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
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