Harper to be investigated by ethics commissioner

[stignasty]

Harper to be investigated by ethics commissioner

Updated Fri. Mar. 3 2006 3:00 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Ethics commissioner Bernard Shapiro is launching a preliminary inquiry into conflict-of-interest allegations against Prime Minister Stephen Harper, CTV News has learned.

Shapiro says he will look into what influence may have been wielded in the decision by former Liberal David Emerson to cross the Commons floor and join Harper's Conservative government cabinet.

"The ethics commissioner is apparently investigating ... whether Mr. Harper induced Mr. Emerson to come over with the offer of a cabinet post," CTV's Robert Fife told Newsnet Friday.

"It's a very serious thing when an ethics commissioner is investigating a prime minister and a cabinet minister over party switching."

link

[geoffrey]

Shaprio is actually doing something? What a suprise... while the Liberals handed out millions to friends he sat idle, yet when Emerson crosses the floor is a problem.

Why didn't he investigate Belinda and Martin?

He should be dismissed immediately for his obvious bias and ineffectiveness.

[Spike22]

Shaprio is actually doing something? What a suprise... while the Liberals handed out millions to friends he sat idle, yet when Emerson crosses the floor is a problem.

Why didn't he investigate Belinda and Martin?

He should be dismissed immediately for his obvious bias and ineffectiveness.

How much is this Shapiro guy making? What a waste of skin that deadbeat has been, a completely ineffectual office. I think he also has one of those sleazy law offices in the states: Shapiro, Shapiro, Shapiro and Shitlotski

[stignasty]

ad hominem: A fallacy that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute.

[geoffrey]

ad hominem: A fallacy that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute.

I've already said what I thought on the issue, I shall repeat it though considering your statement there.

Harper did the wrong thing in most of the publics opinion. For Vancouver, it was pragmatically good. It was completely legal and democratic within our system of government, though I wish they went about it in a way that wouldn't anger those who don't understand our system (ie. apparently most Vancouverites).

Whether it demands an inquiry, absolutely not. And especially not one run by someone who I do not think is capable of conducting an inquiry.

[Black Dog]

I expect the issue is timing. When did the discussions with Emerson begin? If they were talking during the campaign, I'd call that a severe breach of ethics.

[fixer1]

I just think this kind of crap is just as digusting as it can evr be. Does anyone here need to have an investigation into this? Of course there were talks about crosing the floor and yes, being that he needed somone from Vancouver to be in his cabinet, does it surprise anyone that he got a cabinet position. It will all come down to a who approached who, and we all know that merrygo round is one long ride and nothing ever comes of it. I guess if Shapiro does not have anything else to look at he might as well look at this, but is it just such a slow news day that this kind of crap actually gets printed. Man I wish Harper would recall parliament sooner so we can at least have some news that has some degree of thought behind it.

[Argus]

ad hominem: A fallacy that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute.

There is no issue in dispute. As for attacking the person - if Shapiro had the slightest hint of a trace of integrity he would have resigned when the Prime Minister whose toady he was did.

He refused to investigate anything about Stronach selling her vote, said the PMs involvement in Adscam wasn't his business, and wrote a series of excuse notes for Liberal misbehaviour.

He better investigate fast. I expect him to be among the first of the Liberal party suckups fired when the new parliament is sworn in.

[stignasty]

Harper 'loathe' to co-operate with ethics commissioner

Last Updated Fri, 03 Mar 2006 15:11:45 EST

CBC News

The Prime Minister's Office attacked the credibility of the ethics commissioner Friday night after he announced an investigation into conflict of interest allegations against Stephen Harper.

Ethics commissioner Bernard Shapiro said he will look into what influence Harper wielded to convince former Liberal cabinet minister David Emerson to cross the House of Commons floor.

"The Prime Minister is loathe to co-operate with an individual who's decision-making ability has been questioned, moreover who has been found in contempt of the House," said Sandra Buckler, the prime minister's director of communications.

"This Liberal appointee's actions have strengthened the Prime Minister's resolve to create a truly non-partisan ethics commissioner, who is accountable to Parliament."

Link

ad hominem: A fallacy that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute.

[BubberMiley]

Character attacks are always the conservative's best defence.

[gerryhatrick]

Why didn't he investigate Belinda and Martin?

He should be dismissed immediately for his obvious bias and ineffectiveness.

I heard nobody complained to the ethics commisioner over Belinda switching.

edit: There were complaints this time, none then. That is why. The ethics commisioner doesn't act on his own.

So, your claim that he has bias or is ineffective is sour grapes. suck it up.

[tml12]

Why didn't he investigate Belinda and Martin?

He should be dismissed immediately for his obvious bias and ineffectiveness.

I heard nobody complained to the ethics commisioner over Belinda switching.

Your claim that he has bias or is ineffective is sour grapes. suck it up.

gerry...keep up your ineffectual and dumb posts...PLEASE!!!

[Wilber]

Other than the timing, I see no difference between Emerson and Stronach. If Harper approached Emerson about the possiblity of switching before the election was over, IMO that would be unethical. If not, everything is fair in war and politics.

[JerrySeinfeld]

Harper to be investigated by ethics commissioner

Updated Fri. Mar. 3 2006 3:00 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Ethics commissioner Bernard Shapiro is launching a preliminary inquiry into conflict-of-interest allegations against Prime Minister Stephen Harper, CTV News has learned.

Shapiro says he will look into what influence may have been wielded in the decision by former Liberal David Emerson to cross the Commons floor and join Harper's Conservative government cabinet.

"The ethics commissioner is apparently investigating ... whether Mr. Harper induced Mr. Emerson to come over with the offer of a cabinet post," CTV's Robert Fife told Newsnet Friday.

"It's a very serious thing when an ethics commissioner is investigating a prime minister and a cabinet minister over party switching."

link

You have to get over this shit. there isn't going to be a federal election for two years.

[newbie]

I think what people are missing is what Harper campaigned on: honest and moral corruption-less government. Belinda is irrelavent to this discussion. Harper asked Emerson to come on board. When he did is at issue.

[JerrySeinfeld]

I think what people are missing is what Harper campaigned on: honest and moral corruption-less government. Belinda is irrelavent to this discussion. Harper asked Emerson to come on board. When he did is at issue.

no it's not - parlaiment was dissolved. no MPs so there can be no scandal.

[gerryhatrick]

Why didn't he investigate Belinda and Martin?

He should be dismissed immediately for his obvious bias and ineffectiveness.

I heard nobody complained to the ethics commisioner over Belinda switching.

Your claim that he has bias or is ineffective is sour grapes. suck it up.

gerry...keep up your ineffectual and dumb posts...PLEASE!!!

Uh....huh....huh......huh.

Can't respond to it, so you...waste everybody's time with a juvenile attack.

huh...hah....uhhhhhh....yeah.

[newbie]

I think what people are missing is what Harper campaigned on: honest and moral corruption-less government. Belinda is irrelavent to this discussion. Harper asked Emerson to come on board. When he did is at issue.

no it's not - parlaiment was dissolved. no MPs so there can be no scandal.

I didn't say scandal. So then to you, this was an honest and morally acceptable thing for Harper to do, never mind the Senate seat he offered to Fortier?

[geoffrey]

I didn't say scandal. So then to you, this was an honest and morally acceptable thing for Harper to do, never mind the Senate seat he offered to Fortier?

Newbie,

I've addressed this previously, but we'll recap and go into a little more detail.

Personally I think the Emerson deal was in the best interests of Canada and thats Harper's job, to act in the best interests of Canada. I don't really see much of an ethical issue. There is precedent, there is law on his side, there is our system on his side. He was outspoken in the campaign that he would still allow members to cross the floor as they wish. There was no lie here.

On the Fortier appointment, we are in a whole different ballpark. Harper did say directly that he would not appoint unelected senators. This has proven to be a lie. This is an ethical issue.

But is the Fortier appointment in the best interest of the country? Likely yes. Montreal should have representation even if they chose that they want no spots in government. They would likely whine after having zero rep. after awhile no?

I am disappointed that Harper appointed Fortier. I think Emerson was a good move for all. I have no sympathy for those whiners in Vancouver that are calling for recall (which doesn't exist in our system). They can choose someone else next election if they so desire, you send someone to Ottawa for a term to represent you, Emerson is doing a better job of that in the CPC than in the LPC. No?

Anyways, I hope you can see my views on this matter, as I find them to be pretty middle of the road reasonable, and something I think most of us could agree to as being so.

[Hicksey]

I expect the issue is timing. When did the discussions with Emerson begin? If they were talking during the campaign, I'd call that a severe breach of ethics.

First off, BD, you've made an excellent point here and I see nobody's tried to address it. I'd like to know that too.

Secondly, was anyone investigated over the BS defection? I'd say a defection with the timing hers had would not be any more ethical than this one was.

Depite my agreement with BD that some questions do need to be answered, I am more than a little suspicious of this investigation. I think this is definitely a good example of why the ethics commissioner should not be an appointed position, why that person should not be able to have affiliation with any political party and also why that person should operate independent of the PMO or House or Senate.

[geoffrey]

I expect the issue is timing. When did the discussions with Emerson begin? If they were talking during the campaign, I'd call that a severe breach of ethics.

First off, BD, you've made an excellent point here and I see nobody's tried to address it. I'd like to know that too.

Secondly, was anyone investigated over the BS defection? I'd say a defection with the timing hers had would not be any more ethical than this one was.

Depite my agreement with BD that some questions do need to be answered, I am more than a little suspicious of this investigation. I think this is definitely a good example of why the ethics commissioner should not be an appointed position, why that person should not be able to have affiliation with any political party and also why that person should operate independent of the PMO or House or Senate.

I don't really recognize the ethics commissioner... if I'm allow to do so?

None the less, BD you raise an excellent point and I'd love to know the answer to that to. I would definitely be very upset if Harper talked to him prior to the election.

But I don't think thats likely, it doesn't make much sense.

[Argus]

Why didn't he investigate Belinda and Martin?

He should be dismissed immediately for his obvious bias and ineffectiveness.

I heard nobody complained to the ethics commisioner over Belinda switching.

edit: There were complaints this time, none then. That is why. The ethics commisioner doesn't act on his own.

So, your claim that he has bias or is ineffective is sour grapes. suck it up.

There have been claims about incompetence and bias since Shapiro was appointed by Martin. He has continued the tradition of Liberal appointed "ethics" commisioners to excuse anything and everything Liberals do. Which, of course, is why he was appointed. He was censured by the House for contempt for his political behaviour during the Grewal investigation, and in fact, many observers ridiculed his report. The report focused mainly on Grewal's taping, and, for the most part, ignored the suggestion the PMO tried to bribe him by saying that he had no authority to investigate the PMO - or the PM - which was clearly wrong. He also said Toni Valeri's land flip, which earned him a cool half million bucks from a company his ministry did business with, was none of his business either. And let's not foget his curious double dealing behaviour during the Judy Sgro "investigatoin". He no problem with any of that. But in this situation, where there is clearly nothing wrong - people cross the floor all the time and there's no rule against it - we get him shuffling up out of his recliner to "investigate".

You might look up Ed Broadbent's statement in the House calling for Shapiro to be fired, citing his many inexplicable lapses in his alleged investigations, his cozy and helpful relationship with Liberals he was supposed to be investigating, and his misstatements which tended to show Liberals had done nothing wrong, even when the statements failed to address key points.

[justcrowing]

Emerson came on board after the election - Vancouver needed representation or would the people of Vancouver perfer not to have anyone represent them?

[yorkman]

What a differencen a few weeks make. Now that the Conservatives are the Government, all is fair in politics it seems. At least according to the Conservative supporters!!! What a crock. Only effective when dishing it out it seems. As we all thought, just a new group at the trough who behave no more ethically than the gang that preceded. Makes one feel good all over. Stephen never did take criticism well however. A major sulk will be in order methinks.

[Hicksey]

What a differencen a few weeks make. Now that the Conservatives are the Government, all is fair in politics it seems. At least according to the Conservative supporters!!! What a crock. Only effective when dishing it out it seems. As we all thought, just a new group at the trough who behave no more ethically than the gang that preceded. Makes one feel good all over. Stephen never did take criticism well however. A major sulk will be in order methinks.

Unlike when BS defected, when it was all cheers and happiness from the Liberals, look around. There are a lot of conservatives--not swing voters, but true conservatives--that are disturbed by the appointments in question and demanding answers.

I called BS a whore for defecting when she did and it took me no more than 5 min of knowing of the Emerson defection (45 min real time) to call Emerson as much a whore as BS was and share my belief that SH was guilty of pandering for brokering it.

You cannot paint all conservatives with that broad brush. We're coming out against the moves of Harper in numbers high enough to at least garner some measure of notability. Regardless of who is on office we are demanding accountability and ethical behavior because more than we're conservative we're bitterly distrustful of government. Those of us fit into this demographic are mostly Gen-Xers that having sat through the last of Trudeau, Mulroney, Chretien and Martin are simply fed up with the corruption regardless of the party who is guilty.