Canada's Federal Liberals

[maplesyrup]

‘Target of raids had ties to Martin’

according to today’s Globe and Mail, Canada’s most wide-read newspaper

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...Story/National/

On Sunday, December 28, 2003, RCMP and the Victoria police raided the British Columbia Legislature’s offices of Gary Collins, Finance Minister, and Judith Reid, Transportation Minister, in the BC Liberal Government.

Police had warrants, and were looking for records pertaining to 2 ministerial assistants, David Basi and Bob Virk (no elected officials were targeted).

Fallout so far is that Basi has been fired, and Virk has been suspended.

But the big news is the connection to Canada’s New Prime Minister Paul Martin, which is detailed in the article.

Basi is a key organizer for Prime Minister Paul Martin, and was closely involved in his successful leadership campaign.

'Education minister draged into legislature investigation'

'It wasn't Clark they were interested in; rather, her husband Mark Marissen, a key federal Liberal and prominent Paul Martin supporter'

according to CKNW News yesterday.

http://www.cknw.com/news/localnews_detail....?item=43318&c=1

'Police raids in B.C. linked to drug investigation.'

'Potentially scandulous explosion'

according to CBC News yesterday.

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/12/29/bcleg031229

What will surface today I wonder?

- more to come.

Where is Martin these days anyway, with Canada's meat industry under the gun, and so much in the news?

[maplesyrup]

Police raids on government offices iin Canada s no minor event, and could have an impact on both the next federal and provincial election.

'Raids: How Big a Scandal?'

http://www.thetyee.ca/News/current/Raids+H...g+a+Scandal.htm

'Extraordinary powers invoked

The process of both obtaining a search warrant for offices in the legislative buildings and dealing with the potential evidence obtained in the raid is not only complex, but also almost unique in Canada. In fewer than a handful of cases have police ever moved to obtain a search warrant for materials located within the parliament buildings in Ottawa or any of the provinces.'

'Drug raids highlight B.C. political links'

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/...Story/National/

'Lengthy drug probe preceded B.C. office raids'

'Provincial legislature: Special prosecutor assigned to case'

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpos...2b-f78840d02f76

Seeing Bill Cunningham, the president of the BC federal Liberals trying to mislead Canadians into thinking that the people of interest involved in the RCMP raid on the BC legislature were not involved with the Paul Martin Liberals, made me want to laugh, if it wasn't so sad.

Is this what the new Liberal team in Ottawa represents?

After reading former federal Liberal party executive Greg Wilson's comments, I would suggest that someone like Stephen Owen be asked to clean up the mess, including making recommendations to Canada's chief electoral officer, to ensure that we do not have a continuation of this type of behaviour.

[maplesyrup]

-from the Vancouver Sun

'Questions linger as top Liberals stay out of picture'

http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id...0a-e0bff3856de7

'"The B.C. wing of the federal Liberal party could well be the first casualty," he said. "They have great hopes of making inroads in B.C."'

[Neal.F.]

This needs to be kept in the public eye. Bought & paid for Martin media lackies like Barbara Yaffe will try to downplay it , the usual "Conservative Party is a bunch of homophobic racist kitten eaters" nonsense, but lets hope that a)The RCMP continues doing what we pay them to do, and the media grows a spine and dares to tell the truth about the Liberal would-be-dictators.

[maplesyrup]

Second dogfight underway between incumbent Liberal MPs for single riding

http://www.canada.com/news/national/story....2E-93D452A32918

'Steve Mahoney, a former Jean Chretien cabinet minister, says he wants to run in the same Toronto-area riding as Carolyn Parrish, a firebrand Martin supporter. During an interview Wednesday, Mahoney said Parrish has "embarrassed" the Liberal party'

[maplesyrup]

For those of you who have not had an opportunity to see the front page of the Friday, January 2, 2003, edition of the Vancouver Sun I recommend you acquire a copy.

The front page has a list of 27 questions relating to the Raid on the BC Leislature.

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouvers...AF-0EF9B54F455F

Quote

Six days after the shocking raids on the legislature, citizens still have been told next to nothing about the RCMP actions that have shaken the province's political life to its core.

Unquote

One of the 27 questions:

Quote

Does it mean anything that so many of the individuals have links to the federal Liberal party, Prime Minister Paul Martin's organizing team in B.C. and his leadership campaign? -

Unquote

-----------------

Roy Peterson's cartoon on page C6 of today's Vancouver Sun is priceless: It shows a quite frazzled Paul Martin reading a paper with a headline that says:

'PM Martin won't suspend his senior BC campaign aides'

and his secretary on his speaker phone saying:

'A Mr Chretien to see you, sir....he says you've screwed up already and he wants the job back...'

Edited January 3, 2004 by maplesyrup

[maplesyrup]

'Political rumours concern federal Liberals more than B.C. police raid'

By DIRK MEISSNER

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Law/2003/12/31.../301339-cp.html

'Meanwhile, Victoria's police chief reconfirmed Monday that raids conducted on the two offices at the legislature were tied in some way to organized crime and drug smuggling, but provided little new information'

'"It's the commercial crime investigation that led us to a number of search warrants being executed, including at the legislature."

Although this is definitely creating political difficulties for the BC liberals, there problems might be minuscule compared to the impact this is having on the federal Liberals.

Who amongst you had a chance to watch the 6-630 PM show this evening (Monday) on the New VI television station on Vancouver Island.

The question was:

Should Paul Martin suspend his officials connected with the BC Legislature raid?

90% who participated in the television station web poll said yes.

A few of the other points and issues that came up were:

Premier Campbell though it was serious enough to fire one person and suspend another person.

Why doesn't Paul Martin do the same?

Is this connected with mass sign-up campaigns?

Is it too close to election time for Martin to intervene without seriously damaging the Liberal election strategy in BC if not the entire country?

Where is Canada's national media on this incredible story?

Are they on holidays?

Same thing about the opposition?

Are they on holidays too?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

And here comes what appears to be some Liberal spin...it didn't take long.

By Larry Zolf

http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_zolf/20040105.html

'Scott Reid, Martin's senior advisor, said: "Paul Martin will not suspend senior election campaign aides and other key supporters who have been caught up in a criminal investigation in a drug trafficking and money laundering scheme." The RCMP has contacted no one in Martin's office and Reid said the scandal obviously deals with "provincial matters."'

The problem is that the police raids in connection with the BC legislature had to do primarily with the heirarchy of the Martin Liberals in BC, and not only provincial politics.

And just maybe, with a bit of high quality investigative journalism that our Canadian journalists are capable of, Canadians will find out the real truth.

It is really quite pathetic, and also unbecoming, to see both Scott Reid and Bill Cunningham, twisting in the wind, trying to mislead Canadians with their nonsensical musings.

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

Maybe the truth will be that Canadians don't want a CEO for Prime Minister of Canada, as this is a proud country, and not a business to be bot and sold to the highest bidder.

And maybe these investigative journalists will find out as well, that Canadians don't like these, often out of sight, mass flooding of membership meetings, where the real power in our country is decided.

This is an example of the kind of "democratic deficit" that Canadians mighrt prefer our new Prime Minister to be focusing on.

Edited January 6, 2004 by maplesyrup

[SirRiff]

i really dont like martin, he is way too much of a slick CEO for my liking,

however, there is no reason whatsoever to try to link some druggy in BC to martin. this is the kind of desperate irrational argument that are just a waste of oxygen.

unless martin uses, sells, or buys drugs, nobody cares.

there are plenty of reasons to not like him, this is just pathetic.

[KrustyKidd]

Right Riff. I don't like him but this has nothing to do with him.

Mahoney said Parrish has "embarrassed" the Liberal party'

Duh. Those Liberals are quick on the draw.

[Goldie]

If a Prime minister states he will reintroduce legislation to decriminalize pot and it turns out his organizers had used drug money in any political activity, this would be the biggest story of scandal within Canada in decades if not ever.

So I don't think of it as pathetic in anyway. What is pathetic however is that very specultion that I have crystalized is missing from my media. This is another omission of scrutiny of Paul Martin among the many that I shall not list in this thread.

My guess is the opposition is currently obtaining information, as much as they can and pounce in the parliament of immunity or is that the immunity of parliament.

[Neal.F.]

Absolutely right Goldie, but I think that your speculation will be openly discussed before too long...as soon as enough BC Liberal blood spills that it would be believable.

I told Martinite Liberals of my acquaintance months ago, that though Paul Martin looked like he was getting a free pass to the PMO, once he got there, he would have to walk through one minefield after another that the Chretien people would lay out for him. They are determined that he will be the next John Turner. And they are experienced, after all, the Chretien gang were the ones that did their damndest to ensure that Turner would never live at 24 Sussex. (strangeley enough, Martin kept one Denis Coderre in Cabinet. Coderre, in case you didn't know was one of those Chretien loyalists who could never accept the 1984 leadership defeat, and as Young Liberal President, did a spectacular job of advancing Chretien's interests while Turner floundered.)

I've also said here before that we will soon see that Martin does not have the same teflon coating the new occupant of Trudeau's old offices at Heenan Blaikie had.

[Brainiac]

If a Prime minister states he will reintroduce legislation to decriminalize pot and it turns out his organizers had used drug money in any political activity, this would be the biggest story of scandal within Canada in decades if not ever.

Well the decriminalization legislation that was brought forward earlier this year actually raised the penalties for people who sell or grow drugs. The decriminalization aspect of the legislation is meant for users of 'small' amounts. So I don't understand how the above scenario could work out to damage the PM, if that is what you are suggesting.

The PM introduces tougher penalties on pushers and growers and then some people in his party get caught selling pot, or using drug money to finance political activity. That would make it look like the PM didn't know what they were up to, making him no part of the illegal activity. Now whether or not that is a bad thing I wouldn't know. Is the PM suppose to have tabs on everyone who works for them?

[maplesyrup]

By not suspending his people that are connected to the RCMP raids on the BC Legislature, Martin contributes to the growing distrust, that Canadian citizens have of their politicians and political parties.

No one is suggesting that they did anything wrong, but these people are members of, or involved with, Canada's governing party and as such, when there is even the hint of a scandal, elected politicians, or party officials, need to do the honourable thing, and step aside until the air is cleared.

We are not talking about someone taking a chocolate bar from a grocery store here. This is a 20 month major police investigation into organized crime, drugs, money laundering, and now commercial crime.

[maplesyrup]

'Fired aide is of modest means, his lawyer says

Co-owner of three Victoria homes uses rental income to help pay mortgage'

Jim Beatty and Lori Culbert

Vancouver Sun

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/news/story...A8-CFBF695D5854

What is going on here?

This Paul Martin Liberal organizer who is the subject of police raids at the BC Legislature, is receiving a severance package, of over $50,000. with money that could be going into healthcare or education or to help pay down the debt.

Are these people nuts?

'B.C. government aide targeted in police raid accepts severance package'

http://www.canada.com/victoria/story.asp?i...50-5A7397F00876

----------------------------------------------------------------------

'No evidence federal officials linked to drugs or money laundering, PM says

Martin promises swift action if police find connection'

by Peter O'Neil

http://www.canada.com/national/story.asp?i...0B-6CC047C71F06

'One MP bluntly called on Martin to assure Canadians his 2003 leadership campaign wasn't financed partly by drug money, while another called for heads to roll in the Liberal party's West Coast organization.'

'He was also asked if he intended to seek the resignations of Erik Bornman, the party's director of communications, and Bruce Clark, the chief fundraiser. Police executed search warrants at the offices of both men'

'"Why, more than a week after this story has broken, are these people still wielding influence in the official capacities they hold in Canada's governing party?" Layton told reporters.

"I think propriety would suggest that officials step aside during these investigations."'

Edited January 8, 2004 by maplesyrup

[maplesyrup]

Could this possibly be true?

Whether it is, or it isn't, Prime Minister Paul Martin has made an error in judgement, by not adhering to NDP leader Jack Layton's request, to suspend his federal Liberal organizers in BC, until the air is cleared, in relation to the RCMP raids on BC legislature on December 28, 2003.

My goodness, these people are members of the governing Liberal Party of Canada.

'Membership money is the target: Report

TV station says police are looking into funding for 37,000 new Liberals'

by Ian Bailey

The Province, with a file by Lena Sin

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovinc...04-4624ADC78D4B

'The police investigation that led to a raid of the B.C. legislature last month focuses on the origins of money that was used to pay for as many as 37,000 memberships in the federal Liberal Party, an Ottawa TV station said yesterday.

CJOH said police are also investigating the free travel of more than 80 Young Liberals to last November's leadership convention in Toronto, where Paul Martin became leader of the party.

Also under scrutiny, the station said, are allegations that several workers in the B.C. legislature were offered up to $6,000 each in return for their help boosting party memberships.'

--------------------------------------

'Paul Martin's other deficit problem

Ethics'

Lawrence Solomon

Financial Post

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpos...22-acc3187a0c50

'In the next federal election campaign, as in the last, the ethics of government leaders may again be a issue. In recent years, the public has witnessed a slew of scandals, among them Mr. Chretien's lobbying of the Business Development Bank to favour a constituent, former B.C. Premier Glen Clark's resignation over "Casinogate" and a Toronto scandal over a questionable computer leasing deal.

If Mr. Martin is vulnerable on any issue in the coming election campaign, it's on patronage and ethics. He has already been attacked for perceived conflicts of interest over his shipping empire and over his friendships with, and gifts from, recipients of government largesse. During Canada's federal election campaign, the U.S. presidential campaign will also be in full swing. Charges of "cronyism" have emerged as a major issue there, with the Democrats demonizing Vice-President Dick Cheney's past ties to Halliburton. In Canada, both the Conservative and the NDP parties are sure to echo such charges.

Mr. Martin would do well to aim for a fresh start by acting to clean out the rot, before an election call. He can do so in any number of ways -- appoint an independent ethics advisor, refuse to do business with companies convicted of criminal wrongdoing, curb the patronage system. The public has waited long enough for integrity in government.'

Edited January 8, 2004 by maplesyrup

[maplesyrup]

There he was folks, Canada's new Defence Minister, David Pratt, announcing today Canada's involvement in this Star Wars scheme with the US.

This is the price that Canada is going to have to pay for not sending our troops to Iraq.

Another shift to the right for the Paul Martin Liberal government.

[Michael Hardner]

There he was folks, Canada's new Defence Minister, David Pratt, announcing today Canada's involvement in this Star Wars scheme with the US. This is the price that Canada is going to have to pay for not sending troops to Iraq.

I don't see why Canada shouldn't participate if the price is right. This is a truly DEFENSIVE initiative - a shield can never be used for offensive purposes.

I'm fer it !

[maplesyrup]

Is this serious trouble ahead for the Paul Martin Liberals?

MARBELLGATE

'Liberal official: Who paid for memberships?'

by Steve Berry, Adrienne Tanner and Keith Fraser

The Province

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.asp?...CC-0F26BC042FB7

'A longtime federal Liberal worker wants an investigation into where all the money has come from to sign up hundreds of thousands of new members across Canada.

David R. McCann, former chairman of membership in Vancouver Quadra, said yesterday that large amounts of cash donated to pay for new memberships have not been adequately explained.

"It's pretty straightforward -- where did the money come from?" said McCann, adding he was "not surprised" by recent police searches of offices and homes of party insiders.

McCann said there has been talk within the party that many new members had their $10 fees paid by unknown people. "You'd hear that they were signing people up and someone else was paying for the memberships." '

I wonder what Canada's Chief Electoral Officer thinks about all this. Hopefully he has already started his own investigation into what is going on here in the back rooms. When can we expect to hear from Mr Jean-Pierre Kingsley?

This has been a raging story all across BC since December 28th.

Where is the Ottawa Press Gallery, and/or Canada's National media, or do they not want to bite the hand that feeds them?

Edited January 11, 2004 by maplesyrup

[maplesyrup]

MARBELLGATE

'Basi probe tied to drugs, BC Rail deal

RCMP investigate political aide for cross-border trafficking and breach of trust'

Jeff Lee

Vancouver Sun

http://64.4.36.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN...%2d785EB566A664

'RCMP are investigating whether ministerial aide Dave Basi was involved in a cross-border drug-trafficking scheme and breached the public trust in his handling of the province's privatization of BC Rail, The Vancouver Sun has learned.

Information also led them to raid the Victoria and Vancouver offices of Pilothouse Communications, which represented Denver-based OmniTRAX, one of four potential bidders for the rail line. Pilothouse's main representative for OmniTRAX was Erik Bornman.

Basi and Bornman are well acquainted through their mutual efforts on behalf of the federal Liberal party in B.C., most notably on the Paul Martin campaign.

Bornman is the communications director for the federal Liberals in BC.

Police concurrently staged six other raids on homes and offices, including Pilothouse. They also seized material from the homes of Basi and Virk, and executed a search warrant on the home office of Bruce Clark, the chief fundraiser for the federal Liberal wing in B.C.

Clark is the brother of deputy premier Christy Clark, who is married to Mark Marissen, Martin's top aide in B.C. '

Edited January 11, 2004 by maplesyrup

[maplesyrup]

MARBELLGATE

'Neighbours told to keep quiet about grow-op raid

David Basi's Shawnigan Lake home was busted for a marijuana grow-op at the same time his office was being raided'

by Adrienne Tanner, Ian Bailey and Steve Berry

The Province

http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id...db-6ffb38aef209

'The drug raid, at 3260 Shawnigan Lake Rd., happened during the Christmas holidays. It was around the same time police raided Basi's office in the legislature as part of a 20-month investigation into organized crime, commercial crime and drugs.'

Edited January 11, 2004 by maplesyrup

[maplesyrup]

More trouble on the horizon for the Martin Liberals apart from their growing scandal problems in BC.

PM, voters out of sync on priorities

by Hugh Windsor

Globe and Mail

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/Articl...12/National/Idx

'The initial conservatively oriented policy messages coming out of the Paul Martin-led government are putting the new Liberal regime on a collision course with the expectations of the electorate it is hoping to woo. And all of this new emphasis on fiscal rectitude could backfire, according to some seminal public opinion tracking coming out of EKOS Research Associates.'

This is an excellent article, and the author appears to have hit the nail on the head.

[maplesyrup]

The timing of Keith Martin's switch to the Liberals is quite suspect as there was a possibilitiy that the warrants concerning the RCMP raid on the BC legislature would be released today. As it turned out they weren't released to the press today.

Don Newman of CBC Politics just interviewed Keith Martin and really had him on the ropes with all his inconsistanties. Whoever briefed Don Newman did an excellent jobbecause Newman did a great job of grilling Martin, including bringing up David Basi's name, who Keith Martin has met with.

John Koury, interviewed on the same show, says the people in the riding are quite upset with Keith Martin.

----------------------

'Raids tied to trade of inside information

Police probe whether federal Liberal offered B.C. officials benefits for sensitive information'

by Peter O'Neil, Jim Beatty and Lori Culbert

Vancouver Sun

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.asp?...C5-EF74D113F1AA

'The political link to a police investigation that led to searches at the legislature involves possible violations of two sections of the Criminal Code dealing with government corruption, The Vancouver Sun has learned.

Sources say the investigation is focusing on the offer of a favour or benefit from someone linked to the federal Liberal party in return for sensitive information from provincial government officials.'

----------------------------------

No one has been charged.

---------------------------------------

'Internal divisions hamper Grits' plan to recruit women'

-from CBC Manitoba

http://winnipeg.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/Vi...b_women20040114

'Neville believes Martin's own advisors are standing in the way of women. She says Martin's election strategists are hijacking Liberal Party nominations across the country, replacing many female incumbents with Martin loyalists.'

Edited January 15, 2004 by maplesyrup

[maplesyrup]

Aftershocks in the federal Liberal party following the major police investigation in BC.

To be discussed on Don Newman's show Politics on CBC Newsworld at 7:30 AM (ET) this morning.

- Copps may be headed to NDP

-Winnipeg major Glen Murray turns down Liberals offer to run for them

-Liberal hopes for big gains in BC crushed.

Norman Ruff well known University of Vctoria political scientist stated last evening on the Vaughn Palmer show that the Liberals will get max 8 seats in BC.

Ruff also said to look for the NDP to make gains in BC.

Edited January 15, 2004 by maplesyrup

[Neal.F.]

Copps will not be alone in going NDP. Toronto seats are ripe for the picking. Those not loyal to His Excellency the Omnipotent Supreme Commander and Autocrat of the Postmodern Nirvana of Canada, all realize they have no future in the LPOC. There could well be more.

BC: Keith Martin proved he is the fool i always thought he was. Liberals will be lucky to keep 8 seats indeed. NDP will make gains, the extent of which will be determined by whether Mr Harper wins, or if Clinton's girl takes it.

A "Paris Hilton" win would send the message that the Eastern elitist establishment is screwing over westerners once again, and the NDP could do very, very well. A Harper win would likely preserve what the CA currently holds.

There is another scenario: Should Stronach win, much if not all of the current CA caucus could walk and like the Bloc, form a new party virtually overnight.

[maplesyrup]

Drug squad raided home of B.C. aide

Sought evidence of the proceeds of crime, station said, citing police sources

By MARK HUME, ROD MICKLEBURGH

Globe and Mail

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/Articl...siness/Canadian

'The Dec. 28 search at the home of legislative aide David Basi was conducted by members of the RCMP's drug squad, CTV News reported last night.

Citing police sources for what it called "exclusive details" of the search warrant used to gain access to Mr. Basi's home in Victoria, the local affiliate of the television network said the RCMP was looking for evidence of the proceeds of crime.'

No charges have been laid