Links:

• Video: Is Maxime Bernier’s ex-girlfriend a national security risk? (May 9, 2008)

]]> http://canuckpolitics.com/2008/05/27/maxime-bernier-resigns/feed/ 20 CanuckPolitics http://canuckpolitics.com/2008/05/09/is-berniers-exgirlfriend-national-security-risk/ http://canuckpolitics.com/2008/05/09/is-berniers-exgirlfriend-national-security-risk/#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 06:59:44 +0000 CanuckPolitics http://canuckpolitics.com/?p=98 ]]> May 8 and 9, 2008 – The Liberal Party and the Bloc Québécois attack the government over Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier’s former relationship with a woman who had personal ties to Quebec bikers in the 1990′s.

The government refused to answer the questions claiming they inappropriately malign the reputation of an innocent woman.

Questions about national security?

The Liberals and the Bloc insist the issue raises national security concerns, but the NDP say they are uncomfortable pursuing this line of questioning.

MPs and journalists smear Julie Couillard

Some concerns are raised over the role the Liberal Party, the Bloc and the media played in advancing and perpetuating the story.

Elections Canada has not revealed the reason for the raid, and the affidavit used to obtain the search warrant has been sealed in a Toronto court.

The RCMP say the Mounties were merely assisting with the Elections Canada warrant:

It is not an RCMP investigation. We’re there to assist, but that’s it.

- RCMP Cpl. Jean Hainey

The Conservative Party is suing Elections Canada over an August 2007 ruling by the agency that disallowed rebates claimed for election spending during the 2006 election.

Conservatives claim other political parties follow the same practices, and they accuse Elections Canada of applying different standards to the Conservative Party.

MacKay Editorial Cartoons: Much is at stake for Elections Canada

The Tories say Elections Canada improperly seized confidential legal documents related to their civil dispute, and they claim the timing of the search is suspicious coming just one day before Elections Canada officials were to be cross-examined by Conservative lawyers.

The situation has led to speculation that Elections Canada is acting out a vendetta against Conservatives over past disagreements.

Related links:

• Stephen Harper’s August 2001 fundraising letter in which he says “the jackasses at Elections Canada are out of control.”

Despite these claims, most Opposition members voted in support of the governments immigration reforms.

Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc asked the RCMP to investigate the allegations.

Both measures are designed to remove the influence of corporations, trade unions, special interests and wealthy individuals on the political process in favour of broad financial support from individual Canadians.

The new bill closes a loophole where private loans can be made to political parties with no expectation of repayment. The bill:

• Establishes a reporting regime for all loans to political parties, associations, and candidates, including mandatory disclosure of terms such as interest rates, and the identity of all lenders and loan guarantors;
• Bans unions and corporations from making loans to political parties;
• Limits total loans, loan guarantees, and contributions by individuals to $1100 per year as established in the Federal Accountability Act;
• Permits only registered Canadian financial institutions and other political entities to give loans beyond the $1100 limit;
• Makes riding associations responsible for unpaid loans to prevent candidates from avoiding payment.

The Liberal Party’s fundraising ability has been dramatically reduced by the current limits imposed by the Accountability Act, and they oppose this new bill to close the lending loophole. Despite this, the bill is expected to pass the House of Commons with the support of all the other political parties, but it may be blocked by the Liberal dominated Senate.

The Vancouver Sun reported that the father-in-law of Mississauga-Brampton South Member of Parliament Navdeep Bains is on an RCMP list of potential witnesses who may be compelled to testify about the 1985 Air India bombing.

The RCMP’s ability to compel witnesses to testify provided under the Anti-terrorism Act was about to be renewed when the Liberal party suddenly changed their position and allowed the Act to expire.  There was speculation Dion’s sudden decision was influenced by indo-Canadians in the Liberal party led by Navdeep Bains, who delivered some 250 delegates to Dion at a crucial point in the 2006 Liberal leadership race.