The trials and tribulations of former cabinet minister Helena Guergis will simply not go away. It all began on the evening of April 9 that will be immortalized in the history books as the “Thursday evening” that Prime Minister Stephen Harper received some information about the minister. Harper passed this information on to the RCMP and the Ethics Commissioner and called his vacationing minister to tell her not only was she being dropped from cabinet but she was being expelled from the Conservative Party caucus.
The next week, the opposition demanded to know exactly what information Harper had that he gave to the police. Harper and those on the front bench refused to say; adding only that the allegations do not involve any other MP, staffer or Government of Canada employee. They refused to divulge the information on the grounds that it was now being investigated by the police.
Every day, new rumours swirl around the former minister, gleefully reported by the anti-Conservative media. Much of it centers on Guergis’ husband and former Conservative MP, Rahim Jaffer. Jaffer was charged last September with possession of cocaine and impaired driving. The charges were mysteriously dropped and Jaffer pleaded guilty to careless driving, a Highway Traffic Act offence.
Many of the rumours involve Nazim Gillani, who is facing fraud charges and is a business associate of Jaffer’s. There are allegations that Jaffer was engaged in illegal lobbying of the government on his and Gillani’s behalf. Other rumours being circulated include that Jaffer was using his wife’s government issued Blackberry, her official car and her parliamentary office to conduct private business. There is also speculation that Jaffer and Guergis had opened offshore accounts in Belize.
One of the rumours that made the rounds early is that Gillani has cell phone photos of Guergis and Jaffer at a party with high class call girls and where cocaine was used.
The information that was given to Harper came from a private investigator who was retained by a client to get information on Gillani. Although this is pure speculation it seems likely that the RCMP were called in because of alleged drug use rather than business improprieties. If that was in fact the case, should that information be kept private by the prime minister or should he disclose it to the House and the rest of the country?
Contrary to what the opposition says, Harper was initially right not to disclose details. About his only media support came in a bizarre editorial by the Globe and Mail that praised him for not disclosing details but said the RCMP should tell all. Police never disclose information concerning their investigations. One, if they do there is a possibility that such release will compromise what they are doing. Secondly, and just as important, revealing such information does irrevocable damage to the person being investigated when, in the end, there are no grounds to lay charges. When there is a major crime such as the murder of a young child police hold press conferences but usually refuse to answer more questions than they answer.
Had Harper disclosed the information about the party, with no real evidence that it happened it would have finished Guergis off even if in the end it turned out not to be true. And if true, it will likely not lead to criminal charges being laid. It’s not illegal to go to a party. It’s not illegal to go to a party with crack addicted street hookers let alone high class call girls. And it’s not illegal to be at a party where cocaine is used as long as the person has no control over the premises or the cocaine. A competent police force, let alone the Mounties would have a difficult time coming up with charges.
But that was then and this was now. The constant rumours floating around are not only damaging Guergis but damaging Canada. Question Period has turned into more of a joke than it normally is. What passes for government in this country has turned into a full fledged soap opera. The Toronto Star thinks this is a good thing; people who paid no attention to politics are now taking an interest. These people aren’t interested in politics so much as they are in drugs, hookers and slippery businessmen.
Parliament hit a real low point when Iggy referred to the former minister as “Mrs. Jaffer”. And the speaker remained silent. Forget about the sexist overtones of Ignatieff referring to the name of Guergis’ husband that she doesn’t use; even calling her Ms. Guergis in the House of Commons is wrong. Despite everything that is going on she is still the honourable member from Simcoe Grey. Reason number 48,560 why the Count should never be prime minister of Canada.
Harper should now reveal what information he gave the RCMP. That would hopefully stop the media rumours and the silliness in the House of Commons. At this stage it won’t make it any worse for Guergis and it will hopefully slow down if not stop the rumour mill.
