Just weeks after Brian Abrams mysteriously stepped down as the Conservative candidate in Kingston and The Islands, Stephen Harper and Rob Nicholson rewarded him with a plum patronage post to the Ontario Superior Court.
“Mr. Abrams’ appointment reeks of a shameless backroom deal,” said Liberal Justice Critic Marlene Jennings. “Weeks ago he was a nominated Conservative candidate, but now he’s a federal judge. This level of partisan nepotism on the bench is unprecedented.”
Late last Friday afternoon, when Stephen Harper was in Washington, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson snuck through Mr. Abrams and three more blatantly partisan appointments:
- William J. Burnett, appointed as Associate Chief Justice of Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba. Burnett has donated $3,250 to the Conservative Party, and he was Co-Chair of the PC Manitoba Fund in 2004. (Winnipeg Free Press, August 11, 2004)
- Lawrence O’Neil, Conservative MP from 1984-1988 representing Cape Breton Highlands-Canso, was appointed associate chief justice of the family division of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. (Canadian Press, February 4, 2011)
- Christopher Bondy, appointed as a Judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Windsor). Bondy has given $4,298 to the Conservative Party and he endorsed Conservative MP Jeff Watson in the 2004 election. (Windsor Star, June 29, 2004)
With these appointments, Stephen Harper has appointed 39 Conservative insiders to federal courts since the last election.
“Why would the Conservatives nominate Mr. Abrams as their candidate and then turn around and make him a judge? Are they trying to move him aside to let a preferred candidate run in Kingston?” asked Liberal Public Safety Critic Mark Holland. “Rob Nicholson won’t tell us how much his justice legislation costs – but I can tell you that he just gave an annual $271,400 salary to one of his Conservative cronies.”
“Stephen Harper once said Canadians don’t need to worry about his party’s extreme views as they would be held in check by the courts, the Senate and the civil service,” said Liberal Democratic Reform Critic Dr. Carolyn Bennett. “Now that he’s overseen the appointment of almost 400 Conservative insiders to the Senate, courts, and government boards and agencies since the last election alone, based on his logic we have every reason to be concerned.”
The appointees include former Conservative cabinet Ministers, 17 former MPs, 45 past candidates, campaign workers and top donors who contributed over $572,000 to Conservative coffers.
