Liberals today called for Minister of State for Status of Women Helena Guergis to step down from Cabinet following a series of letters that appear to come from average citizens when in fact they were written by her staffers and Conservative friends.
“It is simply not credible that this minister did not know that her assistant, her former staff, her former riding association president and even her staffer’s mother were sending these letters to media,” said Liberal MP Wayne Easter.
“It’s bad enough that Ms. Guergis has never displayed any contrition for her abusive treatment of airport personnel in PEI, but it appears as though she even goes so far as to try to create a bogus groundswell of support amongst her constituents. And capping it all off, she throws her assistant under the bus with this feigned pretence that she knew nothing about it.
“Enough is enough. Minister Guergis is clearly not fit to represent the Crown. She must voluntarily step down, or the Prime Minister must demand her resignation,” he said.
The letter-writing campaign involves:
• Ms. Guergis’ executive assistant, Jessica Craven, who wrote several letters to newspapers in the minister’s Simcoe-Grey riding using her married name, Jessica Morgan, while not identifying herself as a staffer;
• Ms. Craven’s mother, Dawn Richards, who wrote at least one letter to the editor praising Ms. Guergis without disclosing her connection to the minister’s assistant;
• Valerie Knight, who also wrote several letters defending Guergis without disclosing her status as a member of the minister’s constituency office staff;
• Paul Shaw, who encourages readers “to move on from Guergis’ tantrum” at Charlottetown’s airport, while not disclosing in the letter that he is a close political associate of the minister, having served as her riding association president in 2005 and the last Reform Party candidate in her riding;
• Bonnie Ainsworth, who also defends the minister in a letter but does not disclose that she worked as an assistant to Ms. Guergis’ colleague, MP Patrick Brown, who represents a nearby riding.
“And these are only the instances that we know about – for now,” said Mr. Easter. “All cabinet members have a media clipping service that details every newspaper reference, so it is simply unfathomable that the minister or her department didn’t know about these letters or their source.”
In response to the letters, Minister Guergis simply brushed it off by blaming her assistant. “We did discuss that it was inappropriate. She apologized and assured me that it will not happen again,” she said in the House of Commons yesterday.
“With all these letters coming in, it is inconceivable to me that the Minister can continue to deny having any knowledge of this orchestrated campaign,” said Mr. Easter.
