Chow questions Tory unethical behaviour

OTTAWA – October 9, 2009  Mr. Speaker, it is the same old story of shady fundraising behaviour. Michael McSweeney, a registered lobbyist for the Cement Association of Canada, organized a fundraiser for the Natural Resources minister from his corporate office. Robert Poirier organized a fundraiser for the Industry minister and was rewarded with an appointment to the Toronto Port Authority, better known as the Tory pork authority. Will the ministers actually admit that using private companies, crown corporations and lobbyists to raise money for themselves is ethical and acceptable?

Hon. Rob Merrifield (Minister of State (Transport), CPC):  Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the question, but the reality is I have answered this already in the House. We are the government that brought in a third party, strengthened third party powers to arm’s-length agencies to be able to deal with these kinds of matters. As I have said before, the Natural Resources minister has had correspondence from the Ethics Commissioner who has cleared her from all allegations. They are totally unfounded.

Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina, NDP):  Mr. Speaker, actually that was not true. This behaviour is not new and we saw it when the Liberals were in power and we are seeing it now with patronage appointments to the Immigration Board, to our judiciary, to the boards of crown corporations. Appointments are a reward program for bagmen, campaign managers and failed candidates. The more pork they bring into the Conservatives, the more rewards they are going to get.

When will the Conservatives stop this abuse and stop this unethical and illegal behaviour?

 

Related story on Ethics Commissioner’s examination: http://tinyurl.com/yfed9s8

Ethics Commissioner’s action: http://tinyurl.com/yz5jukr

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