Two Conservative Senators Charged by Elections Canada

Backgrounders and Predictions: Here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here

It was only a matter of time before the not straight, ch3@ting bastards had to pay for their rule breaking. I hope there's lots more to come.

I give you the less than Honourable Doug Finley and Irving Gerstein.

The party members charged are:

Senator Doug Finley, the party's campaign director in 2006 and 2008, and the husband of Human Resources Development Minister Diane Finley.

Senator Irving Gerstein, a prominent businessman and fundraiser for the party.

Michael Donison, a former national party director.

Susan Kehoe, who has served as an interim party executive director.

The charges, which were laid under the Canada Elections Act, are regulatory, not criminal, and relate to the so-called "in-and-out" campaign financing case from 2006.

Quick! Who Said This?

“Information is the lifeblood of a democracy. Without adequate access to key information about government policies and programs, citizens and parliamentarians cannot make informed decisions and incompetent or corrupt governments can be hidden under a cloak of secrecy.”

Answer here.

Catholic Church Allows Married Priest to Join

Perhaps this will start a snowball effect where we see the Catholic church allow their own to be married.

Coalition Government is Okay with Stephen Harper....Attack Ads to be dropped

The Conservative Party of Canada appears to be poised to remove any and all attack ads showing Michael Ignatieff and the Liberals forming a coalition government.

Afterall, the Conservatives circled the wagons this week to form their own coaltion government with Separatists and Socialists. Perhaps Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe will now be placed in the Conservative Cabinet. Layton continues his brofest with Steve.

It's Friday. Laugh. Dance.

Conservative Lisa Raitt Hangs Fundraiser's out to Dry

My question is, how is it possible that the lobbyists are guilty but Lisa Raitt isn't?

Shepherd found Michael McSweeney and Will Stewart in breach of the code for selling tickets to a $250-a-ticket fundraising dinner for Raitt, then the minister of natural resources. The event was attended by lobbyists who were registered to lobby her department.

Ethics commissioner Mary Dawson cleared Raitt, now the minister of labour, of any wrongdoing in May 2010, but referred the matter to the lobbying commissioner. Today Shepherd found that the lobbyists' actions put Raitt in an apparent conflict of interest, in breach of the code.

A third lobbyist, Bruce Rawson, was found in breach of the code for failing to properly register before arranging meetings with public officials for representatives of B.C.'s mining industry in 2006.

And Raitt's thank you to the boys for raising all that money for her?

In response to a request for comment, Raitt's spokesperson in an email again referred to the Ethics Commissioner's May 2010 report:

"Minister Raitt has and continues to follow all of the rules.

"We thank the Lobbying Commissioner for her report, and note that it is another example of our Conservative government's approach to ethics and accountability.

"The Ethics Commissioner is clear in her report that 'Ms. Raitt did not contravene the Conflict of Interest Act (Act) or the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (Code).'

"The [Ethics] Commissioner went further to clear Minister Raitt when she said the Minister 'did not accept any gift or other advantage in connection with the September 24, 2009 fundraising event ... Ms. Raitt was not involved in the recruitment of these volunteers or the organization of the fundraiser and therefore did not accept these services or contributions.'"

Royal Visit = No Spring Election

So everyone can just relax now. Harper would never risk his invitation to the Royal Wedding or the opportunity to host the Royal Couple in July by having a spring election.

Donations on Behalf of Our Friend Penlan

This message was left in my comment section. Many of you have asked about it. Pass it on.

Jill said...
Thank you all for your kind words about my sister.
We are shocked and saddened by this tragic loss.
She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
She donated regularly to the SPCA. Some people have asked about donations. If you feel so inclined, here is the link:

http://www.perthcounty.ontariospca.ca/index.shtml

Thank you all once again. I have a huge lump in my throat as I read the posts.

Jill

Dear Immigrants and Newcomers to Canada

If you've been tricked by Jason Kenney and his band of clowns that the Conservative Party is looking after and caring for your best interests, think again.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has resigned.

Now What?