Massive bribery scandal unfolding in Canada

[Doctor Cynic]

This may or may not belong here, but the details of this emerging scandal are enough to shame Tom Delay.

To understand the picture, you have to go back to early 2005. The parliament was almost evenly split between those who supported the Liberal government and those who opposed it. A vote to approve the budget (which doubles as a confidence motion for the government) was set for May 19, 2005.

Factoring in defections, resignations, illness, and so forth, it eventually came down to one member. He was Chuck Cadman, a member from a blue-collar suburban Vancouver constituency, who previously was a Conservative, left the party after getting "primaried" like Joe Lieberman, and still won in 2004. However, he was terminally ill with melanoma and no one know how, or if, he would vote.

Cadman eventually voted for the budget as he claimed his constituents did not want an election, thus allowing the Liberals to survive. Unfortunately he died two months later.

Fast forward to earlier this week, when previews of Cadman's autobiography were released.

It is alleged in the book that a few days before the vote, senior Conservative party officials showed up at Cadman's office and offered to pay for a $1 million life insurance and a senior position in the party caucus. There's also an audio recording of Harper being interviewed and approving of this arrangement. Predictably, Harper has denied this, and an enquiry into this matter may start next Tuesday. There likely will be a no-confidence motion brought up next Friday, and the result depends on whether the Liberals will stand or roll over.

We're still in the early stages of this event, and the RCMP is confirming they will examine whether this warrants a criminal investigation.

Here's a link that shows what's going on.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080229.wcadman0229/BNStory/National/home

Now anyone tell me: what kind of insurance company will cover someone terminally ill with skin cancer? One that thinks $1 million is an investment for a more friendly government?

Stay tuned.:popcorn:

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Thanks for the heads-up! Discrediting of neocons is always of interest. nt

[applegrove]

2. It would be like Fitzmas was suppossed to be - only in Canada.

[Doctor Cynic]

3. kick. n/t

[arikara]

4. Hopefully the liberals will run with it

That said, the neo-libs have done every bit as much damage to the country as the neo-cons.

[Canuckistanian]

5. Cadman was a well respected member of the House

However, not by the Conservatives. They considered him a traitor.

And obviously, they formed the opinion that he was weak and easy to bribe.

But he resisted. Even for a million dollars.

I hope the Liberals DO make a big deal out of this. They've refused to bring down the Harper govt. several times. They're much like the cowardly Congress of the US, voting with the govt. every time.

By the way, for those who don't know, a "confidence motion" is a vote which, if the government loses, the government must resign and call an election.

Ususally, confidence motions are for major bills only, such as the budget bill, but the ruling party may declare any vote to be a "confidence motion".

The Harper government has called many such motions, but the Liberals have always refused to vote against them.

[Heywood J]

6. That's because at $300 million per election,

it's political suicide to call one less than two years after the last, for anything less than gross misconduct.

He won't fall until there's judicial evidence of misconduct. Then, however, he'll fry. The party will hang him out to dry in their haste.