The news that the Conservatives are not backing down and are actually set to take it up a notch is great news for Canada.
But it’s a little bit funny how the media reports it in this case: using words and phrases like “acrimonious” and “blindsiding the government” in their description of the Conservatives’ plans. Poor poor Liberal victims of that big meaniepants Mr. Harper. He’s so scary!
OTTAWA – The Conservatives have set the stage for a potentially acrimonious return to Parliament on Monday by blindsiding the government with three motions—including one calling for indictments in the sponsorship inquiry—for the first opposition day since the House of Commons showdown began last month.
The first Conservative motion listed on the order paper calls on the government to amend the terms of reference for Justice John Gomery’s inquiry into the sponsorship scandal “to allow the commissioner to name names and assign responsibility.”
Liberal party witnesses and advertising executives have testified that hundreds of thousands of dollars of sponsorship money were illegally funnelled to campaign workers and the Quebec wing of the federal Liberal party for election campaigns. Some of the testimony has been challenged by other witnesses.
The Conservative motion stems from opposition criticism that Judge Gomery will be prevented from assigning blame by a paragraph in his mandate that directs him “to perform his duties without expressing any conclusion or recommendation regarding the civil or criminal liability of any person or organization.”
The paragraph also directs the judge not to jeopardize criminal investigations or trials.
This parapgraph—a Stephen Harper quote—drives the screw right into the nut:
“We have a government that is up to its eyeballs in a corruption scandal—it should be held responsible for that,” he said. “We will continue to press for this government’s removal. But as long as they’re prepared to buy off the NDP and as long as the NDP’s prepared to back corruption, it’s going to be difficult to remove them.”
…especially when the media is part of that coalition.
PTBC was founded by Mr. Johannesen in 2000.
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