Published | Publié: 2014-11-05
Received | Reçu: 2014-11-05 5:22 AM
HAMILTON SPECTATOR (FIRST)
CANADA / WORLD, Page: A8
Jennifer Ditchburn The Canadian Press
The Conservative government says it will back an NDP motion to suspend MP Dean Del Mastro from the House of Commons without pay after the former Tory was found guilty of violating the Canada Elections Act.
The issue of whether to expel Del Mastro, as well as the fate of his pension, would be sent to a Commons committee for further study. Debate on the matter stretched on for three hours Tuesday, and will resume later this week.
Del Mastro, a former parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, was convicted last week of exceeding spending limits during the 2008 election, failing to report a personal contribution of $21,000 to his own campaign and knowingly submitting a falsified document.
The Peterborough MP was booted from the Conservative caucus on the day he was charged in September 2013, and currently sits as an Independent.
"There is no doubt this is a serious violation of the Elections Act and should be treated seriously," said NDP House leader Peter Julian.
The Liberals pushed for immediate expulsion, but other MPs argued that went too far since Del Mastro has said he plans to ask a judge to reopen his defence to allow new evidence to be introduced.
"A decision on expulsion should await such time as the legal avenues available to the member are exhausted," said Conservative House leader Peter Van Loan, noting Del Mastro would have a chance to address the Commons committee.
Del Mastro was not in the Commons on Tuesday. His wife gave birth to their first child, a girl, on Sunday. Del Mastro stands to lose an annual salary of $163,700 if he is suspended. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 21.
The Canada Elections Act states that those convicted of an illegal offence cannot sit as an MP for five years. But Speaker Andrew Scheer has noted only members of Parliament can decide on the fate of fellow members.
Last year, the Senate voted to suspend former Conservative senators Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin over alleged irregularities in their living and travel expenses.
None was facing charges at the time, although Brazeau has since been charged with fraud and breach of trust. Duffy faces 31 charges, including fraud, breach of trust and bribery. Wallin has not been charged.
In the history of the Commons, there have been only four other cases of expulsion - two of them involving Manitoba MP and Metis leader Louis Riel.
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NDP Critic for Canadian Heritage Peter Julian issued the following statement:
"It has come to our attention that a consultant for a federally funded anti-racism project has a disturbing track record of spewing hate speech online against Jewish and francophone communities. This is completely unacceptable. We call on the Minister of Heritage to take drastic action and terminate his contract.
NDP Heritage Critic Peter Julian issued the following statement:
“Today’s announcement by Hockey Canada is another attempt to delay the important and urgent work to deal with the toxic culture in this organization. While a former Supreme Court Justice is a credible appointment to conduct the review into Hockey Canada, this won’t be the first time the organization undergoes this process.
NDP critic for Canadian Heritage, Peter Julian, made the following statement:
“Canadians are horrified by the incidents of sexual assault and by what they’re hearing from Hockey Canada. They are left with many questions about how this toxic culture is allowed to persist in our sports organizations and what the government is actually doing to ensure this doesn’t happen again.