Wednesday, December 28, 2005

On The Bright Side...

...no one's going to be talking about Klander much.

This is HUGE. Martin will use the "can't comment on an RCMP investigation" line and I doubt we'll find out much else before voting day, but the mere fact that Goodale's office is being investigated is a massive blow to the Liberals. It's also an absolutely golden way for Harper to switch to "Phase 2" and the corruption issue which I've always assumed was his intention for the second half of the campaign.

Stay tuned.

posted by calgarygrit at 6:56 p.m.

58 Comments:

  • Any guesses on how long it takes for Goodale to step aside?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:06 p.m.  

  • This is bad news. The only good news is that it happened in the middle of the Christmas holidays.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:09 p.m.  

  • CalGrit, for fuck's sake, are you even a Liberal anymore? This is not "huge" at all, it will blow over in a day or 2, and likely be exposed for what it is; a lot of hot air. The fact is that the Cons realize they are still well back in every poll despite all the crap they unvieled. So, as always, we see more baseless lies being fabricated in an attempt to gain power for the neo-conservatives. The people of Canada will see through this charade, just like they see right through Steven Harper.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:17 p.m.  

  • I agree, this news is 'huge'.

    Goodale now has no choice but to step aside until the investigation is concluded. I personally think that if the allged leak is proven, the source will be someone other than Goodale. Goodale would have been wise to step aside a few weeks ago.

    Once Goodale steps aside, Paul Martin will have to carry the ball on this issue. Martin has not exactly been playing a strong game thus far.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:26 p.m.  

  • Well, well, well...how far the mighty have fallen. I suppose Martin is happy the campaign is as long as it is, with the strategy being that Harper & Company could destruct on a daily basis. So darn it. Now the Libs might need another 6 months to recover. And finally, finally the SES poll which is by far the most Lib friendly shows Harper with a 71-64 lead over Martin when it comes to leadership. Whew, he would of thunk it. Martin for PM...now that is scary

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:41 p.m.  

  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Blogger Dan McKenzie, at 7:45 p.m.  

  • Goodale to hold press conference later tonight

    By Blogger Dan McKenzie, at 7:48 p.m.  

  • "On The Bright Side...no one's going to be talking about Klander much."

    anon 5:17:

    get a grip. a conservative or dipper would think this and klander are both the bright side.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:49 p.m.  

  • Anon 5:17pm: How pre tell, is the Minister of Finance's office being investigated for insider trading not huge?

    Maybe there's nothing behind this, but I really don't see how anyone can objectionably say this isn't major.

    The next day will be very interesting to see how this is spun.

    By Blogger calgarygrit, at 7:51 p.m.  

  • LOOK at this...
    Need I say more?...


    Paul Martin’s PRIVATE medical clinic: MASSIVE trading surge before Liberal announcement

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:10 p.m.  

  • This is not huge. I predict this story will dissapear in 2-3 days. I propose a strategy of deny. Then a day or two later, call the networks. Martin will be apologizing and calling in Gomery. He promises to call another election 30 days after the next Gomery Income Trust scandal report.

    Just joking suckers...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:15 p.m.  

  • Martin is a neo-conservative. Harper is a progress conservative.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:15 p.m.  

  • Ralph holds press conference. "Just alligations and not much else", he will not step down. Let's se if the media are happy with that.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:33 p.m.  

  • Martin Is a neo alright being a centerest and able to take values from the Right and Left politics wise sends him off in the third direction, described by Mosolinni.

    His actions thusfar and arrogance pretty well describe Martins babbling on constantly "nation building" and his "vision for Canada" All the while saying how proud he is of the Canada that exists. "Sustainable development"
    The Rockefeller's eugenicist heaven.

    Would the media mind if we started penciling in those little mustaches on his pictures?

    Cheers

    By Blogger FXR, at 8:39 p.m.  

  • This is better then him stepping down. I want to see the Liberals spin this, whatever is left of their war room.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:39 p.m.  

  • If it walks like a Duck and Quacks like a Duck and Shits Like a Duck, it's Probably A Duck. A Sitting Duck!!!!! LMAO!!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:43 p.m.  

  • Live by the polls you die by the polls

    Zieg Liberal LOL

    By Blogger FXR, at 8:46 p.m.  

  • More Stock Manipulation at UBC

    Something I noticed in the last day or so. With each bad news story for the Libs, there were increases in purchases/prices of "Liberal Shares" in the UBC election stock market.

    After the news of the RCMP investigation one would expect the purchasing/price of Lib Shares to plummit.

    But guess what?

    They went up.

    Something tells me someones buying shares to prop up the appearance of Liberal viability.

    Check it out:

    http://esm.ubc.ca/CA06/overview.php

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:46 p.m.  

  • Source: Goodale Not Stepping Down

    By Blogger Dan McKenzie, at 8:46 p.m.  

  • Re: UBC Stock Manipulation

    BTW, those aren't fake shares. There's real money on the line.

    Me thinks another stock manipulation scandal may be a'brewin.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:49 p.m.  

  • from CTV:

    The RCMP is conducting a criminal investigation into an alleged leak from the federal Liberal government of an announcement on income trust taxation rules.

    "There's sufficient information for us to launch a criminal investigation," said RCMP Sgt. Nathalie Deschenes told The Canadian Press on Wednesday.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:51 p.m.  

  • I love the last line of the RCMP release. Sure innocent until proven guilty, but I thought everyone would assume that. When they get evidence that someone in the Department is a big Red fink will they issue a press release pointing out that fact?

    Ottawa, December 28, 2005 - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has completed its initial review of the allegation by Ms. Wasylycia-Leis regarding a possible breach of security or illegal transfer of information in advance of the federal government's announcement of changes to the taxation of Canadian corporate dividends and Income Trusts of November 23, 2005.

    Given the seriousness of the allegations, the RCMP is now undertaking a criminal investigation of this matter.

    In particular, the RCMP wishes to note that at this time there is no evidence of wrongdoing or illegal activity on the part of anyone associated to this investigation including the Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale.

    http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/news/n_0528_e.htm

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:51 p.m.  

  • Official Conservative response:

    Conservatives call for Goodale resignation in light of criminal investigation
    28 December 2005
    OTTAWA - The Conservative Party is calling on Finance Minister Ralph Goodale to step down in light of today’s revelation that the RCMP is investigating possible criminal wrongdoing in the Income Trust scandal.

    “The Finance Minister has no choice but to tender his resignation,” said Conservative Finance Critic Monte Solberg. “This investigation confirms that there are reasonable grounds to suspect criminal wrongdoing in his department or office, and as minister he must accept responsibly. That’s how our system works.”

    Solberg pointed out that the Conservative Party has consistently raised serious concerns about suspicious trading patterns of certain income trusts in the hours preceding his November 23rd policy announcement.

    “Why has Mr. Goodale refused to take seriously the compelling evidence of a government leak that ended up benefiting privileged insiders?” Mr. Solberg asked. “Now basic principles of public ethics and ministerial responsibility require that he do the honourable thing and resign.”

    “The confirmation of an RCMP investigation into this matter highlights that the Martin government continues to operate under an ethical cloud,” said Mr. Solberg. “This is a government that is now facing multiple criminal investigations, which is why Canadians need change that brings accountability to Ottawa.”

    Last month the Conservative Party called for both a criminal investigation, and an inquiry into possible insider trading by the Ontario Securities Commission.


    *********

    Kinsella has the same take as me, Goodale sticking around is going to cause this cow to bleed out instead of getting shot in the head:

    Vindication is sweet, but Ralph Goodale’s resignation would be sweeter. (The Tories and the NDP should be hoping they don’t get it, however, so that the bleeding continues.)

    Ralph’s good pal with the really long memory, The Poisonous Partisan:

    http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/085_2005-04-19/han085_1420-E.htm

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:56 p.m.  

  • Important omission, WK's post started out:

    Dear Diary:

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:05 p.m.  

  • Mansbridge tackling Goodale.
    Never thought I'd see this - the CBC going nose-to-nose with a Liberal Cab Minister with Ralph spinning like a top.

    By Blogger Lemon, at 9:09 p.m.  

  • Goodale is on CBC National. He has the Liberal banner behind him while Mansbridge crushes Goodale.

    He doesn't want to resign because it would look bad.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:09 p.m.  

  • CBC National reairs their Income Trust investigation story.

    There is a God.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:11 p.m.  

  • Hey, lets have some fun:

    Go out into your repsective neighborhoods and count the Liberal lawn signs.

    In a few days take a look and try and guess how many have been taken down.

    It's fun for the whole family.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:39 p.m.  

  • Chester, if you were already willing to put a lawn sign this won't change anything.

    By Blogger Greg Staples, at 10:03 p.m.  

  • Greg,

    I disagree. The whole "liberals are corrupt" will again rear its head. This time it will be worse. Once is a mistake. Twice is a pattern.

    Also, many wanted to believe the Martin Liberals were there to clean up the mess of the old Libs.

    Any benefit of doubt just went out the window.

    It will be much, much worse for the Libs this time.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:18 p.m.  

  • Ralph Goodale must resign otherwise this story will have legs and it will feed into the whole ethics issue that the Liberals have been trying to avoid the whole campaign.
    But hey, they keep shooting themselves in the foot and it looks good on them.
    The polls will now begin to change with Mr. Martin looking more silly everyday.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:31 p.m.  

  • Politics is a blood sport, let it bleed.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:34 p.m.  

  • poor Ralph.

    divert attention towards Ralph.

    let his clean record get smeared while the people who quarterbacked this "income trust play" hide behind their beer and popcorn.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:50 p.m.  

  • Ah, what the hell, the kids are in bed, I'll buy a round!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:13 p.m.  

  • I'm with Anonymous 8:50.

    Check the quotes in Goodale's "I'm staying" interviews. It's all about him being clean and him personally having nothing to do with this mess.

    I believe him.

    But I also think he knows who did what.

    If you read carefully, you'll notice that Ralph is no longer saying that no funny business took place... just that he wasn't in on it.

    Hmm.

    Would you throw away your good name of 30+ years to be the scapegoat?

    I guess we'll find out in the next few days whether or not Ralph is willing to get thrown under the bus to protect Team Martin.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:19 p.m.  

  • The RCMP don't launch formal investigations based on "no evidence whatsoever". That's rediculous and completely belies what we already know about the suspicious trading.

    Imagine the investigator in charge, reporting to his sargeant after conducting what appeared to be a couple weeks long review saying: "we have absolutely nothing on them, nothing." And then proceeding with a formal investigation any way, against a sitting government no less.

    If you believe that I have some Liberal shares to sell you on the UBC Election Market.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:21 p.m.  

  • The Election: Day 30

    As Stephen Harper resumed campaigning over the past two days in British Columbia with major announcements pertaining to his defence platform and promises to increase the military presence in B.C., a couple of events occurred elsewhere which, if they snowball, could begin the unravelling of the Liberal campaign.

    The first concerned the resignation of the executive vice president of the Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario). Mike Klander stepped aside after bloggers fanned controversy over tasteless remarks on Klander's blog about NDP candidate Olivia Chow.

    Then this afternoon a letter from RCMP Commissioner Guiliano Zaccardelli to NDP finance critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis confirmed that the RCMP has launched a criminal investigation into the release of information by the Department of Finance, related to a government announcement on taxation of income trusts. Earlier information posted on various blogs and carried in the mainstream media had indicated that information about the Finance Minister's pending announcement that income trusts would not be taxed and certain dividends given favourable tax treatment had been leaked to insiders who drove up trading in these stocks earlier that day. There was every indication that some individuals had profited substantially as a result of leaks from the Minister's office or the Department of Finance.

    Earlier when these allegations surfaced the government had dismissed them as baseless. Today's announcement by the RCMP Commissioner that a criminal investigation is being launched led to renewed calls for Minister Goodale to step down pending the results of the investigation. In an interview with Peter Mansbridge on the National, Ralph Goodale denied any wrongdoing and rejected calls for his resignation. Despite persistent questioning by Mansbridge on why Goodale would not follow precedent and step aside while the investigation is underway, Goodale stuck to the line that the RCMP "have said they are looking into this matter because of the seriousness of the allegation. They have, at the same time, said they have no information, no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of anyone - most particularly on my part - and quite frankly if I were to resign under those circumstances I believe I would only feed allegations that are out there in the context of a very political situation."

    The NDP and Conservative Leader Harper have both called for Goodale's resignation. Already comparisons are being made to ADSCAM. The RCMP investigation could not have come at a worse time for the Liberals. These new allegations, which have warranted a criminal investigation, set the scene for a renewed focus on the Quebec advertising scandal as the campaign enters the second phase post-Xmas.

    Will this derail the Liberal plans for the second phase of the campaign? Will the Opposition parties be able to build on this to seize the momentum in the days ahead? Stay tuned.

    By Blogger cardinal47, at 11:27 p.m.  

  • Goodale is a joke.

    His first investigation was: "did any of you guys leak this income trust information?"

    Goodale's second line of defense, the RCMP hasn't contacted me yet or my staff.

    Who cares if he hasn't been fingered as a suspect. If you are a minster you have responsibities.

    This isn't a "social" investigation. It's a "criminal" investigation.

    He thinks that stepping down would make it worse? Wrong. Maybe for your personal interest, but the interests of every Canadian overrides it.

    You punk. You can't even step aside?

    Now he's saying prior to the announcement that he leaked it in a public scrum and that it was carried by the media.

    THAT'S A GREAT DEFENSE YOU JACK ASS.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:00 a.m.  

  • Some reporter at the Goodale press scrum in Saskatchewan lobbed a softball to Goodale:

    Are you sad that during this "truce" with campaigning during the Christmas break has "ROBBED" (nice choice of words you jack ass) you of your personal time Mr Goodale? (not exact quote)

    The RCMP sent a letter to the NDP on December 23rd.

    The NDP released it today *AFTER* Christmas. It helps with getting media coverage, but it avoided having this falling directly on Christmas as well..

    And somehow it's bad for the NDP to release this DURING Goodale's Christmas vacation. Goodale says they'll (NDP etc.) will have to be judged on that.. YEAH, we'll judge them on that and give them a big ol' judgement of WAY TO KICK RALPH GOODALE'S SORRY ASS.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:06 a.m.  

  • Thank you Peter Mansbridge.

    Goodale: IS THIS THE BEST SPIN THAT YOU GUYS DEVELOPED?

    Peter just disected you in four minutes.

    Your story doesn't wash.

    Why did you even decide to do the interview? YOU CAN'T GAIN BY AIRING YOUR STUPIDITY.

    This is just the start. And if he quits a few days later, IT WILL MAKE IT WORSE!

    We're not working in a war camp, but any idiot can figure out that your strategy sucks. Amateurs could do better. Both at your job and your spin control.

    32 years of crap and a few more weeks of it from Ralph Goodale.

    Sorry guys, I can't campaign today.. The freaking RCMP want to talk with me. Not for anything I did wrong, we're just going to chat.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:11 a.m.  

  • This will blow over in a few days once voters see the Fraser Milner Casgrain inspired negative CPC ads revealing once and for all the very real, although opaque, hidden agenda of the scary Stephen Harper. Why it's simply unCanadian to vote CPC.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:13 a.m.  

  • As someone from Toronto and someone who has family members working in the retail industry I can tell you there is more anger in Toronto at the Boxing Day shooting than the income trust fund scandal. There is a lot of anger directed at the Liberals. Maybe the income trust fund story will be the icing on the cake.

    Stephen Harper's get tough approach is very popular in Toronto. People don't care about what Paul said about killers feeling excluded, we just want them off the streets and behind bars, preferably in a prison somewhere near the North Pole.

    I can tell you sadly that I have heard comments such as,

    'Liberals dont want tough punishments as that would mean lot of black people behind bars and it would look bad for them.'

    Unfortunately I have seen lot of anti-black comments whenever such shootings arise (I blogged about it on my latest post), and I think Harper is seen to be more on the right here. Whether it would win him any seats ofcourse is another question - people don't vote on one issue alone. If I was Harper I would be in Toronto now.

    By Blogger mezba, at 12:19 a.m.  

  • Paul Martin on December 8:

    Liberal Leader Paul Martin told reporters in Toronto that the controversy was based on "the knee-jerk reaction of an opposition MP who simply doesn't want to deal with the debate in a rational way."

    I wonder if that jerk has the guts to say the RCMP is launching a knee-jerk investigation. Or apologize.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:20 a.m.  

  • Klander is probably wishing he was not so quick to resign.

    What Liberal in their right mind would even consider resigning, no matter how dire the situation ? All that is necessary is to hold on for a few days, and another crisis will dominate the news, and all will be will again.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:36 a.m.  

  • By not resigning, Goodale is only making matters worse. Golden rule in political spin is a quick and dirty closure of an issue. That means : a resignation will do less political damage in this situation than a non-resignation will. Goodale just made the issue explode by not resigning.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:37 a.m.  

  • Here's a crazy thought,

    maybe the PMO leaked it, not Goodale, and he's refusing to take the fall.

    Note how he talked about "him personally" not being involved.

    Maybe he'll be chirping like a canary to the nice officer who'll be interviewing him soon.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:50 a.m.  

  • I agree with that Mezba posting. I work at a school in Jane-Finch in Toronto and there is little sympathy for the Liberals among staff members right now. Paul Martin's visits to our neighbourhood to ban handguns was greeted with derision by all. People here are past the "midnight basketball" crap. They want these animals put in jail permanantly. Teachers don't usually vote Conservative, but I don't think I'll be the only one on staff this year to leave the Grits. Another thing...this Same sex marriage thing is NOT a negative for the CONS...most people seem not to care or are with Harper on it... Martin should shut up about it too...it ain't helping him.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:03 a.m.  

  • There are some people here saying that Goodale's argument that there is no evidence of wrongdoing doesn't wash.

    If you find a dead body on the street, there is sufficient evidence to investigate. There is no evidence of wrong-doing. The guy might have tripped and banged his head. See the difference?

    What we have here is a situation in which there is sufficient evidence to go looking for evidence of wrongdoing. So yes, the argument washes.

    That doesn't mean evidence of wrongdoing won't be found. I don't suspect it will be, but we don't know yet.

    It's a fine distinction, but it's real. So the other parties will claim it's not real, or say it doesn't matter, or worst, more truthfully argue that they don't think average Canadians understand the distinction or care.

    And that's why going after Goodale is not going to work. The average Canadian does, in fact, know the difference between evidence of willful wrongdoing and evidence of incompetence. They also know how difficult it would be to prevent people who have a lot of money riding on it from getting advance notice of the decision.

    Not that it makes a lot of difference out here, except Maybe to Anne, hey CG?

    By Blogger Gauntlet, at 1:05 a.m.  

  • Peter Mansbridge knows where the heart of the story lies. When there's an air of irregularity the minister has to step aside.

    It's a fact and he'll be beaten up about it every day from now until the day he resigns.

    Or the dead body could be a result of a lax criminal system created by 12 years of the Liberals.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:10 a.m.  

  • Or the dead guy was on a waiting list for 10 years and collapsed and died on the street. Thanks public medicare.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:11 a.m.  

  • "The average Canadian does, in fact, know the difference between evidence of willful wrongdoing and evidence of incompetence. They also know how difficult it would be to prevent people who have a lot of money riding on it from getting advance notice of the decision."

    But they can't understand that handing envelopes of public money to support Liberal operations in Quebec?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:12 a.m.  

  • Soooo...who is the next Liberal leader going to be? I know the old movie is just finishing up but we might as start a little forward thinking. To heal the great divide it is going to have to be somebody not overly close to either side. Does that give Frank McKenna the inside lane to the winner's circle? Biggest problem for Frank is, he is not from Quebec.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:14 a.m.  

  • I'm sorta thinkin the Liberals don't want this getting out:

    http://www.conservativelife.com/blog/index.php/canada/2005/12/28/honorable_bryan_williams_half_a_million

    The first half of the campaign was Harper's policy a day. The second half appears to be Liberal scandal a day.

    This is getting rediculous.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:16 a.m.  

  • 1) Same sex marriage.. if it's still 50/50 I'm sure as long as they receive equal rights, I don't think most people care if it's a "marriage" or just some other association. Again, getting shot by a handgun trumps Rosie O'Donnell.

    2) Midnight basketball... that must be the next announcement from Paul Martin. I'm sure David Miller will be in full support of it.

    I'm sure we'll have good programs to help out the youth, but if you're packing a gun in "Real Toronto" then guess what sucker.. you're going to a real prison. For a long time.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:16 a.m.  

  • Try this:

    http://www.conservativelife.com/blog/

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:18 a.m.  

  • RE: CalGrit, for fuck's sake, are you even a Liberal anymore? This is not "huge" at all, it will blow over in a day or 2, and likely be exposed for what it is; a lot of hot air. The fact is that the Cons realize they are still well back in every poll despite all the crap they unvieled. So, as always, we see more baseless lies being fabricated in an attempt to gain power for the neo-conservatives. The people of Canada will see through this charade, just like they see right through Steven Harper
    ...................
    Oh man...you are truly hurting. IF this was about the Conservatives or the NDP....you would be the first on the bandwagon. The only polls Conservatives are well back in are done by the partisan Strategic Council and Decima. "baseless lies being fabricated"..the only thing basless is the Liberals having a track record to run on. "The people of Canada will see through this charade, just like they see right through Steven Harper."
    Ok...so u speak for Canadians? Lib arrogance at its finest. No need to swear in your posts..it simply shows your childish frustrations now that the Libs are being exposed.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:01 a.m.  

  • CG, all very well founded questions, however our problem is that we do not reach enough people, while the CBC is drip, dripping the fear Harper agenda every day to approximately 200,000 listeners.

    On CPAC, I saw citizens of Toronto interviewed on the streets and they were all only making voting choices on emotion and the subconscious suggestions of the media.

    Not one of them seemed to be aware of any of these things we know so well here in the blogs.

    I have been posting about on Left leaning blogsites and pointing to the

    http:// Scamslist.Blog.com
    http://BendGovernment.Blogspot.com sites to make some liberals at least aware of the vast crimes the Liberals are guilty of.

    Harper and the CPC executive should spend most of the kitty on showering the country with mailbox handbills listing the scams and naming the newspapers the reports appeared in for validation.

    People no longer seem to have time to read much past the front page of newspapers these days.

    Mailbox flyers, on the other hand do get scanned by all those who pick up the mail. TG

    By Blogger TonyGuitar, at 3:43 a.m.  

  • Goodale's saying he let it slip he was concerned, which was in the paper the day the stocks jumped.

    Some how I was under the impression, commenting while a criminal investigation was on going would be inapropriate. I know I have heard that somewhere before.

    His latest slip of the tongue may have been advice to the involved investors; the best story to tell investigators. I believe that could be interpreted as interfering in a criminal investigation.

    A finance minister with such a careless tongue is hardly a safe situation.

    Cheers

    By Blogger FXR, at 7:53 a.m.  

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