Helena Guergis quits cabinet post

[ZeitgeistObserver]

Friday, April 9, 2010 12:31 PM

Helena Guergis quits cabinet post

Helena Guergis is stepping down as minister of state for the status of women amid a growing scandal.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will speak to reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons at 12:40 ET.

More to come

[ZeitgeistObserver]

1. Update: referred to the RCMP

UPDATE: Um, wow. Apparently, she's not just out of cabinet -- she's out of caucus, at least temporarily, after PMO "became aware of serious allegations about her conduct," which have now been referred to the Ethics Commissioner and the RCMP.

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2010/04/guergiswatch-our-pmos-longish-national-nightmare-is-over.html

[Arrowhead2k1]

13. Damn, what the heck did she do?

:rofl:

Here's hoping the RCMP discover a trail leading straight to Harper. :D

[ZeitgeistObserver]

14. Only a guess on my part,

but since Jaffer bragged he had an 'in' with the PMO, he meant his wife was a cabinet minister. She is in direct contact with Harper all the time.

And Jaffer was using her Blackberry and govt email addy to run his business. His partner in this business is also a Conservative.

Did she know Jaffer was doing this? I can't see how she wouldn't notice business emails showing up.

Influence peddling. Right at the PMO level.

[JBoy]

2. Thrown under the bus, and then backed over.

I give Harper credit for being able to hold out all week until the Friday news dump.

Predictable wording of the resignation - don't really admit to any wrongdoing, but instead blame the "distraction" of the "baseless allegations".

I hope they replay this when the RCMP lays charges.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

4. PMs try to stand by their people,

when they're under attack from the Opposition, because if they score it only encourages them to go after someone else. But the Dynamic Duo there finally made it impossible. :)

[Spazito]

3. Hmmm, it looks like there is even more serious allegations to come out on her (and her hubby?)...

"From the PM's comments, it sounds as though the "serious allegations" that prompted him to refer the matter to the RCMP and the Ethics Commissioner go beyond what was reported by the Toronto Star, since he stated that his office became aware of them last night, but he declined to provide any further information."


I am preparing :popcorn: for this!

[daleo]

5. Jaffer goes back a long time with the Reform and Conservative Parties

He may have some things to spill, if it gets rough. Maybe he will be to Harper what Schrieber was to Mulroney.

[Spazito]

8. Interesting point...

If he feels his wife (and him) are being hung out to dry he may well have some interesting info to share. There are so many avenues where she (and he?) could have acted that brought about the involvement of the RCMP ie the dropping of charges re him; what activities did she participate in re the Toronto Star revelations, etc.

I think it could be interesting times for a bit.

[daleo]

6. The (near) million dollar mortgage payments may be a stretch now

On a mere MP's pay, and with Jaffer's "consulting" business being in trouble.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

7. Her riding exec is probably scrambling right now

on her nomination. If she remains the nominee the Conservatives will lose that riding.

There is some confusion over whether she had already secured it, and if she has I'm betting they're looking for a loophole.

Harper may provide them with an easy out by refusing to sign her papers.

[JBoy]

9. Not much of a consulting business if you have to use your wife's blackberry.

[daleo]

10. True, but it makes you look like you are very well connected

Which was probably his point in using the Cabinet Minister wife's blackberry.

[JBoy]

15. With email, like in real estate, having the right "address" is important.

[sorrywrongemail]

11. All's Well and Good for Harper, Apparently

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/04/09/13532101-qmi.html

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper is winning praise from experts for the way he handled the “salacious” controversies surrounding former cabinet minister Helena Guergis.


PM praised in handling Guergis situation

By LAURA PAYTON, Parliamentary Bureau

Last Updated: April 9, 2010 7:18pm

[Metric System]

12. Our so-called "liberal media."

[CHIMO]

16. Guergis calls allegations 'baseless, unfounded' as PM drops axe

"It has become apparent through baseless allegations and unfounded assertions made about my family that I need to step aside to allow for the good work of our government to continue serving Canadians," she wrote.

Harper said the activities of Guergis' spouse, former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer, were of no concern to the government. Jaffer had been boasting on his website that his close connections to the Harper government could be good for his business interests.

Neither Harper nor any of his staff would explain what acts Guergis may have engaged in to warrant a police investigation. Similarly, both the RCMP and the office of ethics commissioner Mary Dawson restricted themselves to saying only that they had received the prime minister's referral and declined to answer questions about the nature of the allegations.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/Guergis+Allegations+unfounded/2784826/story.html

She says the allegations about her family are unfounded.

Harper says that it is about her.

It doesn't add up. Looks like a break is coming between the Harper gang and her.

Brings to mind the fast turn around on the national anthem. The party wanted her gone.

The PM seems to have brought the matter to the attention of the RCMP.

Dollars to donuts that she will not take the shit from the PM. She has already seen him shaft Jaffer. And she knows how he works from the inside.


Just as an aside. Copying this from the Montreal Gazette, I had to erase the nuisance pieces that comes with every paste. It is the same nuisance that happens with CBC articles. Has the CBC given its website control to the Posts'?

[CHIMO]

17. Stephen Harper’s office rattled by Rahim Jaffer controversy

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/793462--stephen-harper-s-office-rattled-by-rahim-jaffer-controversy?bn=1

Helena Guergis resignation letter

Thank you for the trust and confidence you have shown in me. I will continue to do my best to serve the government as a Member of Parliament.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/793240

But now she is not in the caucus. Don't think that she expected that part.