Probably Chretien's Fault Too

Most of these ethical issues, while clearly happening on Paul Martin's watch as leader and PM, clearly contain the letter 'C' - with very few 'P's and 'M's - so they are Chretien's fault as well.

The Earnscliffe Strategy Group, an Ottawa consulting firm with close political ties to Prime Minister Paul Martin, has received more than $10 million in federal government money since the Liberals took power, new documents show. And another Ottawa polling firm that has sometimes worked with Earnscliffe received more than $61 million in the same period.

Trouble at Industry Canada with many as 15 companies improperly being paying commissions to lobbyists - which is stricty forbidden by the Technology Partnerships Canada fund rules. These companies found in breach of their contracts should return all of their money from the fund, not just the contingency fees.

Spending scandal in the Fisheries Department that has included the firing of two civil servants.

Contract awarded by the Indian Affairs Department on the condition that an outside consultant leave no paper trail.

Immigration Minister Judy Sgro’s senior policy advisor going to strip club to meet with owner to discuss bringing more strippers into Canada. (National Post, November 25, 2004). Subsequent revelations indicate that he went to at least one other strip club to conduct similar meetings (Toronto Sun, December 7, 2004). Sgro giving out details of private immigration files, violating Privacy Act. Allegations that Sgro broke the elections law in failing to properly identify the source of a campaign contribution. (Toronto Star, December 8, 2004). Immigration Minister Judy Sgro’s staff being allowed to stay on “extended travel” benefits, letting them bill taxpayers’ for thousands of dollars in hotel rooms and meals, because they didn’t want to move from Toronto to Ottawa until after the election.

Martin patronage-appointee Jim Walsh breaking ethics guidelines and attending Liberal Christmas Party (St. John’s Telegram, January 20, 2005).

Joe Volpe keeping stripper visa program operating, despite having promised to shut it down (CTV.ca, March 5, 2005)

Jean Lapierre acting as lobbyist without registering.

According to documents obtained by the Globe and Mail, Pierre Pettigrew billed Canadian taxpayers for $10,000 for trips for his driver in 2001 and 2002. Pettigrew took his driver to South America and Europe, even though the driver didn’t do any driving on the trips. (Globe and Mail, September 14, 2005)

Joe Volpe’s questionable hospitality expenses (Globe and Mail, September 21, 2005), including $138 for two people at a pizzeria

The government’s changing numbers on how much money has gone to CSL.

Lobbyists in Paul Martin’s transition team being allowed to return to lobbying immediately, after being involved in process of picking new cabinet and senior staff.

Martin using government jets to tour the country campaigning before election, spending over $1 million for air travel alone.

$99 million Public Works contract that went to company overseen by Liberal fundraiser and future Senator Paul Massicotte (Montreal Gazette, June 26, 2004)

Parliamentary Secretary Dan McTeague’s 3-person, $224 trip to a Pizzeria

Correctional Service of Canada Commissioner Lucie McClung’s travel expenses

Contracting irregularities on more than two dozen projects at DND worth tens of millions of dollars, showing over-billing, profit excesses, unauthorized additional work, lack of accounting records, spiralling cost overruns, etc. (Globe and Mail, July 14, 2004).

ACOA Minister Joe McGuire canceling ACOA loan and grant to ABL Industries Inc. because it would compete with company in his riding. (Fredericton Daily Gleaner, July 17, 2004).
Andy Mitchell’s chief of staff’s $22,000 in expenses to commute to Ottawa (Toronto Star, August 2, 2004).

André Ouellet’s travel and hospitality expenses at Canada Post.

Government delaying release of audit on Ouellet until after the election (Globe and Mail, July 31, 2004).

Martin’s principle secretary Francis Fox’s sister getting untendered contracts (The Province, July 27, 2004).

Continuing problems in advertising files at Public Works (Ottawa Sun, July 26, 2004).

A Liberal Party of Canada fundraising letter signed by Paul Martin, asking potential contributors to offer $7,000, $7,100 or $7,2000 in contributions – far in excess of donation limits passed by the very same Liberal government

Abuse of government credit cards by staff at Fisheries Department (CP Wire, September 24, 2004)

Challenger jet food bill of $508 per flight

Man convicted of fraud against government hired to teach ethics course to public servants (National Post, October 20, 2004.

Public Works selling confiscated grow-op equipment to drug traffickers. (National Post, October 21, 2004).

The Martin government spent $127,223 on a poll last February testing ways to diffuse negative reaction to the bombshell auditor-general's report -- which included the finding the Liberals ignored their own rules prohibiting the use of tax dollars on partisan polls (Vancouver Sun, November 8, 2004).

Irwin Cotler appointing his former chief-of-staff to federal court (National Post, November 23, 2004).

Heritage Minister Liza Frulla giving grant to magazine that put her on the cover and made her honourary president (Ottawa Citizen, November 25, 2004).

Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointing various former Liberal MPs or Liberal candidates to patronage positions, including John Harvard, Yvon Charbonneau, Stan Keyes, Dennis Dawson, Francis Fox, Sophia Leung, Sarkis Assadourian, Karen Kraft Sloan, Dave Haggard and Glen Murray.

Public Works contract watchdog Consulting and Audit Canada violating contracting rules (Toronto Star, July 4, 2005).

Hat Tip to the Carleton-Mississipi Mills Conservative Association for most of these - more on the site.