament and the people.
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