NDP Enables Harper in Ethics Scandal

[Bragi]

Published: Monday, March 03, 2008
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper suggested in question period this afternoon that Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has made the biggest mistake of his career by implicating Harper in the Chuck Cadman controversy.

Both men held their ground with Dion saying Harper's threatened lawsuit will not cause him to back down and Harper saying the Liberals are trying to cover up their own problems by making "extreme accusations" against the Conservatives...

In other developments, the New Democratic Party plans to torpedo Liberal and Bloc Quebecois proposals for an investigation of the Cadman allegations by the Commons ethics committee, NDP committee member Pat Martin said.

Martin, who will have the deciding vote on the proposals at the committee Tuesday, said the allegations should instead be put before Brian Saunders, the independent acting director of public prosecutions.

<http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=3aab1678-cd9d-4b99-92cd-95a834e6cba8>

The reality is that the public prosecutor's office is not statutorily set up to be an investigative entity (unlike the Ethics Committee, which has investigative powers). It is intended to participate in the prosecution of legal cases involving public sector offenses. It becomes engaged only after charges have been laid by a proper police authority following a proper investigation.

See http://forums.macleans.ca/advansis/?mod=for&act=dip&pid=109256&tid=109256&eid=48&so=1&ps=0&sb=1

What's happening here is that Martin and the NDP have determined that the Cadman story favours the Liberals and does nothing for them, full stop. The NDP always tilts towards supporting the Conservatives whenever push comes to shove, especially during election season, so here we go. Once again, a divided opposition delivers what Harper needs.

- B

[Caradoc]

1. Layton-NDP

As a one-time member of the NDP many years ago, I saw the writing on the wall even then (early 90s). Irrelevance was in the cards and Layton has done nothing but magnify the situation. As a party, and a 'movement', they're done. It's just a question of who will fill the void, most likely the greens.

[glarius]

2. The NDP as it now exists in parliament is nothing but sanctimonious hypocrites

who would rather have the right wing Harperites in government to ruin Canada, rather than allow the Liberals to look good. I once voted for the NDP but after watching their "the Conservatives are bad but the Liberals are no different" act for the last while, I am completely disgusted. The amusing thing is that the more they keep up this game, the lower they go in the polls. I hope they sink below the Greens!

[HEyHEY]

3. Their point is to bring it to the RCMP

From what I gather. But, I still fail to see why you wouldn't take it to the ethics committee as well.

[Bragi]

5. That's NOT their point

The NDP wants the Cadman issue sent to the new office of public prosecution for investigation. This is total nonsense because that new office does not have any investigative powers, nor is it supposed to do investigations. It acts once a charge has been laid by police for a crime commited in the federal public domain.

See http://forums.macleans.ca/advansis/?mod=for&act=dip&tt=&pid=109256&tid=109256&eid=48&so=&ps=&sb=&tso=&tps=&tsb=

As for turning the matter over to the RCMP for investigation, think about this: it was the friggin' RCMP that intervened in the election that was eventually called in 2005, and they intervened to the great benefit of the Conservatives, using as its pretext a letter asking about the progress of an investigation into the Liberals from an NDP MP running for re-election!

The RCMP is not a neutral police force that can do a credible investigation of this matter.

- B

[HEyHEY]

6. Sorry, my bad, it's the Libs who want it to go to the RCMP

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/03/04/opposition-mps.html

Either way, for REAL charges to be laid, this has to go to the RCMP at some point. UNless someone wants to try a private prosecution. BUt the NDP point is it has to go to legal channels. That said, I still can't figure out why they would be against this. As far as I know just because something is brought up on the floor it doesn't become null as evidence in a criminal trial.

[Bragi]

7. Could be another police force

Vancouver, Toronto or any other large municipal police force could do a credible investigation.

[HEyHEY]

8. I know, the RCMP couldn't catch a cold;

[daleo]

4. If they are afraid this scandal will give Liberals traction, if it goes to the Ethics Committee

I have to think that being seen siding with the Conservatives will hurt the NDP even more.

[CHIMO]

9. I Am Having A Hard Time

With this issue. It had seemed like the NDP had recently backed off their attacks on the Liberals.

I have to put it down to a philosophy of immediate gain to long term gain. Had the NDP fought the Conservatives in the last election, they could now be considered as an alternative.

However, it seems that they have moved to hype that goes without a long term plan.