A judge found Del Mastro guilty on three counts of violating the Canada Elections Act less than one week ago.
“There seems to be a culture that has long persisted in the Conservatives that while they are tough on crime, they’re not tough on Conservative crime,” said Cullen, MP for Skeena-Bulkey Valley.
Peterborough Ontario MP, Del Mastro, was convicted of spending too much during the 2008 election. He also failed to report a personal contribution of $21, 000 to his own election campaign and submitted a false document.
Today, Del Mastro told the House that he “doesn’t want to be a distraction” – he also doesn’t want his fellow MPs to vote on his future in Parliament.
“I hope someday to be back in this place, but if I don’t, always keep in mind it’s a simple chair, but it represents the hopes and dreams and futures of thousands you represent and millions across the country,” Del Mastro told the House of Commons.
Cullen said Del Mastro wouldn’t be able to run for at least five years and that he is “really glad” this case came to the proper conclusion.
“There are many more on that side of the House that should be looking over their shoulders,” he added.
“They [Conservatives] have this pattern that goes from Mike Duffy to Nigel Wright – now to Del Mastro, who was about to be fired for cheating.”
“Trying to win elections in completely unfair and illegal ways. It’s incredibly hard to prove these cases and Elections Canada has spent years on just this one case,” said Cullen.
Despite the decision by the Ontario Court of Justice, Del Mastro maintains that he has done nothing wrong and he told the House earlier this week that he would appeal to re-open his case before his sentencing on November 21.
Another issue of contention is the fact that Del Mastro will receive his parliamentary pension in nine years. Elected in 2006 - Del Mastro has served his obligatory six years to be eligible for his pension.
Cullen said that Conservatives have a bill in Parliament to strip away a person’s pension if they are found guilty of these crimes and that the government was righteous when it came to Mike Duffy, largely because they were under a lot of public pressure.
“Just yesterday they amended [that bill] – it might be called the Del Mastro clause because it exempts that from happening,” Cullen said, adding that the Conservatives amended their “tough on crime” bill in order to protect their own.
“There are two sets of rules under Conservative government: There’s a set of rules for everyone and there’s a set of rules for Conservative friends."
Original Article
Source: vancouverobserver.com/
Author: Janice Dickson
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