... not for hopping the fence, but for this...
Politics Watch is reporting that Emerson may not be able to work on the softwood file because he signed a letter of recusal on lumber issues while a Liberal Cabinet minister.
Jim Travers is reporting in the Star this morning that Emerson had held back a softwood deal during the election because he was worried the deal "would damage Liberal prospects in key British Columbia ridings." Emerson has denied blocking the deal.
How can that be?
Emerson had signed a recusal letter on issues affecting Canfor - so he would not have been allowed to discuss the issue... would he?
Otherwise, would he not be in violation of his recusal letter? I will be interested to see if there is a real problem here or not.
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UPDATE: Ok, while we're on the subject of David Emerson, this is pretty funny.
UPDATE II: Apologies for misreading the Star story, for those who noted my screw-up. I have amended the section appropriately.
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Is Emerson breaking ethics rules here too?
http://www.teambc.ca/cgi-bin/new_news.pl?newsID=417
Minister Emerson Must Clarify His Role About Fundraising: Liberal Party of
Canada BC President Says
06-02-09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
This morning, on CBC radio, David Emerson said that he raised a "tremendous"
amount of money for the Liberal Party of Canada in BC.
"David Emerson must be confused. He did not personally raise any money for
the Liberal Party," says Jamie Elmhirst, President of the Liberal Party of
Canada (British Columbia). "It would be against the Ethics Code for him to
do so."
"Minister Emerson, prior to losing his credibility by becoming a turn-coat
Harper supporter, was a popular Liberal minister. He was the speaker at a
number of party fundraising events, like many other Liberal cabinet
ministers. These events were organized by grassroots Liberal members and
fundraisers. But we doubt very much that he picked up the phone and
personally asked anyone for money, because if that were the case, he would
be compelled to resign," Elmhirst concluded.
The Conflict of Interest and Post Employment Code for Public Office Holders
states on page 16:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/oec/en/public_office_holders/conflict_of_interest/
Prohibited Activities
(16) Subject to section 17, public office holders shall not, outside their
official duties and responsibilities:
(g) personally solicit funds except for participation in fundraising
campaigns sponsored by the federal government and participation in
discussions of a strategic nature for charitable campaigns
-30-
For further information, contact:
Jamie Elmhirst
President,
Liberal Party of Canada in BC
(250) 360-7537
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