Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Elizabeth May calling for investigation into Labrador by-election

Green Party MP Elizabeth May wants the ethics commissioner to investigate Prime Minister Stephen Harper, particularly his calling of a by-election in Labrador.

It’s the riding former cabinet minister Peter Penashue held until he resigned his position and seat amidst a swirl of controversy in March.

May is particular interested in a $1.35 million spending announcement Penashue made four days before he quit and has asked Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson to investigate.

May said she is interested in learning if Harper furthered “Penashue’s private career interest in being re-elected in a way that violates the Conflict of Interest Act,” according to a statement.

Polls have indicated Penashue trails terribly in his bid to recapture the riding. Voters go to the polls May 13.

In the 2011 election, Penashue accepted illegal donations and air flights. He won by 79 seats over incumbent Liberal MP Todd Russell.

Still, May said she wants answers and is asking Dawson to release a public report on her findings.

“There are too many questions surrounding the calling of the by-election. Why, for example, did Mr. Harper allow Mr. Penashue to make a $1.35 million spending announcement in his riding just four days before Mr. Penashue resigned his seat? Did Mr. Harper know Mr. Penashue would soon run again as a candidate?” said May who represents Saanich-Gulf Islands.

The federal Conflict of Interest Act prohibits public office holders like Harper from exercising “an official power, duty or function that provides an opportunity to further his or her private interests or those of his or her relatives or friends or to improperly further another person’s private interests.”

Original Article
Source: aptn.ca
Author: --

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