Wednesday, August 28, 2019

POT, MEET KETTLE...

The Conflict of Interest Act only came into effect in 2006 therefore the only Prime Ministers it has ever applied to are Trudeau and Harper, so Andy Scheer's January 5th, 2018 statement (which they're continuing to repeat) that "Justin Trudeau broke the law. A first in Canadian history for any sitting Prime Minister." IS WRONG.
While there are tonnes of minor PM scandals (more than 100 for just Harper alone - see here for that full list https://pressprogress.ca/101_scandalous_unethical_or_just_plain_sad_harper_government_moments/?fbclid=IwAR1FB3rfKeqPDQm-yDrWq_M0Ve2KWXV5TR_bpNkgmC7XfLHRDfy3yzIzpuc) here are the big ones in Canadian History...
The Pacific Scandal -- Allegations wealthy Montrealer Hugh Allan had been promised a contract to build a cross-country railway in exchange for more than $350,000 in political donations rocked John A MacDonald's Conservative government.  Macdonald claimed innocence, but resigned as prime minister in 1873.  He was re-elected in 1878 and continued until 1891, for a total of 9 years so this couldn't have been that bad.
Schreiber Affair -- Justice Jeffrey Oliphant's 2010 federal inquiry ruled it was inappropriate for then MP Brian Mulroney to accept cash from German-Canadian businessman Karlheinz Schreiber. Oliphant said Mulroney "failed to live up to the standard of conduct that he himself adopted in the 1985 ethics code" for ministers, parliamentary secretaries and other senior public office holders.
Shawinigate -- Jean Chretien may have used his influence to help Yvon Duhaime, owner of the Auberge Grand Mere hotel, get financing from the Federal Business Development Bank.  It's not unusual for MP's to assist constituents with government agencies, particularly for investment and job creation schemes but at the time, Chretien was part-owner of an adjacent golf course and even though he'd been trying to sell his shares in it the association led to accusations of inappropriately.
Contempt case -- In March 2011, Speaker of the House of Commons, Peter Milliken (internationally acknowledged as one of the best) chastised Stephen Harper's Conservative government for withholding the full costs of anti-crime measures, corporate tax cuts and a planned fighter jet purchase. It led to the government's defeat on a non-confidence motion declaring the government in contempt of Parliament, rapidly followed by Milliken's replacement as Speaker by what Rick Mercer called "A sack of flour with a happy face drawn on it - Andrew Scheer".

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