Why Would the People of Durham Reward Bev Oda for Her Actions?
Personally I don't think Bev Oda should have been allowed to run at all. Only the election call saved her from having to face the consequences of her Contempt of Parliament charge for lying.
“Anyone who is not living under a rock is aware of it. It’s raised concerns in a lot of people’s minds,” says challenger Grant Humes, a political newcomer who hopes to snare the Tory stronghold for the Liberals. “People are saying, ‘I used to vote Conservative but I’m not this time.’”
It’s an unusual set of circumstances that has put a cabinet minister’s future in voters’ hands. In what became known as the “not” scandal.
It would be nice if a lawyer could tell us if there are any (judiciary) penalties associated with contempt of Parliament. Not sure is being defeated in the House is sufficient. And besides it's too easy to spin it as something the big bad Opposition did.
Here's Bev Oda at one of her many gym workouts: http://theuglydance.com/?v=yhsnnxprxu
Oda's 'not' funding decision prompts protest in Bowmanville
"We kind of expected it would be a small turnout, the time of day is awkward," said Virginia Ervin, of the 8 a.m. protest Feb. 25. "By the number of honking (cars) and people who have stopped, I know more people are aware of this. They may not be standing here but you can tell they're supportive."
"I think at the very least she needs to be removed from cabinet for not being straightforward and for being in contempt of Parliament," said Ms. Bates.
"We're concerned about the integrity of our elected officials, if they can on a whim and with a stroke of the pen reverse a decision," said Ms. Ervin.
http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/172428
This KAIROS issue begs some excuse / A ministerial statement from Dr. Seuss
I must have pulled some shifty scam / To end up in the jam I am
Staff first said ‘Yes’ – I cannot lie /But with one word I would deny ... How it appeared, it¹s hard to say / But does it matter anyway?
Top bureaucrats, they did, I think / Inscribe the ‘NOT’ in deep red ink
They wrote the ‘NOT’ above the margin / It was not I, as they are chargin’
I had no role, is what I said / I had no role to make it dead
I had no role to stop the cash / It’s bureaucrats that you should trash
I do not like this KAIROS bunch / Nor does my boss, that’s my best hunch
That’s why he put me on the spot / That’s why he made me add the ‘NOT’
That’s what he made me think, I thought / That’s why my credibility is shot
Handwriting experts in the field / Provide the truth that should be yield
The hand that changed the ‘Yes’ to ‘No’ / Was on the arm of the PMO
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/liberals-use-green-eggs-to-relish-bev-odas-jam/article1925661/See More
Peter Mansbridgeon CBC panel discusses how the Bev Oda story is bigger than Bev Oda,
it’s the dishonesty of the entire Harper government:
The question now is: Can a minister continue to serve in cabinet once she has admitted being dishonest with Parliament?
Wilfrid Laurier University political science professor David Docherty is among those who contend that such conduct should carry the ultimate political price.
“I think she has to go because she misled the House: this is about respect for Parliament,” he argued. “It’s hard to see a clearer case of an abuse of Parliament, a contempt of Parliament, than this one. It’s one thing for politicians to use weasel words and sucker clauses — ‘It is my understanding that’ — but this seems to have gone far beyond that.”
Truth has become a devalued commodity in government, where ministers much prefer the factual flexibility offered by “spin.” To that end, it’s surprising that Oda’s conduct has caused such a stir: isn’t this just an extension of business as usual?
And then, on the subject of what sure seems like a lie to the House, she read something that all had the cadences of an apology but none of the confession or remorse.
“If some were led to conclude that my language implied that the department and I were of one mind on this application,” her statement read, “then I apologize.”
A federal cabinet minister embroiled in a scandal over the altering of a document is "dead in the water," says one of Canada's leading scholars on parliamentary issues.
"It's a grave offence," said Ned Franks, a Queen's University political studies professor emeritus. "It's the end of her political career."
International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda is under fire for testifying at a committee hearing in December that she didn't know who wrote the word "not" on a funding proposal -- thereby rejecting its recommendation -- after it was signed and approved by Canadian International Development Agency officials.
By adding the handwritten word "not" to the document, the government denied a $7-million grant to the Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, known as KAIROS.
This week, however, Oda told the House of Commons that she gave instructions to add the word "not" so that the document read "... that you sign below to indicate that you not approve a contribution of $7,098,758 over four years for the above program."
"She's dead in the water," said Franks. "One, a document was obviously falsified, and, two, she misled Parliament about what happened. Both, in my view, show a contempt for Parliament.
"Two people signed it, then she changed it to 'not.' You can't change other people's recommendations. If you alter a document once people have recommended (funding) to express the opposite of what they intended, that's falsifying a document."
The trouble this behaviour is part of a systematic pattern within the Harper government; deliberate distortions and lies.
- John Baird: 'tens of thousands' of Air Canada jobs will be lost if Emirates got more landing slots at Pearson. No studies or evidence of any such impact analysis. He just said it, never retracted it.
- Maxime Bernier: 'thousands' of complaints per day against the long-form mandatory census, when approximately 30 such complaints were received per year. No retraction, no correction nor any consequences. Census got cancelled for the sake of blind ideology.
-Tony Clement: StatsCan bureaucrats 'recommended' cancellation of the long-form census, when StatsCan did the opposite and in writing and StatsCan Chief Sheikh resigned in protest. No retraction, correction or consequences. Census got cancelled for an untrue reason: everyone moved on.
- Bev Oda: CIDA bureaucrats 'recommended' denial of funding to Kairos, when CIDA did the opposite and memos proved that she was wrong. A huge muddle followed and is ongoing but Kairos was told it was denied funding because of change in priorities. CIDA's memo shows that is untrue and we still don't know why Kairos was refused. Kairos has not seen funds in almost 2 years for an untrue reason. Oda defense lacks credibility but she does not resign.
- Jason Kenney: This new revelation, plus heavily criticised by Justice Mosley for "banning" George Galloway by abusing the immigration legislation for purely political and personal reasons. Galloway was prevented from attending a speaking event in Canada: everyone moved on. Mr. Kenney also gave a speech in Israel claiming Kairos (see Oda above) was "defunded" as part of Harper's combat against "anti-Semitism". Never mentioned in Kairos's refusal letter or by Oda, so either he lied or Oda lied. No retraction, apology or consequences: everyone moved on.
-Stockwell Day: claims new prisons necessary because most crimes are 'unreported'. When StatsCan rebutted that claim, we start seeing misleading and `flawed`research likely paid for by us through our elected officials.
-And what has changed about promises to not stack the Senate, conduct arbitrary prorogues for personal reasons, promises for new ATIP procedures for transparency (Afghan detainees?), a new ethics commissioner (Ha!), and to place Canada above all other nations (we will stand by Israel "whatever the cost" to Canada)?
Misleading the house is to treat all Canadians with contempt.
Personally I don't think Bev Oda should have been allowed to run at all. Only the election call saved her from having to face the consequences of her Contempt of Parliament charge for lying.
It would be nice if a lawyer could tell us if there are any (judiciary) penalties associated with contempt of Parliament. Not sure is being defeated in the House is sufficient. And besides it's too easy to spin it as something the big bad Opposition did.
ReplyDeleteHere's Bev Oda at one of her many gym workouts:
ReplyDeletehttp://theuglydance.com/?v=yhsnnxprxu
Bev Oda: Lying is ^not okay.
Sign the petition:
http://petition.liberal.ca/bevodamustresign/
Vote ^NOT Conservative Button
http://www.cafepress.ca/Looney_Left.509357654
“It’s the Canadian people that should be resigning and apologizing to Bev Oda. Bad haircut aside, he’s one hell of a great guy.”
http://www.urnews.ca/2011/02/conservatives-not-decieve-canadians/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=687660893&sk=info#!/photo.php?fbid=1852610723447&set=a.1415809563691.58458.1486166297&comments
Here's Bev Oda at one of her many gym workouts:
http://theuglydance.com/?v=yhsnnxprxu
Oda's 'not' funding decision prompts protest in Bowmanville
"We kind of expected it would be a small turnout, the time of day is awkward," said Virginia Ervin, of the 8 a.m. protest Feb. 25. "By the number of honking (cars) and people who have stopped, I know more people are aware of this. They may not be standing here but you can tell they're supportive."
"I think at the very least she needs to be removed from cabinet for not being straightforward and for being in contempt of Parliament," said Ms. Bates.
"We're concerned about the integrity of our elected officials, if they can on a whim and with a stroke of the pen reverse a decision," said Ms. Ervin.
http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/172428
This KAIROS issue begs some excuse / A ministerial statement from Dr. Seuss
I must have pulled some shifty scam / To end up in the jam I am
Staff first said ‘Yes’ – I cannot lie /But with one word I would deny
...
How it appeared, it¹s hard to say / But does it matter anyway?
Top bureaucrats, they did, I think / Inscribe the ‘NOT’ in deep red ink
They wrote the ‘NOT’ above the margin / It was not I, as they are chargin’
I had no role, is what I said / I had no role to make it dead
I had no role to stop the cash / It’s bureaucrats that you should trash
I do not like this KAIROS bunch / Nor does my boss, that’s my best hunch
That’s why he put me on the spot / That’s why he made me add the ‘NOT’
That’s what he made me think, I thought / That’s why my credibility is shot
Handwriting experts in the field / Provide the truth that should be yield
The hand that changed the ‘Yes’ to ‘No’ / Was on the arm of the PMO
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/liberals-use-green-eggs-to-relish-bev-odas-jam/article1925661/See More
Peter Mansbridgeon CBC panel discusses how the Bev Oda story is bigger than Bev Oda,
it’s the dishonesty of the entire Harper government:
http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/indepthanalysis/atissue/story/2011/02/17/thenational-atissue-170211.html
Bev Oda: You have to quit
The question now is: Can a minister continue to serve in cabinet once she has admitted being dishonest with Parliament?
Wilfrid Laurier University political science professor David Docherty is among those who contend that such conduct should carry the ultimate political price.
“I think she has to go because she misled the House: this is about respect for Parliament,” he argued. “It’s hard to see a clearer case of an abuse of Parliament, a contempt of Parliament, than this one. It’s one thing for politicians to use weasel words and sucker clauses — ‘It is my understanding that’ — but this seems to have gone far beyond that.”
Truth has become a devalued commodity in government, where ministers much prefer the factual flexibility offered by “spin.” To that end, it’s surprising that Oda’s conduct has caused such a stir: isn’t this just an extension of business as usual?
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/lying+Parliament+still+matters/4312711/story.html#ixzz1ENQnA1kU
Bev Oda’s not really sorry for forgery and lying
ReplyDeleteAnd then, on the subject of what sure seems like a lie to the House, she read something that all had the cadences of an apology but none of the confession or remorse.
“If some were led to conclude that my language implied that the department and I were of one mind on this application,” her statement read, “then I apologize.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/tabatha-southey/hey-bev-oda-could-you-also-make-me-a-fake-id/article1913701/
Tories down 18% in latest Abaccus Polls
A federal cabinet minister embroiled in a scandal over the altering of a document is "dead in the water," says one of Canada's leading scholars on parliamentary issues.
"It's a grave offence," said Ned Franks, a Queen's University political studies professor emeritus. "It's the end of her political career."
International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda is under fire for testifying at a committee hearing in December that she didn't know who wrote the word "not" on a funding proposal -- thereby rejecting its recommendation -- after it was signed and approved by Canadian International Development Agency officials.
By adding the handwritten word "not" to the document, the government denied a $7-million grant to the Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, known as KAIROS.
This week, however, Oda told the House of Commons that she gave instructions to add the word "not" so that the document read "... that you sign below to indicate that you not approve a contribution of $7,098,758 over four years for the above program."
"She's dead in the water," said Franks. "One, a document was obviously falsified, and, two, she misled Parliament about what happened. Both, in my view, show a contempt for Parliament.
"Two people signed it, then she changed it to 'not.' You can't change other people's recommendations. If you alter a document once people have recommended (funding) to express the opposite of what they intended, that's falsifying a document."
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2986418
Oda`s description of herself is emblematic of the Harper government:
ReplyDelete` “My original answers were truthful, accurate and precise, but they were not clear.”
Wherry`s response:
`It is to weep. Call it an ode to the immaculate confusion.`
http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/03/18/the-commons-confusion-clarified-and-personified/
The trouble this behaviour is part of a systematic pattern within the Harper government; deliberate distortions and lies.
- John Baird: 'tens of thousands' of Air Canada jobs will be lost if Emirates got more landing slots at Pearson. No studies or evidence of any such impact analysis. He just said it, never retracted it.
- Maxime Bernier: 'thousands' of complaints per day against the long-form mandatory census, when approximately 30 such complaints were received per year. No retraction, no correction nor any consequences. Census got cancelled for the sake of blind ideology.
-Tony Clement: StatsCan bureaucrats 'recommended' cancellation of the long-form census, when StatsCan did the opposite and in writing and StatsCan Chief Sheikh resigned in protest. No retraction, correction or consequences. Census got cancelled for an untrue reason: everyone moved on.
- Bev Oda: CIDA bureaucrats 'recommended' denial of funding to Kairos, when CIDA did the opposite and memos proved that she was wrong. A huge muddle followed and is ongoing but Kairos was told it was denied funding because of change in priorities. CIDA's memo shows that is untrue and we still don't know why Kairos was refused. Kairos has not seen funds in almost 2 years for an untrue reason. Oda defense lacks credibility but she does not resign.
- Jason Kenney: This new revelation, plus heavily criticised by Justice Mosley for "banning" George Galloway by abusing the immigration legislation for purely political and personal reasons. Galloway was prevented from attending a speaking event in Canada: everyone moved on. Mr. Kenney also gave a speech in Israel claiming Kairos (see Oda above) was "defunded" as part of Harper's combat against "anti-Semitism". Never mentioned in Kairos's refusal letter or by Oda, so either he lied or Oda lied. No retraction, apology or consequences: everyone moved on.
-Stockwell Day: claims new prisons necessary because most crimes are 'unreported'. When StatsCan rebutted that claim, we start seeing misleading and `flawed`research likely paid for by us through our elected officials.
-And what has changed about promises to not stack the Senate, conduct arbitrary prorogues for personal reasons, promises for new ATIP procedures for transparency (Afghan detainees?), a new ethics commissioner (Ha!), and to place Canada above all other nations (we will stand by Israel "whatever the cost" to Canada)?
Misleading the house is to treat all Canadians with contempt.