On March 21 2006 I blogged with this information, when the “Ethics” “Czar” wrote up his report clearing newly minted Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper and MP David Emerson of any wrongdoing:
[…] In fact, Shapiro wrote that MPs who switch parties just before important parliamentary votes are breaking the ethical rules.
“Clearly, if the prime minister were to approach a member with an offer of a cabinet position with the sole intent and specific purpose of acquiring that member’s vote directly linked to a parliamentary proceeding existing at that time, such conduct would be inappropriate and unacceptable,’’ he wrote. […]
—Vancouver Sun
March 20 2006
… and then I wrote in my blog entry, “Hello Ms. Stronach and Mr. Martin!”
… and then I waited for the announcement that Stronach and Martin were going to be investigated.
… and then this was reported today:
Ethics commissioner refuses to probe Stronach defection
OTTAWA (CP) – The federal ethics commissioner says he will not investigate former prime minister Paul Martin’s role in bringing Belinda Stronach into the Liberal ranks last May.Bernard Shapiro says there’s nothing in the ethics guidelines to stop a prime minister from appointing an opposition member to his cabinet – in fact, he calls it a constitutional right.
Shapiro was responding to a complaint from New Democrat MP Pat Martin, who had complained that the former prime minister may have violated ethics guidelines by offering Stronach a cabinet job.
Martin said he’s surprised.
He said Shapiro sent a clear message in his report on David Emerson’s recent party switch that had the defection been linked to a Commons vote, it would have been a clear violation of the guidelines.
Martin filed his complaint after the Emerson report because he said Stronach, a former Tory, crossed the floor on the eve of a critical Commons vote that threatened to bring down the minority Liberal government.
Can he be fired anytime soon?
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