Harper to be investigated

[Jersay]

OTTAWA (CP) - The ethics commissioner is launching a preliminary inquiry into conflict-of-interest allegations against Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Bernard Shapiro said Friday he will look into what influence was wielded in the decision by former Liberal David Emerson to cross the Commons floor and join Harper's Conservative government cabinet. In a letter to three MPs who complained about the switch, Shapiro says he will issue one report on the conduct of both Harper and Emerson, who is now international trade minister.

"Although the subject of this inquiry is the prime minister, given that the actions of ... Harper and Emerson in this incident were intertwined, questions will no doubt be raised during the course of the preliminary inquiry on the conduct of Mr. Emerson as well," Shapiro said in the letter.

Emerson's appointment sent shock waves through Ottawa when it was announced along with the rest of Harper's cabinet on Feb. 6.

Emerson has since formally apologized to his Vancouver constituents, and has promised to run as a Tory in the next general election

http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/NationalNewsArticle.htm?src=n030319A.xml

Good. Finally, the first investigation of Harper.

 

[ashley_rb]

An absolute waste of time and money. If Canadians need to investigate something they already know what happened, its a waste:

Harper calls Emerson > Emerson accepts deal > Emerson joins Harper > Voters are scammed out of their vote and get upset > Harper and Emerson ride out the storm.

Simple. Nothing will become of the investigation. Next to its entertainment value, its a waste.

I feel bad for the liberals who voted for Emerson only to discover they voted for a PC. Talk about being scammed.

Oh yeah, your vote in Canada really counts. NOT!

 

[FiveParadox]

It's sort of ironic, after the defeat of the previous Government of Canada, that the Right Honourable Stephen Harper would be investigated by the Ethics Commissioner, despite his promises for more accountability in terms of governance; the words of his campaign seem little more than an echo, in my opinion.

 

[Jersay]

Yep, go one, Ethics was a good thing for Harper to drill upon on the Campaign trail but once he gets into office, that went flying out the window.

 

[Doryman]

Yep, go one, Ethics was a good thing for Harper to drill upon on the Campaign trail but once he gets into office, that went flying out the window.

IT's not really Harpers ethics that are in question, though, it's Emersons. This will be a waste of tax money, just can Emerson and lets get the show on the road.

 

[cyberclark]

The big difference between Liberal an Conservative on scams is that the Conservatives generally have a tighter control and fewer leaks.

 

[FiveParadox]

Doryman, perhaps you should review the article.

It makes it quite frankly clear that the primary allegations are against the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada. Mr. Harper has expressed interest in increasing the authority of the Ethics Commissioner, and increasing his power to act on his findings; what happens, then, if Mr. Harper is indeed found to have violated a conflict-of-interest code?