These words come to mind: “I did not have sex with that woman, Monica Lewinski”.
Of course in the case of President Bill Clinton, who ostensibly committed arguably lesser crimes, he was impeached by the United States House of Representatives.
Then these words come to mind: “I am not a crook”.
Of course then President Nixon resigned to avoid being impeached, for ostensibly letting, or allowing his party, to commit arguably lesser crimes.
Ad man close to Martin handled $107 million in federal contracts: documents
Tue Apr 19,10:58 AM ET
BRIAN DALY
[Canadian Press via Yahoo News]MONTREAL (CP) – An ad man and friend of Prime Minister Paul Martin handled $107 million in federal contracts, mainly when Martin was finance minister, according to documents tabled at the sponsorship inquiry.
Claude Boulay, who worked on Martin’s 1990 leadership campaign, pulled in the cash between 1994 and 2003 through his Groupe Everest firm and subsidiaries, financial statements show.
Boulay’s firms handled $40 million in publicity related contracts with various government departments, including $4.1 million from the federal finance department.
Boulay’s firms earned $23 million from all of its federal deals. His testimony began in earnest on Tuesday.
A big chunk of the federal contracts – $67 million – came through the scandal-ridden sponsorship program. That includes a $25.6 million deal to manage the Attractions Canada tourism program.
Attractions Canada is of interest to the inquiry following allegations Boulay discussed the contract with Martin at a Liberal fundraiser.
The prime minister has vehemently denied the claims, made at the inquiry this month by former Liberal organizer Alain Renaud.
Martin’s minority Liberal government is in jeopardy after allegations by advertising executive Jean Brault who has admitted to conspiring with top Liberals to divert $1.1 million to party coffers in exchange for sponsorship contracts.
Opposition parties have jumped on the potentially damaging testimony, and the Conservatives may try to topple the minority government.
Everest donated $173,710 to the federal Liberals between 1996 and 2003, according to a report by the party.
Boulay is expected to face questions about his relationship with Martin as well as several sponsorship deals exposed in a scathing auditor general’s report.
Brault also said he funnelled $50,000 to Jean Charest’s 1998 provincial Liberal campaign through Groupe Everest, though the provincial Grits deny the charge.
Martin has since tried to downplay his friendship with Boulay, but several letters tabled at the inquiry indicate the two men enjoyed friendly ties.
In one letter dated April 26, 2001, Martin expressed his regrets at missing Boulay’s 50th birthday party.
“I lift my glass to the festivities about to begin,” Martin said in the letter.
“Dear Claude, please accept my best wishes,” Martin added, signing the letter “Paul.”
A handwritten message next to the signature reads: “Claude, you’re too old to play golf!”
Also of interest to the inquiry are the Liberal fundraising activities of Boulay’s wife, Diane Deslauriers. Several witnesses have told the inquiry they were aggressively solicited by Deslauriers for above-board cash donations to the federal party.
PTBC was founded by Mr. Johannesen in 2000.
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