Liberals to file 47 complaints with Ethics Commissioner over partisan cheque presentations

Published on October 15, 2009

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OTTAWA – Following revelations that since 2007 at least 47 Reform-Conservative MPs presented at least 181 personalized, partisan cheques to constituents for government funds, Liberal MPs will be lodging a formal complaint against each of the 47 MPs to the Ethics Commissioner – including Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“Somewhere along the line, Stephen Harper forgot it’s Canadians’ money, not Conservative money,” said Liberal MP David McGuinty.  “For two years, the Prime Minister’s Office orchestrated this unethical conduct – and today we’re calling for the ethics commissioner to put an end to it.”

Following reports that Conservative MPs Peter Van Loan, Gerald Keddy, and Colin Mayes used Conservative Party logos in government cheque presentations, the Prime Minister condemned the practice and attempted to portray them as isolated incidents, even though Liberals uncovered 181 examples of his MPs presenting personalized government cheques to constituents since 2007.  In at least four examples, Stephen Harper’s own signature was used.

In response, Liberal MPs announced today that 47 formal complaints would be lodged with the Ethics Commissioner for breach of the Conflict of Interest Code for using government resources to obtain a tangible benefit.

“There’s a clear pattern of abuse of public funds for partisan purposes under the Harper government,” said Liberal MP Wayne Easter, who is lodging the complaints to the Ethics Commissioner.

 “First it was directing infrastructure, youth jobs and disability funding to Conservative ridings instead of benefitting all Canadians,” said Liberal MP Marcel Proulx. “Now it’s a $60 million partisan ad campaign and photo-ops that masquerade government money as Conservative money.”

The Liberal opposition has called for a fair, per capita distribution of infrastructure funds using the gas tax transfer, and strict controls to stop partisan advertising.

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Contact:

Office of David McGuinty, MP: 613-992-3269
Office of Marcel Proulx, MP: 613-992-7550
Office of the Hon. Wayne Easter, MP: 613-992-2406

Background:

Flickr photo gallery website showing photographs of Conservative MPs presenting cheques for government money: http://www.flickr.com/photos/conservativecheques/

MPs who have presented partisan promotional cheques at funding announcements:

1. Mike Allen (CPC):  Tobique—Mactaquac
2. Rona Ambrose (CPC):  Edmonton—Spruce Grove
3. John Baird (CPC):  Ottawa West—Nepean
4. James Bezan (CPC):  Selkirk—Interlake
5. Gord Brown (CPC):   Leeds—Grenville
6. Patrick Brown (CPC):  Barrie
7. Blaine Calkins (CPC):  Wetaskiwin
8. Tony Clement (CPC):  Parry Sound—Muskoka
9. Bob Dechert (CPC):  Mississauga—Erindale
10. Dean Del Mastro (CPC):  Peterborough
11. Barry Devolin (CPC):  Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
12. Jim Flaherty (CPC): Whitby—Oshawa
13. Royal Galipeau (CPC):  Ottawa—Orléans
14. Cheryl Gallant (CPC):  Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke
15. Shelly Glover (CPC):  Saint Boniface
16. Gary Goodyear (CPC):  Cambridge
17. Stephen Harper (CPC):  Calgary Southwest                               
18. Richard Harris (CPC):  Cariboo—Prince George
19. Laurie Hawn (CPC):  Edmonton Centre
20. Russ Hiebert  (CPC):  South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale
21. Candice Hoeppner (CPC):  Portage—Lisgar
22. Randy Kamp (CPC):  Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission
23. Gerald Keddy (CPC):  South Shore—St. Margaret's
24. Ed Komarnicki (CPC):  Souris—Moose Mountain
25. Daryl Kramp (CPC):  Prince Edward—Hastings
26. Guy Lauzon (Conservative):  Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
27. Pierre Lemieux (CPC):  Glengarry—Prescott—Russell
28. Ben Lobb (CPC):  Huron—Bruce
29. Colin Mayes (CPC):  Okanagan—Shuswap
30. Ted Menzies (CPC):  Macleod
31. Larry Miller (CPC):  Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
32. Rob Moore (CPC):  Fundy Royal
33. Rick Norlock (CPC):  Northumberland—Quinte West
34. Bev Oda (CPC):  Durham (Harper’ signature)
35. Pierre Poilievre (CPC):  Nepean—Carleton
36. Jim Prentice (CPC):  Calgary Centre-North
37. Lisa Raitt (CPC):  Halton
38. Scott Reid  (CPC):  Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington
39. Bev Shipley (CPC):  Lambton—Kent—Middlesex
40. Bruce Stanton (CPC):  Simcoe North
41. Brian Storseth (CPC):  Westlock—St. Paul
42. David Tilson (CPC):  Dufferin—Caledon
43. Tim Uppal (CPC):  Edmonton—Sherwood Park
44. Peter Van Loan (CPC):  York—Simcoe
45. Chris Warkentin (CPC):  Peace River
46. John Weston (CPC):  West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country
47. Stephen Woodworth (CPC): Kitchener Centre

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