As the media is starting to put two and two together, and wondering what was really behind this complete character assassination of Rhuby Dhalla; Jason Kenney has started to find himself on the defensive for his role in the fiasco.CTV
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney denied Sunday any political involvement in the caregiver controversy surrounding Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla.
On CTV's Question Period, Kenney scoffed at the suggestion, made by Dhalla's lawyer, that there may have been some sort of political conspiracy to bring down the Brampton, Ont., MP.
"I don't know what conspiracy this would be," he said. "Between the Conservative party, the NDP, three Filipino nannies and the Toronto Star? I think it undermines credibility when people start talking about conspiracies."
This past week, three foreign workers came forward to allege they all worked illegally at Dhalla's family home, and were mistreated and underpaid. None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Dhalla's lawyer, Howard Levitt, said Friday the allegations may have been part of an orchestrated attempt to ruin his client's political career.
"There is no truth to them," he said. "The only question is, who's really behind them and who orchestrated or assisted or enabled these former employees of her brother to suddenly come forward one year after the last of them worked providing care for her mother?"
On Sunday, Kenney said he didn't want to comment specifically on the Dhalla case, but said, as immigration minister his "broader concern is ensuring that we protect the rights of caregivers."
Kenney also said he only became aware of the case after the Toronto Star released its report. He also said that, to the best of his knowledge, he has never met the caregivers. But he said it may be possible they attended some of the roundtable discussions he's held for caregivers in the Greater Toronto Area.
However, he did add that his department has indicated to the nannies' legal counsel that "if they're acting as whistle blowers that will not be held against them, that if they're providing information about offences we're not going to penalize them."
This just keeps getting better. 'To the best of his knowledge ... It may be possible they attended ... If they're acting as whistle blowers ... Sounds like subterfuge to me.
This doesn't have to be a conspiracy theory involving the Toronto Star. He just let his 'Mine-Me' use his PI skills to track the women down. Had two of them (who never worked together) file a complaint, and the rest just fell into place.
Kenney, in an interview Sunday on CTV's Question Period, insisted he takes no partisan delight in the allegations levelled against Dhalla by three immigrant women who worked as caregivers for her family.
"One never likes to see a colleague from any party facing a difficult personal situation," said the Conservative minister.
"Frankly, I like Ms. Dhalla and have gotten along quite well with her. And I think she does deserve the benefit of the doubt."
And yet before the ink was dry on the first story, he was gleefully listing the crimes she could be convicted of; taking a lot of delight in her demise. But then for a 40-year-old virgin (by his own admission), what else does he have?
I do not like Jason Kenney. However, this conspiracy theory is baloney. Nannies always worry about their immigration status that they would be too scared to level false allegations. Dhalla should testify under oath!
ReplyDelete