Outspoken Conservative faces challenge for seat
Deirdre McMurdy
The Ottawa Citizen
Thursday, August 17, 2006
OTTAWA — There aren’t too many things more titillating than a good old-fashioned family feud. Unless it’s a political family feud in the dead of summer.
In recent months, the Liberals seemed to have cornered the market on dysfunctional internecine bickering. Oh, sure, they all talk about renewal and regeneration, but the truth is they haven’t stopped scuffling yet about the past.
The rift between the Chretien and Martin factions is still likely to be a touchy topic at the family reunion in December. As anyone who’s ever duked it out with a sibling or cousin knows, these grudges run deep and long.
Not to be outdone, however, the Conservatives are now getting in on the act.
Tory MP Garth Turner is being challenged in his Halton riding by a Christian group that strongly opposes his supportive stance on gay marriage.
With no official warning, he discovered the Conservative Party of Canada had opened his riding for a nomination challenge last Friday — a mere seven months after he was elected.
The challenger is Charles McVety, president of the Canada Christian College and the co-founder of such organizations as the Canadian Family Action Coalition. He’s made no secret of the fact that he intends to target MPs whose positions are at odds with his and there are two others on his list — James Moore of Port Coquitlam, B.C., and Gerald Keddy of South Shore, N.S.
“He’s a formidable opponent, a very political animal who understands the political process,” admits Turner.
“He’s determined to use politics as an instrument of his faith. And their organization has been impressive already.”
McVety, however, is a little less generous.
“Turner has been viciously attacking us on his Web site for months now and using his camaraderie with journalists to push his conspiracy theories,” he says. “He’s got a sense of entitlement about his office, which is the very essence of the problem of corruption in politics.”
McVety insists that although he is a Conservative (his father stood as a candidate for the party in 1972), he had nothing to do with the opening of the Halton riding for nomination.
Furthermore, he insists that in the five days allotted to garner support, his candidate, Darcy Keene, isn’t likely to gain much ground.
For his part, Turner maintains he doesn’t really object to the challenge as much as he minds the disruption to his duties as an elected MP. “I worked really hard to get this job and I took it away from a Liberal after 13 years. That’s not an easy thing to do in the (Greater Toronto Area),” he says.
“But now, I really just want to settle in and do what I promised the voters I would.”
That said, Turner has hardly been a docile foot soldier in the Tory ranks. His critical comments and candid blogging have, he concedes, earned him a “frosty reception” in caucus circles.
That may well have contributed to the national party’s decision to open his riding nomination to a challenger — something the Tories have made the prerogative of the central body, not the area riding association.
But however personal Turner’s treatment — and disappointment — may be, it’s a disturbing development on a much broader scale.
Without mincing words, for a political party that is still in the throes of refining its post-merger culture, it isn’t exactly going out of its way to attract or retain top talent.
Whatever your opinion of Turner’s in-your-face style, the lack of protection for someone who played by the rules and squarely won a riding nomination, and a seat in Parliament, is likely to make other candidates think twice before they stick out their necks or open their wallets on behalf of the Tories.
Neither is this an isolated incident.
Those who volunteer to do things like work for free on the transition team — essentially donating their time and experience to The Cause — stand to be publicly humiliated and pilloried.
That’s what happened to Elizabeth Roscoe, who was singled out for a special amendment to the Federal Accountability Act after taking a job with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters shortly after her stint on the transition team.
The trend has also played out in the senior ranks of the public service.
The efficient purge in the ranks of deputy ministers, most of whom were replaced by successors hand-picked by Privy Council Clerk Kevin Lynch, casts a similar pall.
In the past, one of the key distinctions between the Canadian and American political systems was a certain bureaucratic continuity.
Instead of churning through the ranks of the bureaucracy after an election, the tradition here has been to leave the professional administrators with a good grip on the key files in place.
There’s nothing wrong with changing the established rules of engagement. In fact, it’s a healthy thing to do. The Harper government has been willing to challenge expectations (not the least of which are those of the press gallery) and set its own, highly-focused course.
But whatever your political bent, it’s a good rule of thumb to dance with who brung you. Even if you don’t always like the tune.
24 comments ↓
Oh, you gotta love this. Garth Turner was championing this nomination prodedure only days ago as an example of democracy in action. Now that it might bite him in the ass, he’s throwing eggs at it every chance he can get. And he’s got hacks in the media helping him along the way, too. Lovely.
Basking in all your glory Garth?
This reporter either has no clue what is going and didn’t bother to find out that every MP, including Cabinet Ministers have to fight nomination races or just another Liberal shill trying to tarnish the CPC.
Garth, you are a disappointment. To think that at one time I thought you were going to help change politics – boy was I wrong.
You are a media HOG. this is all about raising your own profile. This is all about your Ego.
You will win easliy. McVety is no match for you. Why can’t you shut up and just go and win. Why do you twist the events to suit your “poor me” facade?
Harper saw right through you from day one. You are not and have never been a team player.
Good luck on the sidelines.
One rule of life for SH (and boys) to remember
When you kick a Bee Hive, expect to be stung!
Halton is one hell of a big angry hive.
Rock on Mr. Turner!!!!!!1
Well lets see if this gets posted…..it seems everyone that Garth has cut me off…..I take that as a compliment….fear no man indeed!
zzzzzzzzz is this over yet? What an embarrassment for ALL involved…..I do support garth holding his seat but after all the chest pounding and rhetoric…tell us….. just what have you accomplished in 6 months Garth?
I also wanted to add that I think McVety is a fool for allowing himself to be painted as “targeting” Turner.
McVety is about to show the entire country that the organizational strength of the “so-cons” is ZERO.
2 Media Hogs – fighting for for who has the bigger ego.
Garth wins.
Garth: I just heard that you’re not a team player. FOR SHAME, SIR! How dare you not don the fleece and bleat along with the rest of the sheep? How dare you spew that vile, heretical common sense, and point out when the Emperor has no clothes? (no? new? if you squint real hard, they sound kinda alike,eh?) How dare you represent your constituents to the government,and not the other way around? And, you actually feel that if enough of those vile, heretical, gay people want to marry, that our righteous, God-fearing government should make it possible? Aside: If God is all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing, and all-loving, and all-forgiving, what exactly does anybody have to fear from him? Fear is the anticipation of pain. What pain do God-fearing Christians anticipate from God? Is God a sadist? Is that why God made gays…just to piss off God-fearing Christians? Um, guys? Gays have been around LONGER than Christians. Some of Christ’s earliest followers might have been gays. Why not? He hung out with prostitutes, publicans, tax collectors, maybe even used camel salesmen…why not gays? What would Jesus do? What DID Jesus do? He took the political and religious establishment of the day to task for being elitist and hypocritical. What would he do today? Probably vote for Garth Turner, just to upset the self-righteous, in-bred, beetle-browed knuckle-dragging mouth-breathers that pontificate on street corners for all to see. How dare I say that? Look it up in the Gospels, guys…that what Jesus said and did, according to the Good Book. You can look it up, you know. Or, is that some section of the book that you haven’t got around to yet?
Garth: THise gyys that are attempting to unseat you, are the greatest evidence I can think of that God is real. After all, only Someone who is real can exhibit such an awesome sense of humor. With soldiers like that fighting for Him, no wonder it seems (to them) like they’re losing. IT appears that God is an equal oppotunity employer — and hiring the sensibly-challenged is a perfectly politically-correct thing to do. NILS ILLEGITIMUS CARBORUNDUM! Of course, that’s just my opinion — I could be wrong
Alex,
Don’t fall for this nonsense. I had NO problem with Garth stepping out about the Emerson switch and the Fortier appointment.
Harper didn’t punish Garth as Garth suggested he would be punished.
But Garth has gone too far to make himself a martyr for grassroots democracy when he and everyone else knows that it is that very grassroots democracy that has given the National Council the authority to conduct such nomination races.
Garth’s drama is just that – Drama. All for the sake of raising his profile to prepare his run for the Leadership of the CPC after Harper decides to step aside.
“Choose Your Canada”
So-Cons in our cities….
in our cities???
Choose your Canada.
Alex, I would say you’re mostly “wrong” on so many levels..I may not agree with much of your message and your delivery leaves a heck of a lot to be desired…
Whatever happened to civil discourse??!! A good debate of ideas, back and forth banter? When did it become acceptable for folks to resort to name calling and ad hominen attacks?? Would you people do this in person too or it is only because you are anon on the internet?
Yes, obviously Diedre did not understand that this nomination process was established a long, long time ago and is meant to help democracy by ensuring that the candidate in place in actaully the one contsituents still want to represent them. Beats the cronyism that was in place previously as far as I’m concerned. This process is rolling out across the country, our riding is due to begin ours at the end of September.
May the best man win, and I hope that’s you Garth (but tone down the drama a bit will ya??)
Hey Garth, Can you comment on your riding’s youth organization coming out in support of your opponent? Seems like not only your Party but also your local riding members are getting a little tired of your antics. Don’t let the door hit you, etc., etc.
There are two youth members. One is a very devote individual who has made her pro-life, pro-marriage beliefs known to me from the first day I met her. The other worked in my office last month as a “volunteer” who turned out this past Monday to be an organizer for the McVety crew. He was recently turned down by the riding association when he asked for money to travel to a youth convention. Haven’t seen the young boy since. Go figure, eh?
Say, care to make a wager on my future? — Garth
For Alex: I like your passion. The cut and thrust of your hyperbolic sword have irked some but entertained many. I find you infinitely more entertaining than the tired old partisan bird-pecking from the dippers, liberals and so-called libertarians that for some inexplicable reason feel the need to hang out here lately.
I toast you now with my last coffee of the day.
Rock on, buddy!
Garth…Although I have stayed away from commenting on this topic….I noticed in the previous thread you responded with a threat to the party (just watch me) and it sounded to me like you were a little over the top and losing it a bit…..it’s possible now that regardless of the outcome (which BTW was never in doubt)…..you may
have finally done yourself in with the CPC…..it appears irreparable to me now
That was no threat to the party, but to those who believe scooping a nomination this way will be the end of me. — Garth
OK fine…I will read between the lines on that ambiguity…..BTW the post I wrote which you booted was intended to avoid the circus atmosphere I anticipated with this topic….
Garth, I can understand your preoccupation with the possibility of losing your job (and remember all Libs and NDP’ers are pulling for you…you are far more valuable to them as a CPC’er than you would be as an independant)….but in the meantime, you’re missing out on some good stories.
Like the news today from Human Resources Minister Diane Finlay who earlier this week yanked all funding for the homeless in this country and then today, changes her mind and restores the funding …can you say Ms. Dithers?
Or how about SH now refusiing to make the promised announcement on AIDS because the topic has become too politicized. What the hell is up with that. Or his refusal to renew the permit for the safe injection site in Vancouver. C’mon Garth…you got to have something to say about these issues.
… that for some inexplicable reason feel the need to hang out here lately.
I’ll attempt to explicate. Garth and his site are such an enigma on the political scene, truly unique amongst all parties, that it is almost non-partisan here, and that is a good thing. (By the way, if you know of any other sites that are that way, please pass them along [I inadvertently happened upon, and have been peeking at, the goings on at pogge.ca lately; it too might fit the ticket from a different political vantage point]). From what I’ve found, there is definitely a particular political bent and flavour at many other sites that can be intimidating if you aren’t of the right persuasion, to the point that if your were to say anything contrary to the general consensus, you’d get severely stomped on and drawn-and-quartered tout de suite. CBC used to run a whole series of blogs – and has re-introduced short-lived special purpose ones – that were quite good, drawing out all manner of opinion from all corners of the country, and internationally for that matter. Being a national site, no single stripe could lay claim to it. An astute politician and/or party should have been monitoring the goings on there, because often I think a good foundation for policy could have been extracted. With no individual cornering the market on omniscience, the seed of an idea would get introduced, worked on and developed with feedback from all angles. A veritable testbed. Plus it would provide a sampling on just what the common – and uncommon – folk were thinking.
To get back to the inexplicable: I guess it’s just kind of cosy here.
Mr. Turner you may well, wear the mask of progress, but hear me when I say I can see it is no more than a politcal facade. Mr. Turner, a condemnation of your politics must not be mistaken for an endorsement of your opponents. The simply fact is you are not fit to represent the people of Halton. Mr. Turner I am not a Conservaitve, but my disdain isn’t born in party partisanship, it is born through your shameful actions.
During the January election I wrote to you in response to your attack on Gary Carr. You were denouncing him as a flip-flopper for chaning his mind on the issue of Equal Marriage. Your response assured me that you would have, in fact voted in favor of bill C-38, and that you were in full support of Equal Marriage.
Now upon recieving this assurance I was delighted that perhaps if you in fact did prevail over Gary Carr to represent Halton, they would finally see a representative who would defend the rights of the GLBT community. I am now deeply saddened to see how wrong I was.
Your rethoric is a direct page out of Paul Martin’s election handbook. You are playing politics with human rights and for the sake of the entire GLBT community I must say that it is shameful.
Equal marriage is a closed issue in Canada, there are certainly more important issues to be dealt with than defending its merits to bigots. This is not a torch you were asked or required to carry.
There was no reason or need to go after Mcverty. But you did, with avengence. Mr. Turner there is no doubt in my mind that should Harper reopen the issue it will triumphantly fail in the hpsue of commons. My fear is that when he reopens the issue it will spark the hateful, dividing and hurtful discussion that gay Canadians were subjected to before C-38.
This is the pandora’s box you opened when you raised took on Mcvety. Gaining politically by provoking hatred defending a dead issue is spit in the face of every person who fought to win Equal marriage.
Mr. Turner, if you are as you claim a crusader for gay rights, where were you last June 3rd? I was at the Halton Pride picnic, I didn’t see you there.
The truth is this was never about gay rights was it Mr. Turner?
Your party brass considers you a liability. Its political strategy 101. The Conservaitves want a majority, so the PMO vets even what government ministers say. Imagine the consiquences if say a Torie backbencher begins contradicting the PMO, not once but over and over. You knew you would face a challenge to your nomination, so you jumped on the first issue you knew was divisive enough to give you the edge you needed. Not even because of a push towards gay rights in the Conservatives, but because of the push away from fundamentalism.
As a progressive and a genuine supporter of Gay rights, I am ashamed to be your façade.
This may be news to you, but I never said I was a supporter of gay marriage. In fact I said, had I been in the last Parliament I would have voted in favour of the traditional definition of marriage. Both of those statements were published during the 2005-6 election campaign.
What I have also said is that SSM is now the law of the land, the courts have upheld it, and the general public has accepted it, by and large. It is viewed as a matter of human rights, and that is understandable. So, why would I – as a representative of the majority of the people – vote to open the issue again and throw us into a divisive debate with, likely, the same outcome? I will not, and have stated so clearly.
My fight with McVerty and the Righteous Right is about tolerance, because I feel McVety is a very bigoted man (did you hear the guy this morning on AM640?), and his support is the last thing I want as a conservative politician. He, or anyone else, is free to attack me and try to become the MP, but his tactics in this fight are very troubling. He will not succeed.
My prevailing, then, is not to be construed by anyone as a victory for gay rights or SSM. It is not. It’s a victory of the majority over the tyranny of the minority. And that makes me very proud. — Garth
Garth,
I would like to publically apologize on behalf of all Evangelical Christians across Canada. Many of us disagree with SSM but we do not condone this militant, devious, looking for loopholes type of attack; this is not Christ-like behaviour.
Please visit more Evangelical Churches in the area and you will see and feel the love of many true, genuine
Christians. Praying for you.
By Reverand D on 08.19.06 12:36 am e
Or his refusal to renew the permit for the safe injection site in Vancouver.
This is news (or is it conjecture?). Gotta link?
Dube, the safe injection site story has been in the news for the past couple of days. Here’s one link – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060818.waidsweb0818/BNStory/AIDSCon/home
I guess half truths is all we can expect from our media. While Garth is being challenged publicly, other CPC MPs have to go through the nomination process. Mine is – and he is a Minister. Yet, there is no hoopla in the media.
Grass roots democracy does have its problems – but, I would still take it over dictatorship (or masked dictatorships – um, Chretien or Martin).
Garth, I really don’t think you will have a problem with winning the nomination. Mcvety and his gang are just one issue folk. The Halton people should asks him where he stands on the other issues – like R&D for alternative fuels, like R&D for clean air technologies, like stimulating economy, like law & order issues, like lowering taxes, like reducing government waste, like argriculture. I would suspect he’s pretty vague or clueless on these.
Catherine:
How about asking him where he stands on teaching Creationism in the public school system or prayer in schools or Sunday shopping or separation of church and state or …..
These are the sort of questions these guys should be forced to respond to in a public debate. They have a definite position on these issues.
FRANKIE,
Instead of you giving your distorted, childish and very inaccurate views of the CPC’s current and future policies on anything, I suggest that you have your plate more than full in giving explanations of your corrupt Liberal party’s activities. Here, especially for you Frank, for you to chew on and start explaining, is another hundred of the reasons why Garth and all other deep thinking Canadians who want honest government, will avoid voting Liberal.
Frank, it seems that ‘your back yard is in bad need of cleaning up’.
1. Parliamentary Secretary Dan McTeague’s 3-person, $224 trip to a Pizzeria
2. Immigration Minister Judy Sgro’s staff being allowed to stay on “extended travel†benefits, letting them bill taxpayers’ for thousands of dollars in hotel rooms and meals, because they didn’t want to move from Toronto to Ottawa until after the election.
3. Correctional Service of Canada Commissioner Lucie McClung’s travel expenses
4. Contracting irregularities on more than two dozen projects at DND worth tens of millions of dollars, showing over-billing, profit excesses, unauthorized additional work, lack of accounting records, spiralling cost overruns, etc. (Globe and Mail, July 14, 2004).
5. ACOA Minister Joe McGuire canceling ACOA loan and grant to ABL Industries Inc. because it would compete with company in his riding. (Fredericton Daily Gleaner, July 17, 2004).
6. Andy Mitchell’s chief of staff’s $22,000 in expenses to commute to Ottawa (Toronto Star, August 2, 2004).
7. André Ouellet’s travel and hospitality expenses at Canada Post.
8. Government delaying release of audit on Ouellet until after the election (Globe and Mail, July 31, 2004).
9. Martin’s principle secretary Francis Fox’s sister getting untendered contracts (The Province, July 27, 2004).
10. Continuing problems in advertising files at Public Works (Ottawa Sun, July 26, 2004).
11. A Liberal Party of Canada fundraising letter signed by Paul Martin, asking potential contributors to offer $7,000, $7,100 or $7,200 in contributions – far in excess of donation limits passed by the very same Liberal government
12. Liberal Senator Raymond Lavigne violating municipal bylaws. Municipality pursuing legal action against him. (Ottawa Citizen, August 19, 2004).
13. Spa Days for inmates approved by the Correctional Service of Canada, which on Aug. 21 invited inmates at the Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, Ont., to dabble with manicures, pedicures and aromatherapy, not to mention cups of tea served in fine china, all accompanied by a harp serenade. (National Post, September 9, 2004).
14. Five employees in the overwhelmed immigration section of Canada’s embassy in Iran have been fired over the past year after they each were caught breaching federal ethics rules (National Post, September 13, 2004).
15. Questionable contracts and spending from the Canada Investment and Savings group set up by Martin in 1996 (Globe and Mail, September 13, 2004)
16. Questionable contracting practices at Canada Information Office (The Hill Times, September 13, 2004).
17. A top Canadian diplomat based in China has resigned amid reports he is being investigated for allegedly taking bribes to help Chinese nationals enter Canada illegally. (Vancouver Sun, September 22, 2004).
18. Abuse of government credit cards by staff at Fisheries Department (CP Wire, September 24, 2004).
19. Canada’s questionable hiring of the niece of Syria’s foreign affairs minister to work at the embassy in Damascus (Globe and Mail, October 5, 2004)
20. Hélène Scherrer using Challenger to fly to Banff during election to give partisan speech
21. Abuse of Challengers by Paul Martin and various ministers (eg. Andy Mitchell, Claudette Bradshaw)
22. Abuse of Challenger jets for political business instead of government business (Le Devoir, October 4, 2005)
23. Paul Martin taking Challenger jets to Liberal fundraisers
24. Challenger food bill of $508 per flight
25. Expenses during election filed by aide to Ralph Goodale
26. Questionable expenses during election filed by aides to Judy Sgro
27. Ongoing problems and safety concerns with the submarine program
28. Various federal departments reported in excess of $1.1 million in theft of computers in 2003, but the information is potentially more valuable than the hardware (Vancouver Sun, October 14, 2004).
29. According to the latest public-accounts-of-Canada reports for the period March 2004 and March 2005, over 700 laptops, desktops and central processing units went missing from 35 federal government agencies — worth $6 million. (The Province, October 19, 2005)
30. Federal government has lost track of $587 million a year in EI overpayments and underpayments at the Department of Human Resources. (Ottawa Citizen, October 12, 2004). However, the government defends itself by stating that in fact it has only lost track of $25 million a year and collects the other overpayments. (Ottawa Citizen, October 13, 2004)
31. $133,000 grant to a Toronto film company that used classified ads to search for the “perfect” penis. (National Post, October 14, 2004).
32. Man convicted of fraud against government hired to teach ethics course to public servants (National Post, October 20, 2004).
33. Public Works selling confiscated grow-op equipment to drug traffickers. (National Post, October 21, 2004).
34. Pressure by Liberal MPs and ministers on ACOA to make funding decisions based on politics (New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, October 25, 2004).
35. Paul Martin’s Director of Communications Scott Reid insulting Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador (Toronto Star, October 28, 2004)
36. The Martin government spent $127,223 on a poll last February testing ways to diffuse negative reaction to the bombshell auditor-general’s report — which included the finding the Liberals ignored their own rules prohibiting the use of tax dollars on partisan polls (Vancouver Sun, November 8, 2004).
37. Judy Sgro’s campaign volunteer (a stripper) getting ministerial permit
38. Sgro’s senior policy advisor going to strip club to meet with owner to discuss bringing more strippers into Canada. (National Post, November 25, 2004). Subsequent revelations indicate that he went to at least one other strip club to conduct similar meetings (Toronto Sun, December 7, 2004)
39. Sgro giving out details of private immigration files, violating Privacy Act
40. Allegations that Sgro broke the elections law in failing to properly identify the source of a campaign contribution. (Toronto Star, December 8, 2004).
41. Revelations that the program to bring in foreign exotic dancers was created under pressure from organized crime (National Post, December 18, 2004)
42. Irwin Cotler appointing his former chief-of-staff to federal court (National Post, November 23, 2004).
43. Heritage Minister Liza Frulla giving grant to magazine that put her on the cover and made her honourary president (Ottawa Citizen, November 25, 2004)
44. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointing Liberal MP John Harvard as Lt-Governor of Manitoba, in order to get him to step aside for “star†candidate Glen Murray.
45. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointing Liberal MP Yvon Charbonneau to UNESCO, in order to get him to step aside for Martin crony Pablo Rodriguez.
46. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointing former Liberal MP Karen Kraft-Sloan as Ambassador for the Environment. (Department of Foreign Affairs Press Release, February 16, 2005).
47. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointing defeated Liberal candidate Dave Haggard as the chair of a newly created Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship. (OIC 2005-0001)
48. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointed his friend Dennis Dawson to the Senate
49. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointed his former Principal Secretary Francis Fox to the Senate
50. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointed disgraced former cabinet minister Art Eggleton to the Senate
51. Martin and his wife complaining about having to live in 24 Sussex (Edmonton Journal, November 17, 2004)
52. Millennium Bureau spending done with same lack of controls and oversight of sponsorship program
53. The RCMP has charged a senior Immigration Canada manager and four accomplices in an alleged bribes-for-status scheme in which Arab immigrants paid up to $25,000 to have their claims fast-tracked and approved (National Post, December 17, 2004)
54. Making widows of RCMP officers killed in the line of duty pay for their husbands’ funerals (Under pressure from the Conservative Party, the government reversed this policy)
55. Martin patronage-appointee Jim Walsh breaking ethics guidelines and attending Liberal Christmas Party (St. John’s Telegram, January 20, 2005).
56. Port authority losing more than $60,000 in public funds on the stock market. When Central Cape Breton Community Ventures took over the port in Iona in 2000, the private agency deposited only $5,000 of the $245,000 it received from Transport Canada into a designated bank account. The federal funding was meant to cover the port’s maintenance, insurance and professional services costs (Chronicle-Herald, January 31, 2005).
57. Canadian flag lapel pins being made in China. Only under pressure, Scott Brison flip flops and agrees to have them made in Canada again.
58. Questionable dealings around the privatization of the Digby Wharf, which even Liberal MP Robert Thibault wants the RCMP to investigate (Chronicle-Herald, February 10, 2005).
59. Adrienne Clarkson spending $17,500 to evaluate cleaning at Rideau Hall (Ottawa Sun, February 19, 2005)
60. Martin patronage appointee Glen Murray breaking ethics guidelines and attending Liberal Convention as delegate
61. Martin ignoring parliamentary committee and appointing Glen Murray as chair of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
62. Marlene Jennings, the Parliamentary Secretary for Canada-U.S. relations, making anti-American remarks
63. Government knowing about details of torture and murder of Zahra Kazemi back in November and still sending ambassador back to Iran
64. Government knowing about details of torture and murder of Zahra Kazemi back in November but doing nothing
65. Tens of thousands of dollars were spent on questionable acquisitions at CFB Borden (Ottawa Sun, April 18, 2005).
66. Joe Volpe keeping stripper visa program operating, despite having promised to shut it down (CTV.ca, March 5, 2005)
67. Jean Lapierre acting as lobbyist without registering
68. Joe Volpe trying to intimidating Sikh community
69. In the spring of 2003, the RCMP investigated allegations that Liberal MP Gurbax Malhi had requested favours and financial support for Paul Martin’s 2003 leadership campaign in exchange for helping Indian nationals get these temporary resident permits (Globe and Mail, March 10, 2005).
70. Liberals spending $443,237 to change the name Passport Office to Passport Canada (Montreal Gazette, April 21, 2005).
71. Ken Dryden’s chief of staff charged with careless driving (Ottawa Citizen, March 22, 2005)
72. Liberals trying to buy off Conservative MPs with offers of patronage positions
73. Liberals handling of the submarine program
74. Public Service Integrity Officer’s travel expenses (Ottawa Sun, May 4, 2005)
75. Liberal Senator Michel Biron going to hearing to support killer Karla Homolka (CTV News, June 9, 2005)
76. Public Works contract watchdog Consulting and Audit Canada violating contracting rules (Toronto Star, July 4, 2005)
77. Technology Partnerships Canada rules being violated to pay lobbyists (Globe and Mail, June 24, 2005)
78. Former Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Robert Nault is working as a paid lobbyist for Nelson House First Nation in what some allege is an apparent violation of a federal code of conduct. Among the federal departments Nault is lobbying is the Indian and Northern Affairs department he headed until December 2003, according to a lobbying report Nault filed with the federal government. Nault registered as a lobbyist for Nelson House, now known as Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, on July 18, 2005 — one year and seven months after leaving his cabinet post. Under the Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders, Nault is barred from working for any entity with which his department had “direct and significant official dealings” for two years after leaving office. He is also barred for two years from lobbying his former department or any of his former cabinet colleagues (Winnipeg Free Press, September 14, 2005)
79. According to documents obtained by the Globe and Mail, Pierre Pettigrew billed Canadian taxpayers for $10,000 for trips for his driver in 2001 and 2002. Pettigrew took his driver to South America and Europe, even though the driver didn’t do any driving on the trips. (Globe and Mail, September 14, 2005)
80. Joe Volpe’s questionable hospitality expenses (Globe and Mail, September 21, 2005)
81. According to media reports, Industry Canada has frozen federal financing for research projects by an Ontario biotechnology firm pending the outcome of an investigation into the company’s agreement to pay $350,000 in lobbying “success†fees to former Liberal cabinet minister David Dingwall. Such contingency fee payments violate Technology Partnership Canada rules. (Globe and Mail, September 23, 2005)
82. Expenses of chairman of the Royal Canadian Mint Emmanuel Triassi, who also approved David Dingwall’s expenses (Globe and Mail, October 4, 2005)
83. Last week, Public Works was also silent on details of another case involving forensic accounting. Government accounts published on Thursday showed a department employee had embezzled $3.45 million from Public Works office in Koblenz, Germany. Even though the employee was convicted and jailed in Germany, Public Works will not name him or give any details of the crime (Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2005)
84. The federal government inadvertently revealed yesterday that it is conducting a large-scale forensic accounting probe into “possibly criminal matters” when it published details of a contract intended for a Quebec accounting firm. The notice awarding a $2-million contract for forensic accounting services was published on the government’s tendering website, MERX. It gave notice that Consulting and Audit Canada was planning to award the sole-source contract to Leclerc Juricomptable, a Quebec City firm specializing in forensic work and litigation support. The contract award notice said the work had to be sole-sourced to Leclerc because it is “not in the public interest to jeopardize the current investment in the investigation or to significantly increase the risk to a successful completion of the investigation into possibly criminal matters.” A spokesman for the Department of PublicWorks and Government Services said yesterday that the notice was published “prematurely” and would be withdrawn last night. He could not say, however, what is under investigation, but said the contract was not tied to another scandal that has kept Quebec forensic accountants busy over the past years. “It’s not related to sponsorship or Gomery, that I can tell you,” said spokesman Pierre Teotonio (Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2005). It was subsequently revealed that the department involved was CIDA (CP Wire, October 4, 2005)
85. Questions about campaign funds from Raymond Chan’s campaign going to his companies (Vancouver Sun, October 7, 2005)
86. Questions about a possible conflict-of-interest between Chan’s activities as minister on behalf of possible business associates (Vancouver Sun, October 7, 2005)
87. Questions about the report that Chan filed with the Ethics Commissioner (Vancouver Sun, October 7, 2005)
88. Government giving out contract that specifies no paper trail to be left in government offices (Vancouver Province, October 11, 2005)
89. Questionable travel expenses at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (CP, October 16, 2005)
90. Two employees at DFO fired for making fraudulent travel claims (CP, The Province, October 18, 2005).
91. Lobbyist registrar Michael Nelson has launched investigations of four people for eight possible breaches of the ethics guidelines for lobbyists, the first such investigations ever launched under the code. (Globe and Mail, October 18, 2005)
92. According to media reports, the federal government has terminated two contracts with a consulting firm that used to be run by Liberal MP David Smith and now run by his wife, following a forensic audit of the contracting practices at a federal agency (Globe and Mail, October 19, 2005)
93. ATI requests by prisoners for information on prison system and guards, when information is actually disclosed
94. Liberal candidate Richard Mahoney lobbying for satellite radio company for a month before registering (Ottawa Citizen, October 19, 2005)
95. Delays and ballooning costs mean a giant software project at National Defence will eclipse its original budget and won’t meet its goals until 2011 — if at all. An internal audit obtained by Canadian Press raises red flags about a new system designed to streamline computer tracking of military inventory and purchases. MASIS — or Materiel Acquisition Support Information System — started in 1997 as a $147-million undertaking. What began as a focused effort to cover a single equipment category in each of the navy, army and air force soon mushroomed. By 2003, Defence officials estimated MASIS would be in place by 2006 at a cost of $325 million, more than twice its forecast budget. A full introduction of the complex software has now been extended to 2011. The heavily censored May 2005 internal audit, released under the Access to Information Act, catalogues a litany of “revised planned milestones. “The prime contract has been amended six times, each time increasing amounts for professional service fees, it says. (CP, The Record, October 24, 2005)
96. Hospitality and travel expenses of executives at CMHC (Journal de Montréal, October 24, 2005)
97. Questions about Squamish land deal lease (The Province, October 26, 2005)
98. Liberals handling of tainted water at Kashechewan First Nation
Frank, until the politicized period passes [pardon me a moment while I wipe my screen] and an official decision emerges, its speculation. I suppose parsing the statement “concentration in the fight against drugs in the next few years will be on enforcement, prevention and treatment†might hint at what you suggest. Personally, [ ... more spittle ... ], I’d have to say on balance that closure would be on the wrong side of the ledger.
ALW, there is still the right to express an opposing opinion in this country, is there not?
Would you have the source for the specific legislation, in Canada, securing the separation of church and state?
Our neighboring country does, but their founding fathers’ aim was more to keeping the *state* out of the church’s affairs.
The numbers would probably be against McVety, as far as what is taught in a public school; it has been a long time since I have had to step inside a school.
Perhaps you know if there is anything like prayer or Bible study in today’s curriculum, as you seem worried?
In light of the threats to our Western world, are students learning about the teachings of the *truly radical* elements of religious terrorists?
Should they be?
And if they are, would the teachings of their stated reason for being- the infidels of ‘their world’, Christians, Jews, moderate Muslims, and so on- be included?
Or do they learn in a void?
On the more immediate point of this nomination challenge, freedom to speak one’s mind is still allowed, hopefully.
Freedom to sign on instant members is sadly still allowed.
Garth will likely win this nomination challenge, but hopefully because of his qualifications to explain financial reasonings in all those other debates.
One issue challenges get attention, and that is probably alright, if there wasn’t so much else to think about.
Most have moved on after the civil marriage bill.
That some still have an issue with it is fair enough.
The majority in the House likely will tie the bow, if/when the motion comes up to see if SSM should even be brought back for debate.
But, in a country as diverse as this one, hopefully those in the majority might want to reflect on how that bill was pulled off, as it moved through the lobby groups, various courts, and parliament.
Perhaps allowing a grace period for those who are learning to live with the changes, is not too much to ask, respectfully.
W.C.
The point of my post was to encourage open debate regarding precisely the points that you and I have drawn attention to. This is not just about SSM. It’s time that was made clear.
You have my sympathy regarding the SSM debacle. The current definition of marriage does not reflect the view of the majority of Canadians. The fact that this legislation could be passed without a broad base of popular support shows that there is something terribly wrong with the way our system of government operates.
Minority interests should not be able to hijack democracy.