Liberals seek probe of Tory fundraising

[hiti]

Canadian Press

The accusations, levelled in two formal complaints filed with elections commissioner William Corbett, come as the two parties are locked in battle over the Tories' vaunted ethics legislation.

In one complaint, filed Monday, Liberal national director Steven MacKinnon alleges that a Calgary-based think-tank founded by former Reform party leader Preston Manning is essentially a front for illegally raising money and paying expenses for the Conservative party.

"We have every reason to believe that this non-profit organization is illegal under the Canada Elections Act for several reasons," MacKinnon says in the complaint.

He argues that one of the main objectives of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy is to raise money "with the sole purpose of possibly illegally financing the Conservative Party of Canada."

The second complaint, filed late last month, alleges that the Conservatives accepted an illegal, interest-free bank loan of almost $3.8 million.

Because no interest was charged for at least two years, MacKinnon argues that the loan effectively amounted to a corporate contribution. Corporate donations to political parties were banned in 2004.

The loan was negotiated as part of a debt reorganization plan in 2001 when the Tories' predecessor party, the Canadian Alliance, was formed out of the ashes of the Reform party.

In their annual financial statements in 2004 and 2005, the Tories openly acknowledge that the loan was interest free. However, the 2005 statement indicates that the debt was to begin bearing interest this year, at the rate of prime plus one per cent.

MacKinnon's charges come as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's centrepiece ethics bill has become the mired in a game of legislative ping pong between the House of Commons and the Liberal-dominated Senate.

The Senate has proposed more than 100 amendments to the Federal Accountability Act, most of which the Harper government has rejected. The Tories have countered with some amendments of their own, including one that would end the legal requirement for parties to count all convention fees as donations.

MacKinnon takes that amendment as tacit admission by the Tories that they were wrong when they failed to publicly disclose as donations almost $2 million in fees to their 2005 policy convention.

[geoffrey]

It's against the rules to just post articles without comment.

Besides that, the loan, it looks ugly but it's probably ok. It is baring interest now.

The Manning Centre attack, that's ridiculous. Are conservatives not allowed to have think-tanks too?

[gerryhatrick]

Liberals seek probe of Tory fundraising

Nov. 21, 2006. 07:29 PM

JOAN BRYDEN

CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — The Liberal party is asking Elections Canada to investigate two new accusations of potentially illegal fundraising practices by the ruling Conservatives.

The accusations, levelled in two formal complaints filed with elections commissioner William Corbett, come as the two parties are locked in battle over the Tories' vaunted ethics legislation.

In one complaint, filed Monday, Liberal national director Steven MacKinnon alleges that a Calgary-based think-tank founded by former Reform party leader Preston Manning is essentially a front for illegally raising money and paying expenses for the Conservative party.

"We have every reason to believe that this non-profit organization is illegal under the Canada Elections Act for several reasons," MacKinnon says in the complaint.

He argues that one of the main objectives of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy is to raise money "with the sole purpose of possibly illegally financing the Conservative Party of Canada."

The $10-million centre is fully funded for 10 years. On its website, the centre boasts that it is appealing to potential donors to make "multi-year financial commitments to existing conservative democratic infrastructure organizations and programs which the Manning Centre will identify and recommend."

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...epath=News/News

It would appear the Conservatives are CORRUPT!!!!

.

[geoffrey]

Because conservative think-tanks exist the CPC is corrupt?

If you actually think any party is going to appeal to CPC voters, you've got to lose your ridiculous logic. It doesn't appeal to us on the right that are actually issue driven to hear an ideologue rant and rave about ridiculous things like the Manning Centre being a secret front for covert CPC operations.

I've never heard such a ridiculous comment or accusation ever. Manning should sue.

In all of Canada, there are 3 reputable conservative think tanks, and nearly double in liberal minded ones. Do we need to shut them down too gerry, or is oppression of one ideology all you seek?

[gerryhatrick]

Because conservative think-tanks exist the CPC is corrupt?

Hardly geoffrey. The accusation and details go beyond that simplistic version you present, and you know that.

[geoffrey]

Because conservative think-tanks exist the CPC is corrupt?

Hardly geoffrey. The accusation and details go beyond that simplistic version you present, and you know that.

Well, nothing in these accusations really scare me.

Want to talk about the amendments to the Accountability Act, sure, I take issue there. But this? This is just hogwash.

[Argus]

Canadian Press

.

Spurious drivel.

During the Mulroney government, the tactics of the opposition Liberals were to accuse them of lying and dishonesty at every possible opportunity. The goal was not to pin any specific charge on them, but to keep up headlines and stories about charges in hopes that the overall affect would be to create a general belief the Conservatives were corrupt. This, in fact, worked fairly well, paving the way for the immensely corrupt Liberal regime which followed.

[scribblet]

Spurious drivel indeed. It appears that the smear campaign is heating up and the Liberals are afraid. The best they can do is run on malicious attacks, the public should see this for what it is.

[Cameron]

So, Gerry, do you REALLY want to see the Liberals back in power. This bunch has been around for awhile, and I think if you let them have the keys to the car, they would get right back on the bottle.

[scribblet]

I guess some folks would rather have a sticky fingered corruption oriented group in power.

As for the article, its blowing smoke, anyone who uses the words "sole" and "possibly" has no gravitus.

[Shakeyhands]

Canadian Press

.

Spurious drivel.

During the Mulroney government, the tactics of the opposition Liberals were to accuse them of lying and dishonesty at every possible opportunity. The goal was not to pin any specific charge on them, but to keep up headlines and stories about charges in hopes that the overall affect would be to create a general belief the Conservatives were corrupt. This, in fact, worked fairly well, paving the way for the immensely corrupt Liberal regime which followed.

Sounds very familiar though.... Does brought to you by "Canada's New Government" and Frank Lutz sound familiar?

I'd like to understand this more, on reading the article, it does sound like a Corporate Donation. No?