Member
Posts: 169 
January 12th, 2006, 12:05 AM
B.C. Conservative candidate to go on trial
Kathy Tomlinson, CTV News
The Conservative Party was not aware that their candidate in the B.C. riding of British Columbia Southern Interior is due to go on trial next month on smuggling charges, and if convicted, he could end up in jail.
Derek Zeisman, who is running in the riding currently held by Conservative MP Jim Gouk, previously made national news for a serious car accident five days before Christmas.
Zeisman is still in hospital with injuries from that accident, and would not agree to an interview. However, he did speak with CTV News off-camera.
"I have had nothing to hide during this campaign and those charges which were not even criminal charges are unjustified," Zeisman said. "And when I have my day in court, I am very confident that I will be exonerated.
"I have no doubt about that whatsoever, but you know, again, I hope we still live in a democratic country where people are allowed to have their day in court before they're found guilty in the court of public opinion."
In July 2004, Zeisman was crossing into British Columbia from the United States, when Canada Customs charged him with attempting to smuggle in a Mercedes-Benz vehicle and 112 containers of alcohol.
Zeisman is also accused of lying to Canada Customs about the incident.
Zeisman did not explain to CTV News why he didn't tell his own party about the charges, and blamed someone in government for leaking the information.
"I don't know if it came from the Department of Foreign Affairs or if it came from the Border Services Agency," he said. "Somebody obviously has a grudge to harbour."
Zeisman is a cross-border trade specialist, and up until the time of the charges he was working as a trade commissioner for the federal government.
The government knew about the charges, but the Conservative Party admits it didn't check Zeisman's background with his former employer.
Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper, who signed Zeisman's nomination papers, says he relies on others for such checking.
"There is a screening process," Harper said. "My understanding is that it is supposed to look into criminal backgrounds, and obviously we rely on candidates to be forthcoming with information as well."
Duff Conacher of the group Democracy Watch said the party should have taken a better look at their candidate's background.
"They should be taking the initiative and making sure candidates for office maintain the highest ethical standard, so we're not in this situation," Conacher said.
However, he added, "the primary responsibility is with the candidate since they obviously had full knowledge and should have gone public with it even if they didn't tell the party in the first instance."
Zeisman's party bio says that in 2004, he began working as Gouk's part-time constituency assistant.
Gouk, who is retiring from politics, had previously hired Zeisman as his parliamentary assistant, working in both his Ottawa and Castlegar offices.
The Conservatives say despite just finding out about the charges, they will stand by their man and won't pull him out of the race.
B.C. Conservative candidate to go on trial
Kathy Tomlinson, CTV News
The Conservative Party was not aware that their candidate in the B.C. riding of British Columbia Southern Interior is due to go on trial next month on smuggling charges, and if convicted, he could end up in jail.
Derek Zeisman, who is running in the riding currently held by Conservative MP Jim Gouk, previously made national news for a serious car accident five days before Christmas.
Zeisman is still in hospital with injuries from that accident, and would not agree to an interview. However, he did speak with CTV News off-camera.
"I have had nothing to hide during this campaign and those charges which were not even criminal charges are unjustified," Zeisman said. "And when I have my day in court, I am very confident that I will be exonerated.
"I have no doubt about that whatsoever, but you know, again, I hope we still live in a democratic country where people are allowed to have their day in court before they're found guilty in the court of public opinion."
In July 2004, Zeisman was crossing into British Columbia from the United States, when Canada Customs charged him with attempting to smuggle in a Mercedes-Benz vehicle and 112 containers of alcohol.
Zeisman is also accused of lying to Canada Customs about the incident.
Zeisman did not explain to CTV News why he didn't tell his own party about the charges, and blamed someone in government for leaking the information.
"I don't know if it came from the Department of Foreign Affairs or if it came from the Border Services Agency," he said. "Somebody obviously has a grudge to harbour."
Zeisman is a cross-border trade specialist, and up until the time of the charges he was working as a trade commissioner for the federal government.
The government knew about the charges, but the Conservative Party admits it didn't check Zeisman's background with his former employer.
Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper, who signed Zeisman's nomination papers, says he relies on others for such checking.
"There is a screening process," Harper said. "My understanding is that it is supposed to look into criminal backgrounds, and obviously we rely on candidates to be forthcoming with information as well."
Duff Conacher of the group Democracy Watch said the party should have taken a better look at their candidate's background.
"They should be taking the initiative and making sure candidates for office maintain the highest ethical standard, so we're not in this situation," Conacher said.
However, he added, "the primary responsibility is with the candidate since they obviously had full knowledge and should have gone public with it even if they didn't tell the party in the first instance."
Zeisman's party bio says that in 2004, he began working as Gouk's part-time constituency assistant.
Gouk, who is retiring from politics, had previously hired Zeisman as his parliamentary assistant, working in both his Ottawa and Castlegar offices.
The Conservatives say despite just finding out about the charges, they will stand by their man and won't pull him out of the race.
Ponderous Intellect
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January 12th, 2006, 12:18 AM
You know, if the Liberal Party of Canada had chosen to do something like that, the Tories would be screaming bloody murder, and we'd have three new Commissions of Inquery, two RCMP investigations, and three new legislative proposals.
You know, if the Liberal Party of Canada had chosen to do something like that, the Tories would be screaming bloody murder, and we'd have three new Commissions of Inquery, two RCMP investigations, and three new legislative proposals.
Member
Posts: 169
January 12th, 2006, 12:24 AM
Meanwhile, there are no sitting MPs currently charged with a crime and neocons across this country accuse them of being corrupt.
Quoting
Now here we have a conservative who's actually been charged with a crime, and all is silent on the neocon front.
It's the Canidates problem. It's up to the voters not to vote for him.
Meanwhile, there are no sitting MPs currently charged with a crime and neocons across this country accuse them of being corrupt.
Ponderous Intellect
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Location: Surrey, British Columbia
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January 12th, 2006, 12:25 AM
It seems to me, Citizen, that the Honourable Stephen Harper may already be wavering on his campaign promise to "clean up the Government," eh?
It seems to me, Citizen, that the Honourable Stephen Harper may already be wavering on his campaign promise to "clean up the Government," eh?
Member
Posts: 103
Location: Rexburg, Idaho
Location: Rexburg, Idaho
January 12th, 2006, 12:44 AM
Seeing as neocons on this board are few and far between, i can see why that would be...
I don't see this situation any different than that of Svend Robinson (except for the fact that Svend was charged, Zeisman we do not know yet). Like Finder said, it's up to the constituents to decide whether or not he will be elected.
Seeing as neocons on this board are few and far between, i can see why that would be...
I don't see this situation any different than that of Svend Robinson (except for the fact that Svend was charged, Zeisman we do not know yet). Like Finder said, it's up to the constituents to decide whether or not he will be elected.
Ponderous Intellect
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Location: Surrey, British Columbia
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Location: Surrey, British Columbia
January 12th, 2006, 12:44 AM
Innocent until proven guilty? Then why are the Grits assumed to be guilty, automatically, even when charges are unilaterally fabricated by the Opposition? (Finance leak, anyone?)
Innocent until proven guilty? Then why are the Grits assumed to be guilty, automatically, even when charges are unilaterally fabricated by the Opposition? (Finance leak, anyone?)
Member
Posts: 169
January 12th, 2006, 12:52 AM
He needs to clean his own house.
Quoting
Obviously it's up to the voters, but the point being made here is that we have a Conservative candidate having been charged with smuggling and awaiting trial whereas there are no Liberal MPs charged with anything, yet Harper calls the entire Liberal Party corrupt?
Read the Gomery Report!
As for the Conservative Canidate, he has not had his day in court yet and I think it's up to the voters to decide if they want him to be an MP or not.
As for the Conservative Canidate, he has not had his day in court yet and I think it's up to the voters to decide if they want him to be an MP or not.
He needs to clean his own house.
Ponderous Intellect
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Location: Surrey, British Columbia
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January 12th, 2006, 12:54 AM
I have read the Report.
The Hon. Justice Gomery expressly clears the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin for wrongdoing, because his Ministry was not consulted on the spending of Sponsorship money, and the Treasury Board's protocols were circumvented.
I have read the Report.
The Hon. Justice Gomery expressly clears the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin for wrongdoing, because his Ministry was not consulted on the spending of Sponsorship money, and the Treasury Board's protocols were circumvented.
Ponderous Intellect
Posts: 3,786
Location: Toronto
Location: Toronto
January 12th, 2006, 12:59 AM
Look, Martin even before he was PM has been underminding Canada, has been using loopholes in his private shipping company. Flying his ships under the flags of other nations to avoid paying tax's. Is this how a PM should act! Conservative, Liberal or Social Democrat I would not like to be governed by such a person who uses loop holes and barely legal tactics just so he doesn't pay his fare share.... Come on!
There's just so much on Paul Martin and many Liberals now that I can't believe Liberal supporters do not just vote NDP or Conservative just to punish these crocks.
They lied about GST, they lied about the national day care program, they lied about protecting puplic health care, how can I vote for them even if I do believe in the policies they bring up?
Hell even Paul Martin voted against Same sex marrage in the past!
Paul Martin is a careerist in the worst sence of the world.
edit: not to mention many more lies such as electoral reform and so on.
Look, Martin even before he was PM has been underminding Canada, has been using loopholes in his private shipping company. Flying his ships under the flags of other nations to avoid paying tax's. Is this how a PM should act! Conservative, Liberal or Social Democrat I would not like to be governed by such a person who uses loop holes and barely legal tactics just so he doesn't pay his fare share.... Come on!
There's just so much on Paul Martin and many Liberals now that I can't believe Liberal supporters do not just vote NDP or Conservative just to punish these crocks.
They lied about GST, they lied about the national day care program, they lied about protecting puplic health care, how can I vote for them even if I do believe in the policies they bring up?
Hell even Paul Martin voted against Same sex marrage in the past!
Paul Martin is a careerist in the worst sence of the world.
edit: not to mention many more lies such as electoral reform and so on.
Ponderous Intellect
Posts: 4,465
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Location: Surrey, British Columbia
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January 12th, 2006, 01:04 AM
There's a lot against Stephen Harper too, in terms of policy, and his past speeches and comments, so on and so forth. It may not be direct evidence, but if we are going to begin condemning our leaders on the circumstantial, then I don't see why not.
There's a lot against Stephen Harper too, in terms of policy, and his past speeches and comments, so on and so forth. It may not be direct evidence, but if we are going to begin condemning our leaders on the circumstantial, then I don't see why not.
Member
Posts: 169
January 12th, 2006, 01:04 AM
Quoting
Paul Martin is a successful businessman. That is his personal business and I doubt for a second that if you owned that company you'd only fly Canadian flags on those ships so don't even attempt to go there.
Look, Martin even before he was PM as been underminding Canada, has been using loopholes in his private shipping company. Flying his ships under the flags of other nations to avoid paying tax's. Is this how a PM should act! Conservative, Liberal or Social Democrat I would not like to be governed by such a person who uses loop holes and barely legal tactics just so he doesn't pay his fare share.... Come on!
Quote:
Chretien, as leader of the party, lied about those things. He's no longer leader of that party.
They lied about GST, they lied about the national day care program, they lied about protecting puplic health care, how can I vote for them even if I do believe in the policies they bring up?
