A Canadian Scandal

[Guest MikeSC]

Well, since I don't want our Canadian brethren to feel left out, please, explain --- if you can --- what the fuck this is all about?

New Gomery testimony spurs talk of election

 

CTV.ca News Staff

 

The possible collapse of the Liberal minority government is once again a hot topic on Parliament Hill, fuelled by reports of explosive new testimony at the sponsorship inquiry.

 

Although exact details of the testimony cannot be revealed due to a publication ban, there are reports its disclosure would prove so devastating that Paul Martin's Liberal minority could fall if it became public.

 

Watching developments in Ottawa Friday night, CTV's Mike Duffy says the capital is buzzing with speculation the opposition will confront the Liberals with some of that testimony next week.

 

"It's probably going to be raised here on Monday by the opposition," Duffy told CTV News.

 

"Because MPs have privilege on the floor of the House of Commons it is conceivable that the Bloc Quebecois could get up and run some information from behind the closed doors" at the Gomery inquiry, he said.

 

According to a report from The Canadian Press, the threat is looming so large all parties are quickly reviewing their election plans.

 

Liberal MPs in so-called "safe seats" have been asked to contact neighbouring ridings to help organize local campaigns, CP reports. One Liberal MP, who asked to remain anonymous, went so far as to tell the news agency: "Our election readiness went up 20 per cent today."

 

Martin's government is already on edge over a critical budget vote that all parties had at one time signalled willingness to support.

 

Their backing was called into question, however, after the Liberals added measures to broaden the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and implement the recent offshore oil agreement.

 

That thrust the Conservative Party, with their opposition to Kyoto, into a political predicament as the combination of their vote with those of the NDP and Bloc Quebecois would be enough to bring the government down.

 

If an election were called, CTV Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife said Parliament could be in line for shakeup.

 

The Bloc Quebecois could potentially sweep Quebec in an election, Fife said.

 

"It could mean that the Conservatives will make real significant gains in Ontario and perhaps parts of Atlantic Canada," he added. "It could mean that the Liberals will be in opposition and the Conservatives would form a minority government."

 

Despite the potential gains, until now no party has wanted to be responsible for calling Canadians back to the polls so soon after the last election.

 

But mounting criticism spurred by a stream of revelations at the sponsorship inquiry headed by Justice John Gomery appears to be changing that.

 

"All I can say is that given what was said yesterday the political landscape may be changing quite rapidly," Conservative Justice Critic Vic Toews told CP.

 

Montreal advertising executive Jean Brault appeared before the inquiry in Montreal Thursday.

 

His testimony is covered by a publication ban intended to protect his right to a fair trial on criminal-fraud charges related to the now-defunct sponsorship program.

 

His inquiry testimony could be made public once his trial is over.

 

Lawyers for the former Groupaction chief petitioned a Montreal court Friday, to have his May trial date pushed back to September.

 

The court is expected to issue its decision next Wednesday.

 

While the NDP accused the Liberals of attempting to orchestrate both their own demise and a scapegoat in the Opposition, senior Liberals dismissed such accusations wholesale.

 

According to Martin spokesperson Scott Reid, no matter how explosive the inquiry testimony, the present government shouldn't pay a price.

 

He also dismissed suggestions his party is angling for a return to the polls.

 

"The Canadian people do not want an election," he said.

 

"The government does not want an election. The only leader who has spoken about the possibility of an election is Stephen Harper."

 

Last week, Harper suggested he was set for a showdown with the government over the federal budget bill.

 

Debate on the bill begins next week.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor..._11/?hub=Canada

As somebody who doesn't really follow Canadian news too closely --- what the fuck is the "sponsorship" inquiry? The name reeks of a simple plot to basically steal money, but is there more to it than that?

-=Mike

[Highland 0]

No, that's basically it. Several years ago the Liberals paid various advertising firms in Quebec money for work that was never completed, or never existed. Ironically it was done during the Quebec Referendum. It's a huge deal up here and the inquiry has been under a temporary publication ban due to the impending criminal trials of several of the people under investigation. This could very well topple the government.

[bob_barron 0]

The sponorship scandal has pretty much killed Paul Martin's reign as PM as having any success.

 

I don't know if the liberal party would lose the next election because the conservatives still can't win in Quebec and Ontario.

 

A Harper government would make me a happy man though

[Highland 0]

The Bloc could sweep Quebec and if the CPC makes some inroads into Ontario and Atlantic Canada they could form the government. Minority or Majority is up on the air.

[treble 0]

Calling an election now would be retarded and no one wants one until they think they can win a majority.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

No, that's basically it. Several years ago the Liberals paid various advertising firms in Quebec money for work that was never completed, or never existed. Ironically it was done during the Quebec Referendum. It's a huge deal up here and the inquiry has been under a temporary publication ban due to the impending criminal trials of several of the people under investigation. This could very well topple the government.

Never happen. An election was held basically six months after the scandal broke. Liberals won, albeit with a minority. They're not going anywhere.

 

Well, not at least, with Harper running the show. He shot himself in the foot by saying Martin loved child porn.

[Highland 0]

No, that's basically it. Several years ago the Liberals paid various advertising firms in Quebec money for work that was never completed, or never existed. Ironically it was done during the Quebec Referendum. It's a huge deal up here and the inquiry has been under a temporary publication ban due to the impending criminal trials of several of the people under investigation. This could very well topple the government.

Never happen. An election was held basically six months after the scandal broke. Liberals won, albeit with a minority. They're not going anywhere.

 

Well, not at least, with Harper running the show. He shot himself in the foot by saying Martin loved child porn.

That was a long time ago. Martin has fucked up royally time and time again since then. The CPC might not make inroads in Quebec, but I fully expect the Bloc to sweep.

Fact is, Martin is a lousy PM. Whether or not he is a criminally culpable Prime Minister remains to be seen.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

I would like to think that this would get the Liberals out of power finally, but I'm beginning to think that Ontarians don't even know about this and will just vote Liberal out of habit.

[I like Forums 0]

It made me sick to see the Liberals re-elected after it was blatantly obvious that they stole our money. No matter what party you prefer anybody deserves to be in power besides the Liberals.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

They certainly won't vote for those dirty conservatives.

[Red Baron 0]

Unless the opposition has a leader that is not a radical right-winger, then the Liberals will stay in power.

 

This article is filled with bias.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

The problem is that the federal Liberals would paint Lenin as a radical right-winger and their lemming followers would nod in unison.

[Red Baron 0]

Harper isn't really PM material.

 

 

I mean look at him. Does he have the face for Prime Minister?

[Highland 0]

And Chretien did?

[Lightning Flik 0]

Ah, Highland. You forget that Chretien was from Quebec and therefore it was ok to look like that, as he got Quebec votes.

 

As for this, I could really care-less if the Liberals stay in power. I don't trust the Conservatives on some of their views and I will never vote NDP with that idiot in charge.

 

I'd care about the Conservatives if that lady (damn, her name always slips when I'm trying ot recall it) had won, as she seemed like the only "honest" one of the bunch of idiots around the park.

 

And this is likely the only scandal to get caught. Most likely the Tories, the NDP all have had scandals. Just the Liberals got caught in the worst way.

 

Nice Jowy avvy, btw.

[Slayer 0]

[Highland 0]

Ah, Highland. You forget that Chretien was from Quebec and therefore it was ok to look like that, as he got Quebec votes.

 

As for this, I could really care-less if the Liberals stay in power. I don't trust the Conservatives on some of their views and I will never vote NDP with that idiot in charge.

 

I'd care about the Conservatives if that lady (damn, her name always slips when I'm trying ot recall it) had won, as she seemed like the only "honest" one of the bunch of idiots around the park.

 

And this is likely the only scandal to get caught. Most likely the Tories, the NDP all have had scandals. Just the Liberals got caught in the worst way.

 

Nice Jowy avvy, btw.

Thanks. I wish I hadn't given away my copy of Suikoden II.

 

The blonde you're refering to was Belinda Stronach, and I don't trust the CPC on some of their views either; I'm a social-liberal but I'm just of the opinion that the Liberals have been in power for far to long. Time for a change and if it's a decision between the CPC and the NDP well, I'm not that far too the left.

[Highland 0]

^^

 

Nixon had choice words for him if I remember correctly.

[CanadianChris 0]

I'd care about the Conservatives if that lady (damn, her name always slips when I'm trying ot recall it) had won, as she seemed like the only "honest" one of the bunch of idiots around the park.

Belinda Stronach. She seems very earnest, but she's a lightweight (at least for now).

 

This is horrible news...if there's an election, I'm going to be busy as hell this summer, which is a busy time anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if it was much ado about nothing again, though, just like the last go-round.

[Slayer 0]

Qui l'enfer? C'est seulement Canada

[Guest cosbywasmurdered]

As long as Randy White is the kind of person in the Conservatives I'll continue to vote Liberal or Green.

[MrRant 0]

Commie.

[Highland 0]

As long as Randy White is the kind of person in the Conservatives I'll continue to vote Liberal or Green.

He's retiring. Aparently Harper is too much of a commie liberal for him.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Harper isn't really PM material.

 

 

I mean look at him. Does he have the face for Prime Minister?

The eyes.. those cold uncaring evil eyes..

 

or something

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Whoever posted Trudeau, He was Canada's most high ranking sex symbol.

 

I'm not kidding. Women in the 70's loved him.

[Slayer 0]

Let it be known that Canadian women have no taste.

 

If you want a real sex symbol for your leader...

 

 

You can't beat that

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

[Slayer 0]

From Jon Stewart's Democracy:

 

"William Howard Taft served as both President of the US and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court - a feat unmatched in US history. At 320 pounds, he was also the fattest man to serve in either position. Guess which distinction is brought up more."

[elite 0]

Whoever posted Trudeau, He was Canada's most high ranking sex symbol.

 

I'm not kidding. Women in the 70's loved him.

Women in the 70's also wore far too much polyester and puka shell chokers. They were obviously experiencing some kind of mass, temporary, brain scrambling euphoria, an after effect of the good drugs of the 60's.

 

Either that, or they just really dug Trudeau's rose. Women like roses.

[CanadianChris 0]

Incidentally, anyone looking for a few details on the testimony can find them here:

 

http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/004220.php