'Serious allegations' against Guergis revealed

[CHIMO]

CBC News has learned that the "serious allegations" Prime Minister Stephen Harper referred to last year in connection with former Conservative MP Helena Guergis included unsubstantiated claims of fraud, extortion and involvement with prostitutes.

Harper has never explained what the allegations were against Guergis, who was later cleared by the RCMP of any wrongdoing. The Ontario MP, who was ousted from cabinet, caucus and the party in April 2010, also has claimed she was never personally told what the allegations were, something the Tories deny.

But CBC News has obtained the letter sent by Harper's principal secretary, Ray Novak, to RCMP Commissioner William Elliott regarding Guergis and her husband, former Tory MP Rahim Jaffer.

"The allegations are numerous and include fraud, extortion, obtaining benefits by false pretences and involvement in prostitution," Novak wrote in a letter dated April 9, 2010.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/14/cv-election-guergis.html#

[tuvor]

1. Enterprise-Bulletin: Guergis calls news conference

COLLINGWOOD - Simcoe-Grey MP Helena Guergis has called a news conference for Friday morning, following a leak of the RCMP investigation into the Prime Minister's 'serious allegations' that caused Stephen Harper to boot her from the Conservative caucus last spring.

Those details, broadcast on CBC's The National on Thursday, included allegations of fraud, extortion and involvement with prostitutes.

Last fall, Guergis was cleared by the RCMP of any wrongdoing.

According to a news release from Guergis' campaign office in Collingwood, issued after CBC broadcast the item, both Guergis and campaign manager Andy Beaudoin will provide statements, afterwhich they will take questions from the media.

(end of article)

http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3075724

[Very_Boring_Name]

2. Hmm gee, I wonder who leaked this

:eyes:

[tuvor]

3. Toronto Star: Guergis says gender played role in cabinet expulsion

OTTAWA—Helena Guergis says her gender was a big reason Stephen Harper dumped her from cabinet over unproven allegations of extortion, fraud and involvement with prostitutes.

Guergis accused the Conservative leader of a double standard, saying he treated her differently than he would a male member of his caucus.

The former minister of state for the status of woman told the Star Thursday that she was held accountable for the alleged actions of her husband in a way that a man would not be made to pay for allegations over his wife.

Harper booted Guergis from cabinet and caucus in April 2010 over what he called at the time “serious allegations” that he referred to the RCMP. Harper has never explained what the mystery allegations were even though Guergis was subsequently cleared by the RCMP.

...

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/975146--guergis-says-gender-played-role-in-cabinet-expulsion?bn=1

[shockedcanadian]

4. Politically timed...

Certainly this information was leaked for political purposes, I am not naive enough to think otherwise. It seems that the real issues have taken a backseat to other variables during this election campaign. This does not bode well for voters who are voting with little substance provided by the party leaders.

Regardless. As someone who has personally been targeted and persecuted by Canadian Intelligence I can tell you this much. It is extremely demoralizing to experience an injustice from your government, especially an allegation that you cannot defend yourself against. From day one they should have addressed their concerns with Guergis in private and obtained her side of the story/allegations, when they didn't, they set themselves up. 4

Quite simply CSIS and the RCMP operate in a system that rewards results...even if these "results" are benign or manufactured. I assume that private investigators operate under a similar vein...if they can justify continuing to investigate a particular target, they can continue to charge their usual fees. Unless there is some concrete evidence, than one should not be turfed from their job...if this was the case we would lose a great deal more politicians to hearsay, media reports, rumours and gossip.

I really don't know much about Helena Guergis or her policy's etc. I do know this however. In Canada one is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. One cannot rely on hearsay or allegations alone to justify destroying somebody's name, credibility and character. Far far too often these activities are taking place in Canada and it is frightening and very Stalinisque.

I said from Day 1 that this situation would reappear at some point. The worst timing as it seems. If Harper relied on his advisors for this decision, he would be best served to fire THEM.

[glarius]

5. To me, this is a huge slap in the face to Harper...the dictator!

Even after he was informed that Guergis was cleared, he never apologized to her and he allowed the public to believe the worst of her...trying to ruin her political career. This is more proof of his ruthlessness. I can't see how this won't hurt him a great deal...unless the Liberals, NDP and the media let it die.