Prime Minister Still Owes Answers to Canadians on the Cadman Affair

May 16, 2008
 
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper has a duty to tell Canadians everything he knows about the financial considerations that the Conservatives offered late MP Chuck Cadman, following the RCMP's decision not to proceed with criminal charges, Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc said today.

"The ethical standards of a Prime Minister must be above those of the evidentiary rules for prosecution under the Criminal Code," said Mr. LeBlanc.

"The Prime Minister is on tape saying that he was aware of an offer involving ‘financial considerations’ that Conservatives made to Chuck Cadman in an attempt to get him to vote with his party. He has never explained to Canadians specifically who made this offer and just what that offer was."

Mr. LeBlanc noted that he has received a letter from the RCMP Criminal Operations division stating that they have conducted an investigation and, in consultation with the office of the Attorney General of Ontario, have determined that the "investigation disclosed no evidence to support a charge under the Criminal Code or under the Parliament of Canada Act."

Mr. LeBlanc said while he fully accepts the RCMP's determination that there is insufficient evidence to proceed with criminal prosecution, he believes Mr. Harper and the Conservatives have a duty to give Canadians all the details of the offer that was made to Mr. Cadman.

"There are many questions that remain concerning what Mr. Harper knew and the role of senior Conservatives in the offer that was made to Mr. Cadman. Canadians deserve answers to those questions," he said. "We will continue to press for them."

Affaire Cadman : le Premier ministre doit toujours une explication aux Canadiens

Le 16 mai 2008
 
OTTAWA – Le Premier ministre Stephen Harper a le devoir de dire aux Canadiens tout ce qu’il sait à propos des considérations financières que son parti a offertes à feu Chuck Cadman, suite à la décision prise par la GRC de ne pas porter d’accusations officielles. C’est ce qu’a déclaré aujourd’hui le député libéral Dominic LeBlanc.

« Les exigences du Premier ministre en matière d’éthique doivent s’élever au dessus des exigences ayant trait à la preuve prévues dans le Code criminel, » a dit M. LeBlanc.

« Le Premier ministre a été enregistré en train de dire qu’il savait que les conservateurs avaient fait une offre de "considérations financières" à Chuck Cadman pour tenter d’acheter son vote. Il n’a jamais expliqué clairement aux Canadiens qui avait fait cette offre et en quoi elle consistait précisément. »

M. LeBlanc a souligné qu’il avait reçu une lettre de la part de la police criminelle à la GRC, l’informant du fait qu’elle avait mené une enquête et, après avoir consulté le bureau du procureur général de l’Ontario, avait déterminé que cette enquête n’avait produit « aucune preuve justifiant des accusations en vertu du Code criminel ou de la loi sur le Parlement du Canada ».

M. LeBlanc a ajouté que, bien qu’il accepte entièrement les conclusions de la GRC selon lesquelles il n’existe pas de preuves suffisantes pour entamer des poursuites, il pense que M. Harper et les conservateurs ont le devoir de donner aux Canadiens les détails de l’offre qui a été faite à M. Cadman.

« De nombreuses questions restent préoccupantes quand à ce que savait M. Harper et au rôle de conservateurs haut placés dans l’offre qui a été faite à M. Cadman. Les Canadiens ont droit à des réponses à leurs questions, a-t-il conclu. Nous allons maintenir la pression.

 
Hi There!

I’m Dr. Sean Godfrey and welcome to my website!

I am the Federal Liberal Candidate for our great city of Oshawa and this web site was created to help you get acquainted with me.

You can find out who I am, what I stand for and why I’d like to become YOUR Member of Parliament in the next Federal Election – which could happen very soon!

But what if you aren’t a member or not even a Liberal?

Just read on, as I hope you will find that we share enough of the same core ideals, to convince you to join the Liberals and help me bring the interests of Oshawa back to Ottawa and Canada back to it’s rightful place as the world leader on the environment, social justice, equality and human rights.

 

“Change is Possible”

Who do you trust? Most people tell me they tend not to trust politicians - that’s why I want to change the perception and change your expectation of what an MP should be!

 

 I am a children’s doctor. I love what I do, which is trying to bring positive change and hope to families who are worried about what matters most to them. It’s that same motivation that drives me to become your MP in Oshawa.

 As a doctor I understand what fear is; how to balance critical evidence and make the best decisions, vital decisions, not for me, but for the children and the families that I serve. Your MP should do the same.

 

 What inspires me is that those same families, without exception, trust me in why I am setting out on this mission of hope - this challenge for change.

 They know I would never simply abandon them. My consultant pediatric practice will continue in my partner’s trusted hands. I’ve also recruited an excellent pediatrician to add to our compliment at the hospital.

 

 My patients’ families have already become some of my strongest supporters. They understand why I feel the way I do; they understand my passion for change; my passion to make things better and to do what’s right for this community.

 

 Who better to trust than someone who understands firsthand the education needs of our children; understands our healthcare system from the inside and will take direct aim to defeat poverty?

 

 They know my determination to fight for the well being of the families in my community will not end in my becoming an MP. It just becomes more public on a national stage! 

They know real change is possible. They passionately believe that for everyone’s sake in Oshawa and Canada, change is vital!

 

 So the question is who do you trust?

 Dr. Sean Godfrey

Federal Liberal Candidate...for the great city of Oshawa!

 Ensemble, tout est possible!

 www.seangodfrey.ca

 Change is Vital!

  

Dr. Sean Godfrey – ‘A Time for Real Change!’

 

I believe I have been blessed in my life: my family, my career, first training at The Hospital for Sick Children and now as Chief of Pediatrics at Lakeridge Health Oshawa. I live and work in this great city of Oshawa. My kids were born here, go to school here and I am proud to say I live in Oshawa. I am proud of my community and proud to be a Canadian. So why run as the Federal Liberal Candidate?

 

It seems that many of the principles that define Canada are repeatedly and flagrantly being attacked by Mr. Harper and his Conservative government.

 

This blatant disregard and seeming lack of respect for our Canadian values and the tainting of our international reputation was for me a call for decisive action! It is my time to stand up and be counted – to defend the rights of all our citizens, our economic future and Canada’s reputation as a global role model.  

 

Oshawa deserves better than an ‘invisible MP’ who says nothing and does even less about any issue of importance to our city, our country or our global community!

 

It’s time for something new! Oshawa needs an MP with intelligence and the ability to vigorously defend our local interests, debate with passion on the national issues; and promote and enhance Canada’s standing in the world.

 

Oshawa needs a Federal Candidate who appeals across the board and whose vision will unite the voters of this great city in a resounding rejection of the Tories and the bleak future to which they seem to be sentencing Oshawa and Canada.

 

Real change requires real commitment to that vision and that’s why I’m running to become your MP! I promise you that I will be the hardest working MP this riding has ever had!

 

Ensemble, mes amis, tout est possible! Merci.

 

Dr. Sean Godfrey

MB.ChB., FRCP