The story of MP?Helena Guergis seems to just get muddier as each day passes. But when Prime Minister Stephen Harper kicked her out of the Conservative caucus Friday then called in the RCMP?and the Commons ethics commissioner to investigate unnamed allegations against her, the mud was flying.
We are left wondering what the allegations are. If the RCMP?was called in, we can assume it involves criminal charges. And if it involves criminal charges, why is the prime minister not telling us what the allegations are?
Most Canadians are able to understand these are merely allegations at this point. Pending an investigations, they could become charges and if she is charged with something, following due process in the courts, there will either be a conviction or the charges will be dropped.
At this point, Guergis is saying the allegations are unfair and untrue. And Harper is unwilling to tell anyone what the allegations are. So Canadians are kept in the dark while this plays out behind the scenes in Ottawa.
This isn’t fair to Canadians in general or to Guergis in particular. Canadians in general can be left with a feeling that a cover up took place if she is not charged. But Guergis runs the risk of being charged simply to appease the curiosity of Canadians.
Instead, be up front from the beginning. Tell us what the charges are and let us see that the RCMP?is conducting a proper investigation before determining if charges are warranted. If the allegations are far-fetched or seem to be more smoke than fire, we are capable to seeing that. But if they are serious allegations for which there is a possible basis, we are also capable to seeing that.
Just because Guergis is a politician, was a member of Harper’s cabinet and was once considered an up-and-coming member of the Conservative party does not mean she should get priority treatment.
We do not ask that she be treated any differently than any other Canadian, only that she be treated the same as any other Canadian.
Many of us still have a bitter taste in our mouths following the plea bargain for her husband Rahim Jaffer whose charges of impaired driving and possession of cocaine mysteriously disappeared when he agreed to plead guilty to careless driving instead.
But Guergis should not be judged by her husband’s actions or consequences.
NDP?Leader Jack Layton said it well : “This has become a debilitating distraction and it’s important for the business of the country that the prime minister get it as far off the table as possible, and the only way to do that is by full disclosure . . . and then get back in Parliament to tackling the business that we're there to do.”
The problem is, Harper is not good with “full disclosure” at any time.
