Conservative Fantino's campaign in trouble over brewing scandal

[TimG]

The problem for Harper is in part his own creation. He committed to a more open government, and so every time one of his less honorable subordinates behaves according to their nature, the Opposition will throw it in his face.

I think this goes back to the days when the media would go trolling for anti-abortion/anti-gay comments from Reform MPs. The message that the media gave Harper is he better keep a tight reign on his caucus or the media will jump all over you. This is another example of how the problems that so many people hate (e.g. too strong PMO) are actually created by political media culture in this country. This means that no leader's promise for more transparency/democracy can be taken seriously. Edited April 14, 2011 by TimG

[Wild Bill]

That all being said, it's hard to make out what's happening with Fantino's riding. I'd say the Feds directly giving money to a non-profit to fund a provincial health project is, to say the least atypical. That's not to say anything untoward has been done, but general Federal-provincial etiquette is for the Federal government to pick up the phone and talk to the province in question, because health is, at the end of the day, a provincial area of jurisdiction. At the same time, I'm getting this funny feeling in the pit of my stomach that we're seeing an unusual public display of some internal riding association politics. I don't have any evidence to support it, and certainly no internal knowledge of that riding association, but having to members of a riding association for any party suddenly and publicly announce in the middle of an election campaign that the incumbent MP that they ostensibly back was doing something possibly unseemly with millions of Federal dollars popping into a non-profit hints at some unseen struggle. Unless a riding association is utterly dysfunctional, those internal battles hardly ever find their way to the surface.

I'm withholding judgment on this one, because there's something about this whole thing that just doesn't feel right.

Don't forget TB, it's Fantino! He was parachuted into that riding, over the choices and feelings of the incumbent riding association. He was championed by the PMO as some kind of law and order hero!

Meanwhile, back on the ground, a LOT of people see him as the scourge of Caledonia! The man who abandoned an entire town to the wolves, removing the people's right to the protection of the law.

That wasn't the only time Fantino did some questionable things, either. It was a standard joke in the Ontario press for years that Fantino never did anything without having some minor functionary available to be quickly thrown under a bus to protect his reputation, if anything hit the fan.

I would thinkt that it's inevitable that there are many hard feelings among the workers in that riding! Fantino was Harper's choice - a total "top down" decision that likely had very little on the ground support.

I still haven't decided if backing Fantino was a considered decision that felt the positives outweighed the negatives or if it was another case of "headquarter ignorance".

[scribblet]

Probably the positives outweigh the negatives... I thought I posted this but it's not showing up for me

I don't know the whole issue, but it sounds like an embittered previous candidate now wanting to undermine the guy who represents the riding.

[Keepitsimple]

.....................I don't have any evidence to support it, and certainly no internal knowledge of that riding association, but having to members of a riding association for any party suddenly and publicly announce in the middle of an election campaign that the incumbent MP that they ostensibly back was doing something possibly unseemly with millions of Federal dollars popping into a non-profit hints at some unseen struggle. Unless a riding association is utterly dysfunctional, those internal battles hardly ever find their way to the surface.

I'm withholding judgment on this one, because there's something about this whole thing that just doesn't feel right.

Thoughtful post by the way......and you're right about it "not feeling right". The funding announcement was made on March 16th - well before the election was called.....and these guys are making a stink now?

Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/article/954938--oakville-wants-hospital-funding-too

Edited April 14, 2011 by Keepitsimple

[Wild Bill]

Probably the positives outweigh the negatives... I thought I posted this but it's not showing up for me

I don't know the whole issue, but it sounds like an embittered previous candidate now wanting to undermine the guy who represents the riding.

Well, the positives may outweigh the negatives in Vaughn but I doubt if that's the case in Caledonia! The bitterness there will outlast that in Alberta for the NEP.

Most interesting, Bob Speller is back in the race for Haldiman-Brant, the Caledonia seat. Bob is a Liberal and represented the riding for many years until bumped out by Tory Diane Findley, who lost much respect in the riding for doing little or nothing to protect the Caledonians during the protest.

Bob was very well liked during his terms and has a strong agricultural background that is appreciated in an agricultural riding.

Looks like we might see a wash - a win in Vaughn and a loss in Haldimand-Brant.

[ToadBrother]

Thoughtful post by the way......and you're right about it "not feeling right". The funding announcement was made on March 16th - well before the election was called.....and these guys are making a stink now?

Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/article/954938--oakville-wants-hospital-funding-too

I think from the information posted here it's pretty clear that there are some disgruntled members of the riding association. Maybe they have a right to be, generally parachuting candidates in does ruffle local feathers. But still, basically accusing or insinuating that Fantino is part of some nefarious plot to sneak money around, that's just way too far. If you're that pissed off at the party then bloody well do the right kind of protest, resign from the riding association, burn your membership even, but this kind of accusation of dirty tricks, that's dishonourable in the extreme, and the riding association is better off without them.

[scribblet]

Faction has a long history of public service, I would say because he is involved in a charity shouldn't exclude it from public funding.

They should have quietly raised their concerns after the election either with the party or the auditor general, but instead they have chosen to deliberately embarrass the party during a close election. These dramatics happen now and then in ridings, the people resigning are usually malcontents who place their own interests ahead of the party they chose to run for.

[Molly]

Faction has a long history of public service, I would say because he is involved in a charity shouldn't exclude it from public funding.

They should have quietly raised their concerns after the election either with the party or the auditor general, but instead they have chosen to deliberately embarrass the party during a close election. These dramatics happen now and then in ridings, the people resigning are usually malcontents who place their own interests ahead of the party they chose to run for.

Calling them malcontents implies that the misconduct they are pointing out was fully 'business as usual' before they were replaced by someone the party seems to percieve as 'better'. If they are horrified to discover that the organization with which they are inextricably linked is blithely guilty of conduct thery would NEVER be a party to, then 'dramatics' is a fully appropriate response-- much more appropriate than condoning it by being discreet.

[scribblet]

Nonsense, it implies nothing of the kinds, only in your mind. There was nothing to get their knickers in a knot about, only sour grapes because they lost the nomination.

[treehugger]

WOW, talk about the corruption of the media. How quick you (most of you)are to jump and stomp on the people when none of you know ALL of the facts.This kind of stuff is always going on by wannabe politicians/citizens who think they know it all, especially in Vaughan. Why don't you all wait until the real story comes out and no that doesn't mean from the Toronto Star.

Edited April 14, 2011 by treehugger

[Tilter]

It would be if healthcare was being privatized....but it ain't.

If the private clinics operate under the cover of OHIP the only thing they do is make the system faster.

[scribblet]

WOW, talk about the corruption of the media. How quick you (most of you)are to jump and stomp on the people when none of you know ALL of the facts.This kind of stuff is always going on by wannabe politicians/citizens who think they know it all, especially in Vaughan. Why don't you all wait until the real story comes out and no that doesn't mean from the Toronto Star.

LOL yeah, complete with busty hookers LOL