Liberal Resigns over Election Expenses

[Keepitsimple]

Lacking any meaningful policy platform to debate the Conservatives, Stephane Dion has been trying to stir things up with accusations relating to an in-and-out accounting scheme - a technical loophole used by all parties to move party money back and forth between the National and Local campaign offices.

Link: http://www.canada.com/components/print.asp...43-c4976c2065ed

So what happens? Bang! - their National Revenue critic resigns over very serious election spending allegations.

Liberal MP quits caucus in wake of spending allegations

OTTAWA -- Liberal MP Blair Wilson has resigned from caucus in the wake of allegations of improper campaign spending.

The West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast MP resigned as as the party's national revenue critic after a report by the Vancouver Province on Sunday.

He said he will cooperate fully with Elections Canada in its investigation and is confident he will be cleared.

Link: http://www.canada.com/components/print.asp...fc3&k=87706

Link2: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sto...k=46501&p=1

Edited October 29, 2007 by Keepitsimple

[maldon_road]

Lacking any meaningful policy platform to debate the Conservatives, Stephane Dion has been trying to stir things up with accusations relating to an in-and-out accounting scheme - a technical loophole used by all parties to move party money back and forth between the National and Local campaign offices.

And when the committees start-up again the Tories will be back to their old bag of tricks - the chair resigning to shut down committee business; canceling sessions to prevent witnesses that are not to the Tories' liking.

Same antics as the Libs.

[Shakeyhands]

Lacking any meaningful policy platform to debate the Conservatives, Stephane Dion has been trying to stir things up with accusations relating to an in-and-out accounting scheme - a technical loophole used by all parties to move party money back and forth between the National and Local campaign offices.

Link: http://www.canada.com/components/print.asp...43-c4976c2065ed

So what happens? Bang! - their National Revenue critic resigns over very serious election spending allegations.

Link: http://www.canada.com/components/print.asp...fc3&k=87706

Not having read the article yet, I will say from what you have posted that at least Wilson recognizes that the proper thing to do is step aside while this is investigated. Thats open and honest, as opposed to the CPC who on every issue have refused to do the honourable thing and be open and honest...

[Wilber]

Link

[old_bold&cold]

As the article clearly points to Liberals doing only scandel mongering because they have no party platform or direction from the leader, is a good point, and not one that is brought forward much by the media. The liberal party has used the exact same in and out advertising methods as the CPC, and it is only the fact that elections Canada chose to not allow some of these deductions that there ia any money in question at all. If these were allowable deductions there would be no issue at all, and the Tories would be all within all spending limits. The refusal of these deductions was at the discretion of elections Canada, and is in no way without reprive from the courts.

But even if the courts ruled against the CPC which is doubted by most in the know. There still would not be much of a scandel in this, as it would be seen much like having an expense turned down on your taxes. It hardly make you a crook.

One would think that the Liberals of all people would not try to keep the ideas of scandels alive, since they are the ones who have been behind all the really big ones int he past. The plan to say they are just as bad as us, is not something that will play well. But if you are a Liberal I guess it is better then being the only one who scandel proned.

If this is the best Dion can do in opposition then maybe he needs to give over control of question period time to others who will ask the questions about government policy on many things that are important today and also at least ask the questions that the voters are looking for answers to. But, Dion would rather point fingers and try making scandels where none exist, then to actually do the work that the opposition is supposed to do. It is sad and very disturbing that it has come down to this. Maybe we just need Harper to call an election and finish off what is left of the Liberla party at the polls.

Edited October 29, 2007 by old_bold&cold

[Topaz]

Link

www.bourque.org has the full story, his father-inlaw turn him in.

[Michael Bluth]

Not having read the article yet, I will say

No need to say anything else shakey.

We all guessed an attack on the Conservatives was going to follow. And surely enough it did.

[fellowtraveller]

Thats open and honest, as opposed to the CPC who on every issue have refused to do the honourable thing and be open and honest...

"open" and "honest" are two adjectives that have never been used in the context of "Blair Wilson". Never.

[Shakeyhands]

No need to say anything else shakey.

We all guessed an attack on the Conservatives was going to follow. And surely enough it did.

Well Bluth, I did read after I posted and I have to say I was right. What i originally posted was based on what was quoted here, reading the entire article changed nothing.

Glad you see yourself as MLW's protector of the CPC.

Edited October 29, 2007 by Shakeyhands

[capricorn]

From all I've read, Mr. Wilson was living well beyond his means and has a ton of debts. What really peaks my curiosity is why 79 year old Bill Lougheed, his father-in-law, would go to such lengths to publicly expose the debts Wilson owed to him and his deceased wife. It sounds as if Mr. Lougheed has a hate on for Mr. Wilson. No doubt, this hatred was fueled when Mr. Wilson asked Mr. Lougheed's wife for money just two months before she passed on. There's an old adage that you should never borrow money from nor loan money to your relatives. This is a classic outcome of ignoring that sage advice, on both sides.

Given the fact that Mr. Wilson apparently can't manage his own personal finances, I and other political observers find it ironic that Dion had recently named Wilson as his finance critic. I ask myself, don't party leaders do some amount of checking on Members of Parliament before assigning them such important duties? Would it have been that difficult to detect a potential problem given Wilson's personal financial difficulties?

In terms of whether he breached the election laws, Mr. Wilson like everyone else, is innocent until proven guilty.

Suffice it to say that Mr. Wilson is not a very good place right now and I doubt he will seek re-election.

I edited the post because I was referring to Wilson as Mr. Blair. Call it a brain cramp.

Edited October 29, 2007 by capricorn

[jdobbin]

Not having read the article yet, I will say from what you have posted that at least Wilson recognizes that the proper thing to do is step aside while this is investigated. Thats open and honest, as opposed to the CPC who on every issue have refused to do the honourable thing and be open and honest...

It would appear several Liberals had reported what they thought were breaches in the Elections Act according to some of the TV reports on right now. I have no idea of the status of the investigation but it appears that the candidate should have been looked into a lot more by the party than he was back in 2005.

[Michael Bluth]

Glad you see yourself as MLW's protector of the CPC.

Not as much as you see yourse4lf as MLW's attacker of the CPC.

[Shakeyhands]

Not as much as you see yourse4lf as MLW's attacker of the CPC.

Whatever... Stop attacking everyone who isn't a CPC booster, you only serve to make yourself look foolish.

[jbg]

Lacking any meaningful policy platform to debate the Conservatives, Stephane Dion has been trying to stir things up with accusations relating to an in-and-out accounting scheme - a technical loophole used by all parties to move party money back and forth between the National and Local campaign offices.

Link: http://www.canada.com/components/print.asp...43-c4976c2065ed

So what happens? Bang! - their National Revenue critic resigns over very serious election spending allegations.

Link: http://www.canada.com/components/print.asp...fc3&k=87706

Link2: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sto...k=46501&p=1

What a surprise. Liberal corruption.

[Michael Bluth]

What a surprise. Liberal corruption.

Not really surprising at all.

[geoffrey]

Given the fact that Mr. Wilson apparently can't manage his own personal finances, I and other political observers find it ironic that Dion had recently named Wilson as his finance critic. I ask myself, don't party leaders do some amount of checking on Members of Parliament before assigning them such important duties? Would it have been that difficult to detect a potential problem given Wilson's personal financial difficulties?

I think this is the most critical issue here.

How the hell did he become finance critic? You never... ever... ever... leave someone in charge of money that is personally vunerable to pressures such as outrageous debt. Financial stability is a requirement for execs (watch how fast one gets canned after a drug or gambling addiction comes out). Personal financial difficulty is the leading reason for fraud and financial crimes in the US and Canada. I'd expect the same level of investigaton, or higher really, for cabinet ministers and critics... especially when the spending of others tax money is their duty.

Outrageous mistake on Dion's part. Does he have no crediable competent staff left? Shameful day for his leadership.

Can we give government back to a party that so shamelessly puts tax dollars at risk? After sponsorship we're going to give the finance portfolio to a debt ridden hooligan?

[Michael Bluth]

How the hell did he become finance critic? You never... ever... ever... leave someone in charge of money that is personally vunerable to pressures such as outrageous debt. Financial stability is a requirement for execs (watch how fast one gets canned after a drug or gambling addiction comes out).

He's a CA. It's a perfect background for Finance.

Also a perfect background for hiding how much debt he truly has.

[capricorn]

Also a perfect background for hiding how much debt he truly has.

Except when your father-in-law is a blabber mouth.

[geoffrey]

Also a perfect background for hiding how much debt he truly has.

Are we likely the only ones that see the inside joke here?

Anyways, ya, he's a CA, great, but my position still remains the same. People with financial troubles should never be in charge of or provide oversight for financial matters.

I'd never hire an accountant that had such major financial problems. The risk is just too great.

[jbg]

I think this is the most critical issue here.

How the hell did he become finance critic? You never... ever... ever... leave someone in charge of money that is personally vunerable to pressures such as outrageous debt.

Since when is a critic in charge of money? He's not the Finance Minister.

Outrageous mistake on Dion's part. Does he have no crediable competent staff left? Shameful day for his leadership.

If he did have competent staff he wouldn't be afraid of a trip to the polls.

Can we give government back to a party that so shamelessly puts tax dollars at risk? After sponsorship we're going to give the finance portfolio to a debt ridden hooligan?

No.

[Keepitsimple]

He's a CA. It's a perfect background for Finance.

Also a perfect background for hiding how much debt he truly has.

Not to be too critical - but Blair Wilson is actually the Revenue critic - John McCallum is the Finance critic.

[shavluk]

This for the liberal.

The ndp candidate is also the leader of another political party so that he can sell marijuana seeds in his Vancouver store with impunity (this will come out later).

that leaves the GREEN and the conservative ,,,great!

[Topaz]

I suggestion to anyone who wants to know the detains of this, the Lib. party website has, who and why of the charge. I, also think Canadians should visit each parties website just to see what they have to say.

[Wilber]

Not to be too critical - but Blair Wilson is actually the Revenue critic - John McCallum is the Finance critic.

He seems to have been very successful at getting revenue out of his friends and family.

[jbg]

He seems to have been very successful at getting revenue out of his friends and family.

How about Blair Wilson for next LPOC leader? Seems to have a good resume.