What's up with Wright Tech?

[daleo]

The Jaffer-Guergis saga offers more twists and turns than a Russian ice dancing competition, but here's an interesting sidebar about one player in it: Richmond Hill, Ont.-based Wright Tech Systems Inc., a company that (I've learned from its website) specializes in converting organic waste to energy.

One of the allegations against former Minister of State Helena Guergis is that a letter she wrote to her cousin -- who was then the warden of Simcoe County in the riding she represents -- endorsing the work of Wright Tech Systems Inc., represents a conflict of interest. The owner of Wright Tech, we're told, owns a cottage in Guergis' riding, and thus is (sort of) a constituent, in her view.

The crux of the allegation is that this endorsement letter was written just as the company was allegedly about to be taken public by a businessman with ties to her husband, Rahim Jaffer. In fact, Jaffer was said to have been discussing the matter with Nazim Gillani on the night he was pulled over and charged with careless driving, impaired driving and cocaine possession (the latter two charges, of course, were later dropped in a controversial negotiated deal.) In fact, in Gillani's much-discussed "opened the doors" to the PMO email bragging about the success of this meeting, it was Wright Tech Gillani was talking about benefitting from Jaffer's help.

This letter was dated Sept.10 -- the day before this now-infamous dinner meeting. Guergis denies she did anything improper in recommending this waste management company to the municipality, and Jaffer denies he stood to benefit in any way.

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2010/04/whats-up-with-wright-tech.html
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An interesting little sidebar, that may just grow.

[Spazito]

1. Oh yes, this can of worms has just barely been opened as yet, imo...

I am betting Wright Tech Systems is very likely one of the three companies named in "a document submitted to Brian Jean, parliamentary secretary to Transport Minister John Baird" by Glemaud, names he now can't recall.

"When Liberal MP Siobhan Coady asked for the names of the three companies mentioned in the executive summary, Glemaud said he could not remember their names. Jaffer said he recused himself from that particular order of business because it may have given the impression of a conflict of interest.

Committee chair Yasmin Ratansi requested that Glemaud supply the committee with the names of the companies or risk being in contempt of Parliament."

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100421/guergis_jaffer_100421/20100421?hub=TopStoriesV2

[daleo]

3. I couldn't agree more

That memory lapse was awfully convenient. I think someone wanted to buy a little time, maybe get some stories straight.

[CHIMO]

2. Just

A side bar. Came across a comment that he had about the deal awhile back.

His reply was that he didn't fall for the one billion float as he was an irishman and a christian.

There may be more in this than meets the eye.