With the latest set of revelations in the ongoing Senate Scandal, we find out that Senator Wallin spends the majority of her time living in Toronto. Frankly, I don’t much care where Ms. Wallin lives. That is largely her business – except for that part of her life where she
Continue readingTag: Pamela Wallin
Montreal Simon: Con Stories: Another PMO Operative Jumps Ship
They don't dare admit it of course, but there's one thing everyone who has worked in the PMO would say if they could be sure of being accepted into the Witness Protection Program: It's not easy working for Boss Harper.Read more »
Continue readingLeDaro: Pamela Wallin continues to make headlines
Pamela Wallin’s expense audit shows four surprising things. They are: 1. Documents were altered by Wallin’s office2. Deloitte provides examples of some of the most puzzling alterations3. Deloitte says 2012 Senate expense rules not greatly changed4. Deloitte finds Wallin lives most of the time in Toront Please read details here.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Joseph Stiglitz comments on the wider lessons we should take from Detroit’s bankruptcy: Detroit’s travails arise in part from a distinctive aspect of America’s divided economy and society. As the sociologists Sean F. Reardon and Kendra Bischoff have pointed out, our country is
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Accountability for thee, not for we
Marjory Lebreton makes clear that as far as she’s concerned, accountability begins where partisan Con affiliation ends: Senator Wallin is no longer a member of the Caucus and must be held accountable for her actions. And needless to say the converse is also true as far as Lebreton and the
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Pamela Wallin and the Corruption Cons
Well in the beginning of the end it was almost an anti-climax eh? Another damning report, another Con Senator being investigated by the RCMP.The independent audit of Senator Pamela Wallin's expenses has been referred to the RCMP by a Senate committee that is also imposing restrictions on her travel and
Continue readingImpolitical: Chickens roosting day, etc.
Harper’s chickens, that is: “Senator Wallin audit details set for public release.” One upside for Wallin, she has one of the best litigators in Toronto representing her (pictured in the CBC link). One thing of interest in this Postmedia report that could hint at more possible trouble for, I’m assuming,
Continue readingImpolitical: Chickens roosting day, etc.
Harper’s chickens, that is: “Senator Wallin audit details set for public release.” One upside for Wallin, she has one of the best litigators in Toronto representing her (pictured in the CBC link). One thing of interest in this Postmedia report that could hint at more possible trouble for, I’m assuming,
Continue readingImpolitical: Chickens roosting day, etc.
Harper’s chickens, that is: “Senator Wallin audit details set for public release.” One upside for Wallin, she has one of the best litigators in Toronto representing her (pictured in the CBC link).
One thing of interest in this Postmedia report that could hint at more possible trouble for, I’m assuming, Conservatives:
In their report, the auditors write that part of Wallin’s inappropriate costs were for “partisan related activity, such as fundraising.” Her lawyers cite as an example a May 27, 2011, event for former cabinet minister Bev Oda, who resigned in July 2012 over her own spending scandal, which was made famous by a $16 glass of orange juice charged to taxpayers.
At the Oda event, Wallin talked about Oda’s ministerial role overseeing intenrational [sic] development, as well as the Afghanistan file, which Wallin knew from her work chairing the Senate’s defence committee. Her lawyer’s letter notes that fundraising events took place outside of election campaigns, involved talking about Senate-related matters, and that “this was generally accepted practice,” suggesting that others in the Senate have done the same.
Generally accepted practice, says Wallin’s lawyer.
Also of note, a possible strategy suggested by Ivison that could come out of the Senate Supreme Court reference:
The Conservatives argue that the Senate can be abolished under the constitution’s amending formula — section 38 — which states that any changes to the Senate would merely required resolutions in the House of Commons, Senate and seven provinces, representing 50% of the population (rather than unanimous approval).
If the Supreme Court agrees, it seems to me that we will see the Conservatives launch a full-on campaign for Senate abolition, in an effort to insulate Mr. Harper from accusations of being the Red Chamber’s patron. There appear few lengths to which this prime minister will not now go to distance himself from Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin — three of his 59 Red Chamber appointments.
A full-on campaign for abolition by Harper et al. as a matter of political expediency would have absolutely zero integrity or credibility, as Ivison himself hints. It’s not clear the Court will rule that abolition could happen under the 7/50 formula in any event. Peter Russell is of the view that unanimity would be required:
I would tend to agree with Mr. Russell. But, that’s all Senate reference stuff, down the road a bit. Today it’s all about Wallin’s audit and it is at the doorstep of the one who appointed her.
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Sensational Landing of Pamela Wallin
Uh oh. Everybody take cover. It looks as if this cartoon was only too prophetic. The Pamela Wallin jumbo is on final approach, and coming in for a heavy landing. An independent audit of Senator Pamela Wallin's expenses has found ineligible claims amounting to as much as $140,000, and that
Continue readingLeDaro: Pamela Wallin on Vacation
Somewhere in Hawaii.
Continue readingsomecanuckchick dot com: Senator Wallin seriously contradicts Wright-Duffy timeline…
Peter Mansbridge’s interview with Senator Pamela Wallin aired the evening of Thursday, June 13th. [ Transcript ] What about the Conservative caucus? Was that your decision or was it clear to you they wanted you out? It was clear to me that they wanted me out. That was, a phone
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Stephen Harper and Mike Duffy’s Excellent Vacation Adventures
Well I see Stephen Harper is getting ready to jump into his shiny new Con getaway plane, and escape to Europe.No doubt hoping that that he can leave Mike Duffy and the sordid Senate scandal behind him eh?But sadly for great cut and run leader there isn’t much business in this so-called business
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Journalists found guilty of ethical breaches really shouldn’t lecture on journalistic ethics
People who live in glass houses next door to used car lots shouldn’t … Below: Globe and Mail columnist Margaret Wente, the Globe’s disclaimer. S’cuse me! We ex-journalists are permitted to do whatever we like! And if Prime Minister Thomas Mulcair wants to appoint me to the Senate, I’m taking
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Senate Scandal and the Strange Silence of Jason Kenney
Oh no. Poor Stephen Harper. He just can't get a break from that horrible senate scandal. As if having the hand of Pamela Wallin coming at him in his dreams, making it look like a sex scandal, wasn't bad enough eh? Today he had to admit that when he personally examined Pammy's expenses and declared them "satisfactory."He might
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Whither the Teflon Don
For the better part of the last few months, the Harper Government has tried and failed to change the channel. When the government prorogued Parliament in the face of a unified opposition coalition, political junkies were outraged and the public yawned. When caught outspending the national election limits through the
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – A new Ipsos-Reid poll shows that nearly 90% of Canadians support higher taxes on the rich generally, and million-dollar incomes in particular. And there’s an obvious need for change based on how distorted tax systems already are – as Reuters reports on a
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: These photos are just begging to have captions or speech bubbles…
These photos are just begging to have captions or speech bubbles added. What a bunch of crooks and parasites these Conservatives are — all brought to power by cheating, lying and taking advantage of an antiquated, semi-democratic, rigged system. We warned you, but millions didn’t listen. Many still remain oblivious.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Murray Dobbin contrasts the B.C. NDP’s recent election loss against the type of popular focus which helped Saskatchewan’s CCF to earn a twenty-year stay in office in the face of far more hysterical opposition: You can design a campaign that projects a
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading. – Yes, there’s plenty more on the Cons’ Senate scandal, with Tim Harper headlining the latest discussion: Mike Duffy is radioactive. The one-time Conservative cheerleader is now the poster boy for the filth which envelops the party brand. The man holed up on Friendly
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