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Loading...Off The Hook: Calandra Clear Of Ethics Investigation
Conservative MP Paul Calandra will not face an investigation by Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson despite attending two fundraisers that may have been in conflict of interest.
The two fundraisers were hosted by people connected to bids for a Toronto radio station. At the time, Calandra was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. The Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is the agency that would accept bids for the station and is under the umbrella of Heritage.
Dawson said she wouldn’t investigate because the rules are murky. She says Parliament needs to bring in clearer laws about the rules concerning lobbying and political donations. The rules, as they stand, say no member “shall personally solicit funds from any person or organization if it would place the public office holder in a conflict of interest.” Dawson says her problem with clarity comes with the word ‘personally.’ She told the Globe and Mail that this seems to indicate that she must have evidence that the MP in question asked for a donation directly. With MP staff and members of the riding association, that situation seems highly unlikely.
One of the businessmen involved, Stan Antony, says he was encouraged to attend the fundraiser and to donate, but does not say Calandra was involved in this encouragement.
The Prime Minister’s Office has their own rules concerning conflict of interest and the appearance of conflict, but those rules are not under Dawson’s authority.
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Elections Canada Starts Investigation Into Tory’s Campaign
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Read more: canada, ethics, Ethics Committee, mary dawson, paul calandra, politics
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Recent Comments from Causes
This is getting totally out of hand. None of this would be happening if parents were parents the way…
interesting.
john h, I don't like murderers but don't believe in the death penalty. It does not exist in my country…
16 comments
+ add your own@ J.L.A. --- Now who is going to "beef up" and replace "murkiness" with "clarity?"
Don't count on the Right Honourable PM Twit and his Conservatives!
There really needs to be an overhaul in many areas of government, not least of which is election reform. This applies to Canada and the US.
thx
What do you expect? Calandra's a Tory.
Want "murky rules"....elect another lawyer into congress (parlament)...we don't have enough.
The rules are murky and Calandra has lots of money. Therefore, they will not investigate.
Thanks for the info.
And on and on it goes!
We now know that none of the criminals that took down not only America's economy but the WORLD'S economy will face NO criminal charges. The few scapegoats will be the only ones to ever face trail and the problems have not only returned but gotten worse.
Let’s face facts and they are that the biggest crooks are on the outside and running the show.
Thank you for posting this article.
Now who is going to "beef up" and replace "murkiness" with "clarity?"
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