Canada's Corruption Scandal Breaks Wide Open

[illbill]

http://www.realopinion.com/realboards/showthread.php?p=2150

<snip>A political scandal involving the Public Works Ministry, a government effort called the Sponsorship Program, and allegations of corruption in the ruling Liberal Party has Canada abuzz with rumors of payoffs, Mob ties, and snap elections.<snip>

http://www.realopinion.com/realboards/showthread.php?p=2150

[Thurston Howell IV]

1. Well, at least it's livable. n\t

[roguevalley]

3. unless you're a baby seal.

I won't be going to Canada any time soon until that atrocity is done away with. Even in Alaska we cut back on shit like this.

[Telly Savalas]

6. I'm so upset about the baby seals issue..

that I'm going to move back to the much more humane United States where they spare the seals and restrict baby slaughtering to only Iraqi humans.

[V. Kid]

12. How dare you be so sarcastic

those Inuit and their traditions are much worse than the people behind the Iraq War. Don't loose perspective folks! ;-)

[Mother Jones]

17. Actually, the US has MUCH higher humane standards/laws for animals

than we do in Canada. Our laws are centuries old, and motions to change them have been killed in the Senate repeatedly. Mainly because of the seal hunt industry/lobbyists.

This is a shameful black mark on us.

I do, however, agree with you regarding the seemingly lack of value for human life, re the Iraq war.

[Mother Jones]

16. This Canadian applauds you for putting your $$ where your mouth is!

Good for you!

[Spazito]

2. This is getting interesting!

The person who leaked this and the person who put it on the site broke Canadian law. I wonder how strongly the authorities will pursue this.

I remember when this happened with the serial killer in B.C. Testimony was leaked then too and reporters, etc, were going to be turfed from the court and no one who wasn't needed would be allowed in. I suspect the same will happen here.

[illbill]

4. Legal issues

Canadian law does not have jurisdiction over American web sites that publish the story.

[Spazito]

5. It does have jurisdiction on who attends the closed hearings

to gather testimony. Someone in attendance breached the law and that is already being investigated. If necessary, Judge Gomery will clear the court of everyone other than those who are absolutely necessary to the process.

It is unfortunate the testimony was leaked as it now puts three trials at risk and may end up letting the three men charged to get off because of the inability for a fair trial. I don't think getting the information out prior to the lifting of the ban is worth the risk.

The leak also could cause an election which could stop the Inquiry cold and, that too, makes the information, which has not been proven and is the testimony of only one man, not worth the damage it will do to the legal processes.

[Joel]

7. wrong

The leak also could cause an election which could stop the Inquiry cold

The inquiry only stops if PMPM orders it so. It can go on while we have an election.

[Spazito]

8. It can, technically, but it can be seen as being used unfairly

to bias the electorate if it continues during an election period which means Gomery would have to call a recess at the very least for up to 60 days.

[Joel]

10. how is bias defined?

to bias the electorate if it continues during an election period which means Gomery would have to call a recess at the very least for up to 60 days.

It would be a huge blow either way. I can just see the headlines "Gomery Takes a Break From Pummeling Liberals, Public Does Not."

[Spazito]

11. Bias regarding the leaking going on, it is not merely a coincidence

the leaks are deliberate so it would be seen as bias. Gomery has already had to apologize for inappropriate remarks he made earlier to the media, this leak won't help.

[Wat_Tyler]

9. And believe me, he'll stop it, if there's an election.

I believe the initial plan was to run an election campaign concurrent with the publication ban on the Brault testimony. However, events have gathered pace. If the revelations are damaging enough, the CPC, NDP and BQ will jointly table a motion of no-confidence.

[KamaAina]

13. Hmmm... Cons don't like the results of an election...

so they splash stuff all over the media to get another one... sound familiar?

Any groping Austrians involved in Cdn politics, by any chance?

"Canada. We're like California, only colder." :-)

Seriously, why would the Martin government be threatened here? Didn't all this stuff happen under previous admins? We in the States might as easily dredge up Iran-contra to use against Bush**!

And to think, we have a Canadian couple in town this week that I might maybe possibly be able to bug about a job... but it wouldn't be worth it if I picked up the paper my first day only to read "CONS IN HUGE LANDSLIDE" :scared:

[Canadian Socialist]

14. It's a little different here

The Martin government is a minority one. The CPC is the official opposition. But, if the NDP and Bloc don't go along with the CPC, then the vote will win. The Liberal government can be brought down with a vote of non-confidence if the other parties vote against them. FYI.

[Wat_Tyler]

15. There isn't the change of administration in the way the US has them.

A lot of those people who were there under Chretien remain under Martin.

[Joel]

18. And these people

may have some interesting stories and connections that Canadians hypothetically wouldn't be happy with if you catch my drift.

[northamericancitizen]

19. Most of the Sponsorship Scandal was created by Québequers

and primarily against Québequers (French-Canadians).
Too bad, so sad...for us.


There was essentially 2 goals behind most of The Canadian government Sponsorship Events:

1st: Make a majority of Québequers feel proud to be Canadian i.e.
Beat up the Separatists.

2nd: Lets help each other and make a profit.


_____________________________________________________________________

I heard a political analyst saying that the Sponsorship scandal will fuel (again) a period of Québec bashing

Probably coming from Ontario.

So sad...
_____________________________________________________________________

When you think of it, Québequers lost a lot more that the ROC (rest of Canada) with all the dirty money used for the Canadian Sponsorships Programs.

A lot of that money was to promote the Canadian identity in the Province of Québec. During the last Referendum campaign, the Canadian government illegally, spent millions, to convince us that the other Canadians loved us. Bussed thousands of them "Anglos" to prove it...

P.S. I am not a Separatist or a Federalist. I still have to make up my mind about it. At 51, I should know by now. But I can't make up my mind.

Should I listen to my heart or my reason?
My heart would vote separatist, (i.e nationalist) and my reason always told me to cancel my vote...Which I did in the last Referendum.

Both sides stink when they promote their view of our future. Both are too exclusive. It's either black or white. I've never felt comfortable having to choose between 2 extremes. I would gladly support a leader who would offer a middle ground.

In the mean time I will go on promoting the Québequers unique culture: a curious mix between Canadian Living, the American Way with a touch of Latin Europe.

lise