New Evidence Links Jason Kenney to Nanny-gate.

Since the character assassination of Liberal MP Dr. Rhuby Dhalla began, it became evident that Jason Kenney, her opponent in the House, and Parm Gill, her opponent in Bramptom; played an integral role.

But was it a complete set-up or just an opportunistic move to link the story to Ms Dhalla, despite the fact that she did not hire the women in question herself, as revealed in the evidence provided by her lawyer? It's looking more and more like a set-up, and the drama has claimed new victims. The former housekeepers who may be selling their souls for immigrant status.

This is unfortunate. I only hope Jason Kenney sticks to his promise and allows them to stay, though he won't be able to circumvent the law if they were working illegally.

I'm not suggesting that these women were not overworked, but it appears that it was at the hands of Rhuby's family, and not herself. I do believe, however, that there may be some exaggeration at the hands of the members of the Conservative Party, who really need to take attention away from the John Baird influence peddling case, and Brian Mulroney's Airbus inquiry.

New Evidence in Jason Kenney's Conspiracy.

1. The documentation the Toronto Star released shows an application (not for a nanny but for a housekeeper/caregiver), approval, passport passed along for immigration purposes, and payments - all documented, but no mention of Ruby Dhalla's name. Her brother and mother appear to have handled the paperwork and the payments.

2. The timing coincides with the tabling of the standing committee on immigration report and with efforts of Jason Kenney and Parm Gill, who had been working together on the Punjabi community just in the past month or so.

3. Despite the fact that Dr. Dhalla has been tried and convicted by the media, there has been no formal complaint made to the Ontario Labour Board by the 'nannies'.

4. From BCer in Toronto: Kenney, you'll recall, insists he knew nothing about the nanny's allegations about Dhalla in advance, and insists he has no desire to politicize this affair. That hasn't stopped Kenney ....... from trying to do just that.

Take this report this morning from Toronto Star reporter Susan Delacourt:

At the immigration committee this morning, I was a bit surprised to see the Immigration Minister's assistant, Alykhan Velshi (Jason Kenney's Aide), handing out some documents to reporters. It was three pages, stapled together -- excerpts from this material, available on The Star's website. The title: "Was Ruby Dhalla involved in the hiring of the caregivers?"

What surprised me most was the active participation of the minister's office in a committee hearing. Perhaps I'm naive, but I believed Mr. Kenney when he said he wasn't allowed to get personally involved in any immigration case. That sure looked like personal involvement to me.

Why was Velshi even at this hearing? Kenney wasn't testifying. Does he just randomly hang-out at committee meetings, passing out material to reporters regarding matters his boss supposedly doesn't want to politicize? Was he there at Kenney's behest, or was he freelancing?

5. From Aaron Wherry a MacLeans blogger: In the audience sat half a dozen reporters, a smattering of spectators and one aide to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.

The aide from Kenney’s office had been handing around a bit of amateur handwriting analysis based on various documents related to the case. Dykstra asked Dhalla if the handwriting was hers. She said no.

Who prepared this amateur handwriting analysis? Parm Gill or one of his cohorts? Also why were they distributing this so-called evidence to the media and not the committee? I think I know.

6. From Impolitical - Jason has answered questions about his prior knowledge very carefully), Velshi was johnny on the spot with stacks of on-topic material to feed a hungry press corps:

In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said he couldn't comment on specific allegations nor would he deign to "politicize the complaints process."But his assistant, Alykhan Velshi, later circulated to reporters a press release from the Independent Workers Association that called on Ontario's attorney general to investigate Dhalla.

Veslhi has called this a Liberal cover-up, but it looks more like a Conservative cover-up of a well orchestrated smear campaign.

Jason Kenney and the Private Investigator

When Jason Kenney visited India in January, he took along his latest protege, Pram Gill, the man who launched an aggressive campaign against Liberal MP and Multiculturalism critic, Rhuby Dhalla.

As a self described 40 year old virgin, I'm not suggesting that Jason's Kenney's choice of companion was of a clandestine nature, just a little odd. But then again, maybe not.

Don Martin described their visit in his column.

"While Kenney's aiming to remake immigration into a more selective process, recruiting only the fittest for an economy that will bounce back into a skilled labour shortage, the politics of every action are never far from his sight.

For example, a Brampton riding hopeful named Parm Gill (described in local media as an 'upcoming leader' of the Conservatives) tagged along on Kenney's recent trip to India and was bragging to reporters that the government would move to reduce the immigration rejection rate for Punjabi youth to 20 per cent from 55 per cent now.

That smells more like a play for political gains back home than economic recruitment and, in a candid moment, Jason Kenney would probably agree."(emphasis added)

Ruby Dhalla barely defeated Gill in Brampton-Springdale in the last election, by less than a thousand votes. Judging by the above, they're certainly attempting to ensure that they pick up that seat next time for Gill, courtesy of Kenney's immigration machinations. Note that the policy mentioned above might also move votes in a neighbouring GTA riding, that of Andrew Kania who had just a 231 vote margin over the Conservative in Brampton West.

A little early campaigning for Parm Gill who's determined to knock Ms Dhalla out of the water. His most recent twitter entry states: "Heading to roundtable with Sikh community folks in Brampton, with indefatigable candidate of record Parm Gill."

We know that Mr. Gill would appeal to the Conservative dog team. Aggressive and not afraid to get his hands dirty. He's a natural.

However, Parm Gill brings something else to the table. From his campaign literature when he was running in Ontario, York West, in 2004:

Born in India, Parm Gill was raised and educated in Toronto from the age of 14, when he immigrated with his family to Canada. An OSSD Graduate, with a Diploma in Private Investigation, Parm currently works as a senior vice-president of Paramount Manufacturing. (A company that will deliver mattresses to your door.)

A private investigator? So how hard would it be for him to dig up dirt on Rhuby Dhalla? I mean if the two girls were upset after being fired, why wait a year to file a complaint and why arrive together, when they never worked together?

There's a lot more going on here. This has created a media frenzy and was even being debated in the Ontario Legislature, where Jim Flaherty's wife is hoping to be the next leader of the provincial Conservative party.

But what does this have to do with Jason Kenney? According to the Canadian Press: "Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, who hails from Calgary, may also be wooed by provincial Tories (Jim Flaherty's wife) anxious to gain access to his contacts in ethnic communities in the Toronto area. He was invited to speak at the provincial party's convention last month, where he joked about having been made an "honorary" Ontarian."

Oh what a tangled web we weave...