Governance & Patronage

Governance

Tories to ask House to amend Gomery mandate via Newsbeat1

"The first Conservative motion listed on the order paper calls on the government to amend the terms of reference for Justice John Gomery's inquiry into the $250-million sponsorship scandal "to allow the commissioner to name names and assign responsibility."

Late Apr. to May 19 -- "448 of this year's 1,033" patronage appointments

PDF reveals TOTAL: $17,004,499,738.00 in "investment and "initiatives" -- and just maybe . . . a bit of cochon? Not a bit! -- I know; my PMO told me so. -- Obviously, mistitled by Adam Taylor, Research Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Liberal postings up 40% in May over last year -- PMO denies appointments had anything to do with confidence vote -- and we believe him, naturally.

Chuck Cadman and Belinda Stronach, think of this the next time you see party hacks, failed or unethical politicians, hangers on and incompetents appointed to positions of power and influence. Was the perfidy worth it? Chuck, do you really expect PM to follow through on victims' rights . . . . . or simply to make the right noises while huffing and puffing about it being a 'priority' . . . then carrying on as usual? Belinda? Well, what do you care; you've saved the system for the ones who know how the system is run and keep it in operation, but I never expected anything different. Those who ever did, need a reality check.

OTTAWA - [. . . . ] In the flurry of orders, Mr. Martin approved such patronage appointments for well-known Liberal supporters Robert Fung, Hope Sealy, Tony Genco, Margaret Weir, Jean-Louis Hamel, Guy Saint-Pierre, Peter Clark, and the well-connected Marcel Aubut.

[. . . . ] The most recognizable Liberal name on the latest list is Mr. Fung, who has received a number of appointments since 1993, when the Liberals retook power and he was reappointed to the board of directors of Export Development Canada.

Considered one of the best connected Liberals in the country, Mr. Fung is not only a longtime Liberal financial supporter but a former roommate of Mr. Martin's when he attended the University of Toronto. He's also considered a friend of Jean Chretien, introducing the former prime minister to Bay Street when he took a few years off from politics in the mid-'80s. His son Mark even worked in the Prime Minister's Office in the 1990s.

He has enjoyed other patronage plums such as chairman of the Toronto harbourfront revitalization project and board member of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada. A wealthy man who once ran Gordon Capital Corp., this latest job will pay an annual retainer of $5,300 to $6,200 with a per diem of $410 to $485. [. . . . ]

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