Who leaked the AG draft?

[Shwa]

Here's the federal act. The provision on the question of reports does say "shall" and not "may". So my initial analysis stands.

Agreed. However, then it becomes an issue of content. Was the entire report leaked or just bits and pieces or was it leaked as part of an advisory process to some printer or mid-level bureaucrat? Only the press knows and it would be a tough sell for them to cough up the details.

[Tilter]

And the money (if such existed) was wasted?

I wish someone would "waste" a bunch of money on our local roads. They'd get my vote.

[Bryan]

And the money (if such existed) was wasted?

I wish someone would "waste" a bunch of money on our local roads. They'd get my vote.

Winner.

[Harry]

Well we know one leak was by the Conservatives, but who leaked the other one?

Fraser launches probe into report leaks

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/12/cv-election-christopherson-ndp-rules-115.html#

[Harry]

First it was the coalition but now it seems this has taken over to become the hot issue of the campaign

Tories under fire over leaked G8 report

A leaked report on G8/G20 summit spending alleging the Conservative government lavished millions on a prominent cabinet member's riding and "misled" Parliament has put Stephen Harper's campaign on the defensive, and all but ensures the first federal leaders' debate on Tuesday will be a feisty one.

Word of the report certainly prompted a heated response from CBCNews.ca audience members, who have been weighing in ever since the story broke on Monday. Readers posted a whopping 2,594 comments to the story, and were still sounding off at the time of this writing on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET.

The majority of responses expressed outrage at the suggestion that the Conservatives had misinformed Parliament in order to secure funds for the G8 summit:

"Outrage at Cons: More lying and contempt. I hope Canadians wake up and get Harper OUT," wrote interrobang.

"I wonder how the Tories are gonna spin doctor this. Probably just some vague reference to the Liberal spending scandals before him being worse. It makes me sick to my stomach that they keep polling at 40%. Boy are we a gullible bunch," wrote PEI2NB.

"I certainly haven't forgotten the Sponsorship Scandal. It was the reason I voted for the Cons back then," mused Ezekiel37. "It was the reason I voted for the Cons back then. And it is with that exact anger and disgust that I will vote against the Cons this time."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourcommunity/2011/04/your-comments-tories-under-fire-over-leaked-g8-report.html

Edited April 12, 2011 by Harry

[Harry]

Unfortunately very bad timing for the Conservatives for that letter to have come out right on top of the leaked AG report. I suppose one of the questions now for Canadian voters is how many more lies have been told that have not yet bubbled to the surface.

Tories offer mea culpa for G8 misquote as auditor launches probe into leak

New Democrat Pat Martin, meanwhile, was the one who actually tabled the report in the Commons. The Winnipeg MP was standing in for Mr. McKay.

He said the majority members of the committee have no opportunity or right to review or amend or comment on the minority report submitted by another party.

It is simply attached to the back , he said, referring to the majority report, which was damning after the committee spent weeks studying G8 spending.

It never occurred to me the minority report would contain this kind of falsehood, Mr. Martin said. It never occurred to me or us to challenge the veracity of the comments attributed to the Auditor-General. I do remember thinking at the time, Hmmm, theyve got a pretty strong point here. Turns out they just made it up.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/tories-offer-mea-culpa-for-g8-misquote-as-auditor-launches-probe-into-leak/article1982255/

Edited April 12, 2011 by Harry

[betsy]

So in other words, no "illegal act."

Yes there is. It's the reason Joan Dryden/Canadian Press did not ask for a copy of the draft!

Furthermore, Frasier has now launched an investigation.

[betsy]

Right, because a complete and total waste of taxpayers money, the amounts of which were decided my a municipal mayor and a private sector manager is not egregious. Blame the messenger.... again...

Phooey! "Messenger" my foot! This draft report - emphasis on draft -need not have any so-called messengers to deliver its message. It would've been delivered in Parliament - the final report, that is - had the Oppositions not disrupt Parliament for this frivolous election.

This is not the case of a Whistle-blower! This is election opportunism, plain and simple!

Where was the enquiry and prosecutions from the Goodale issue in '06? Are you equally upset about that?

Refresh our memory please how this compares to Goodale's in '06. As far as I know, the RCMP were called by an NDP MP.

Edited April 13, 2011 by betsy

[betsy]

Unfortunately very bad timing for the Conservatives for that letter to have come out right on top of the leaked AG report.

"Bad timing" indeed - and obviously well-orchestrated to come out on the eve of the debate.

The Office of the Auditor-General on Tuesday launched a probe into how a protected document intended for select public servants and government officials could have made its way in the hands of the national media.

Ned Franks, an expert in parliamentary procedure and a professor emeritus at Queen's University, said the first disclosure was a "hostileto-government" leak, making the source a "real question mark" in his mind.

Mr. Desjardins said the office was not immediately alerted of the leak in either case. Mr. Franks said the leaks could "potentially" be considered criminal, but Mr. Desjardins said he would not speculate as to whether a police investigation is in the offing.

http://www.financialpost.com/todays-paper/Auditor+Generallaunches+probeintoleakedreport/4605368/story.html

Most importantly, I want to know which Opposition source called the Canadian Press.....and since when did that Opposition Party know of the existence of that leak.

Edited April 13, 2011 by betsy

[Shakeyhands]

Phooey! "Messenger" my foot! This draft report - emphasis on draft -need not have any so-called messengers to deliver its message. It would've been delivered in Parliament - the final report, that is - had the Oppositions not disrupt Parliament for this frivolous election.

This is not the case of a Whistle-blower! This is election opportunism, plain and simple!

That you think this is a frivolous election is pretty funny. Was the 08 election frivolous too? That was opportunism. I believe that the report should be released, but the funny part there is that even with the "misleading" and other language, it is still damning and we deserve to know the details before a vote.

Refresh our memory please how this compares to Goodale's in '06. As far as I know, the RCMP were called by an NDP MP.

What the hell does it matter who called the RCMP, it was false and opportunism without the slightest ring of truth and it put the final nail in the coffin. Opportunism.