This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Canada, which closed in 2021.

Labrador Byelection: Elizabeth May Wonders If Harper Violated Conflict Of Interest Act For Penashue

Did Harper Behave Unethically?
CP

Elizabeth May believes Stephen Harper may have violated the Conflict of Interest Act to give his MP an unfair advantage in an upcoming byelection.

On Monday, the Green Party leader called on federal ethics watchdog Mary Dawson to examine Harper’s behaviour before calling a vote in Labrador for May 13.

The riding was held by former intergovernmental affairs minister Peter Penashue, who resigned in controversy in March only to run again once the byelection was called in April.

The first, she wrote, was Harper’s call to allow Penashue to make a $1.35 million spending announcement just four days before stepping down from his seat.

“I am asking you to investigate whether the Prime Minister knew that Mr. Penashue was going to resign and whether he made the decision to allow Mr. Penashue to make that announcement knowing that Mr. Penashue would soon run as a candidate in a byelection in the riding,” May wrote.

May also questioned why Harper called the byelection before prosecutors decided whether to charge Penashue for illegal contributions to his 2011 campaign which violated the Canada Elections Act.

“Prime Minister Harper is essentially furthering Mr. Penashue’s private interests by not allowing voters in the riding to know whether independent investigators at Elections Canada and prosecutors have concluded that there is enough clear evidence of violations to prosecute,” she wrote.

May believes Harper violated sections 4 and 6 of the Conflict of Interest Act, which prohibits public office holders like the prime minister from exercising “an official power, duty or function that provides an opportunity to further his or her private interests or those of his or her relatives or friends or to improperly further another person’s private interests.”

May thinks Penashue, whom Harper hailed as “the best member of Parliament Labrador has ever had,” certainly qualifies as a “friend” of the prime minister.

It’s unclear how Dawson will respond to May’s request but regardless it appears Penashue's chances of returning to the House of Commons are slim.

If Penashue is defeated next week it will mark the first time Harper has lost a Tory-held seat in a byelection since becoming prime minster.

But it appears Conservatives are not going down without a fight.

While campaigning in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, MacKay suggested that sending an opposition MP to Ottawa to “yell at the government two or three times a week” is not nearly as valuable as having a member in Harper’s inner circle.

“This is an opportunity, a unique opportunity, to elect somebody who you know — this is a guarantee — is going to be in the cabinet of the federal government," he said.

In 2011, Penashue won the 2011 election over incumbent Liberal MP Todd Russell by just 79 votes.

Also on HuffPost

❤

Memorable Stephen Harper Pictures

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Canada. Certain site features have been disabled. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.