Friday, January 20, 2006
Did Whelan Violate the Lobbyist Registration Act?
During the election campaign, the issue of DaimlerChrysler (DCX) receiving $46 million from the federal government has been in the forefront in the riding of Essex. Susan Whelan, the Liberal candidate, was instrumental in DCX getting the nod from the feds. The Whelan campaign has made this the centerpiece of their campaign.
During the eight week campaign it has come out that Whelan was working as a registered, paid, lobbyist (possibly earning over $100K), casting doubt on her motives. Through a back and forth with Whelan’s campaign manager, Keith Pickard, in the Essex riding forum on the CBC’s website, a startling revelation emerges:
Secondly, Ms. Whelan’s lobbyist registration filing indicated that Chrysler does not receive any other government funding. This is apparently another misleading statement because Chrysler receives millions of dollars from the federal government for its research and development activities in Windsor.
If these things are true, it suggests that Susan filed her lobbyist registration with misleading information. This would be a violation of the Lobbyist Registration Act*:
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14.(2) Every individual who knowingly makes any false or misleading statement in any return or other document submitted to the registrar under this Act, whether in electronic or other form, is guilty of an offence and liable
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both; and
(b) on proceedings by way of indictment, to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.
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The Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists takes these matters very seriously. Ms. Whelan is intimately familiar with the Lobbyist Registration act since she helped implement its current version when she was Chair of the House Standing Committee on Industry. Keith, will Susan voluntarily submit to an investigation by the Registrar General of Canada?
*I cleaned up the links, they were a mess.
Indeed!
The Liberal candidate for Essex has some explaining to do. It is early, but I find it interesting that the Whelan camp (Keith Pickard, who usually responds quickly) has not responded to this potentially explosive development. It is plausible that they are afraid of responding and digging a deeper hole.
I had a look at the Strategis website for Whelan’s lobbyist registration filing. After consulting the Yellow Pages, it was clear that Whelan was working out of the Paroian Law office because she listed their address, phone number and email address in her lobbyist registration information. It seems that Susan Whelan breaks and bends the very rules she developed to get paid handsomely with taxpayer money. This comes from a politician that has heavily criticized other candidates for alleged dishonest statements. If this turns out to be true, Susan Whelan will be the personification of everything that is wrong with the Liberal Party. The Conservative Party has vowed to clear up this sort of dishonesty and unfair lobbyist access in the federal government.
During the eight week campaign it has come out that Whelan was working as a registered, paid, lobbyist (possibly earning over $100K), casting doubt on her motives. Through a back and forth with Whelan’s campaign manager, Keith Pickard, in the Essex riding forum on the CBC’s website, a startling revelation emerges:
Keith, Thank you for clarifying Susan Whelan’s lobbyist role in assisting the acquisition of $46 million on behalf of Chrysler. Why is it that you are forthcoming with this information in this forum and left these facts out of your “News” item (dated: 2005-12-08) on your campaign website? When you omit the facts it looks very much like you are hiding something.
One point that Keith and Whelan Friendly made is curious when you look at Susan’s lobbyist registration
Secondly, Ms. Whelan’s lobbyist registration filing indicated that Chrysler does not receive any other government funding. This is apparently another misleading statement because Chrysler receives millions of dollars from the federal government for its research and development activities in Windsor.
If these things are true, it suggests that Susan filed her lobbyist registration with misleading information. This would be a violation of the Lobbyist Registration Act*:
-----------------------
14.(2) Every individual who knowingly makes any false or misleading statement in any return or other document submitted to the registrar under this Act, whether in electronic or other form, is guilty of an offence and liable
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both; and
(b) on proceedings by way of indictment, to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.
-----------------------
The Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists takes these matters very seriously. Ms. Whelan is intimately familiar with the Lobbyist Registration act since she helped implement its current version when she was Chair of the House Standing Committee on Industry. Keith, will Susan voluntarily submit to an investigation by the Registrar General of Canada?
*I cleaned up the links, they were a mess.
Indeed!
The Liberal candidate for Essex has some explaining to do. It is early, but I find it interesting that the Whelan camp (Keith Pickard, who usually responds quickly) has not responded to this potentially explosive development. It is plausible that they are afraid of responding and digging a deeper hole.
I had a look at the Strategis website for Whelan’s lobbyist registration filing. After consulting the Yellow Pages, it was clear that Whelan was working out of the Paroian Law office because she listed their address, phone number and email address in her lobbyist registration information. It seems that Susan Whelan breaks and bends the very rules she developed to get paid handsomely with taxpayer money. This comes from a politician that has heavily criticized other candidates for alleged dishonest statements. If this turns out to be true, Susan Whelan will be the personification of everything that is wrong with the Liberal Party. The Conservative Party has vowed to clear up this sort of dishonesty and unfair lobbyist access in the federal government.
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please call David Walmsley 416-367-2000 x 8710 at the Toronto Star and request nicely that we get a equal opportunity to stand up for all parents. Martha Friendly has put in an article of about 1200 words in describing a Liberal style of daycare. She only views on side of it. We are asking for equality for all parents!
Please advise David Walmsley 416-367-2000 x 8710 (nicely) that we would like an equal opportunity to speak. The National daycare is only shown and the other parents are ignored...
sorry about posting off topic but I need help...
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Please advise David Walmsley 416-367-2000 x 8710 (nicely) that we would like an equal opportunity to speak. The National daycare is only shown and the other parents are ignored...
sorry about posting off topic but I need help...
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