Political fortunes unaffected by bribery allegations, MPs suggest

by Rob Learn

Mar 05, 2008

ALMAGUIN – If the political tides have turned at all from the Chuck Cadman bribery allegations floating around, one might not know from talking with local members of Parliament.

Nipissing-Temiskaming Liberal MP Anthony Rota is sticking to the script of the press release sent out immediately following last Tuesday’s Federal budget.

And accordingly, Parry Sound-Muskoka Conservative MP Tony Clement remains optimistic that his minority government is not about to fall.

The stand-pat positions come as political manoeuvering on Parliament Hill is becoming more intense. The threat of a lawsuit being launched against the Liberal Party – including leader Stephane Dion – has been met with shrill calls for an RCMP investigation or action from the special prosecutor to find out what exactly was offered to Cadman, the late B.C. MP.

“Conservatives seem to lack a vision of their own and have presented a budget with old watered down Liberal proposals,” said Rota of the latest Federal budget document. “. . . Is it enough to take the people of Canada to an election? I don’t think so.”

While Rota wouldn’t say on Monday whether he would vote for the budget or abstaining so as to avoid an election, Clement said he would stand in favour of his government’s fiscal plan.

“It looks like the Liberals will be sitting this (vote) out once again to avoid an election,” said Clement. “. . . I’m voting for the budget because I think it’s a prudent document with good measures. It fits the times.”

Clement said assistance for the manufacturing sector was one measure he was pleased to see included in the budget.

And while it may not be swaying their votes, the Cadman affair has caught both MPs attention.

Rota says he wants the RCMP to investigate the matter, “and if they find criminal wrongdoing, the person responsible be charged and prosecuted.”

Clement doesn’t believe that any wrongdoing will be found, saying the allegations are hard to understand.

“No one can figure out how a dying man could get a $1 million insurance policy,” said Clement.

He added, “Sometimes I think parliament can get involved in these sideshows and forget that the reason we’re there is to deal with bread and butter issues like crime.”

The former cabinet minister in Ernie Eves and Mike Harris’s provincial governments did have some extra insight into the lawsuit potentially being launched by Prime Minister Stephen Harper against top ranking Liberals.

Asked if in his time as a legislator he had witnessed a lawsuit between party leaders, Clement said, “No. I sued Dalton McGuinty though and he withdrew his comments and ended paying part of my legal bills.”

Clement says he did not counsel Harper to launch his action. “I think he was aware of my action, though.”

According to court documents, Clement sued McGuinty in 2000 over comments the then Leader of the Opposition made suggesting Clement, then Minister of Environment, was corrupt. The comments were made in connection to a real estate development.

As for when an election might happen, it does not appear the Rota has much of an appetite for one at the moment.

“I look at Stephen Harper as a bully and the worst thing you can do with a bully is to let him have his way. And he’s not having his way because what he wants is to get an election,” said Rota

Both Clement and Rota said they feel they are well prepared for a campaign whenever one arrives.