MP Gerald Keddy, with Debra Reeves of Chester, N.S., brandishes a prop cheque for the government's contribution to a local ice rink on Sept. 19.

Taxpayer’s money is being squandered

OTTAWA – Following revelations that since 2007 at least 47 Reform-Conservative MPs presented at least 181 personalized, partisan cheques to constituents for government funds, Liberal MPs will be lodging a formal complaint against each of the 47 MPs to the Ethics Commissioner – including Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“Somewhere along the line, Stephen Harper forgot it’s Canadians’ money, not Conservative money,” said Liberal MP David McGuinty. “For two years, the Prime Minister’s Office orchestrated this unethical conduct – and today we’re calling for the ethics commissioner to put an end to it.”

Following reports that Conservative MPs Peter Van Loan, Gerald Keddy, and Colin Mayes used Conservative Party logos in government cheque presentations, the Prime Minister condemned the practice and attempted to portray them as isolated incidents, even though Liberals uncovered 181 examples of his MPs presenting personalized government cheques to constituents since 2007. In at least four examples, Stephen Harper’s own signature was used.

In response, Liberal MPs announced today that 47 formal complaints would be lodged with the Ethics Commissioner for breach of the Conflict of Interest Code for using government resources to obtain a tangible benefit.
“There’s a clear pattern of abuse of public funds for partisan purposes under the Harper government,” said Liberal MP Wayne Easter, who is lodging the complaints to the Ethics Commissioner.

“First it was directing infrastructure, youth jobs and disability funding to Conservative ridings instead of benefitting all Canadians,” said Liberal MP Marcel Proulx. “Now it’s a $60 million partisan ad campaign and photo-ops that masquerade government money as Conservative money.”

The Liberal opposition has called for a fair, per capita distribution of infrastructure funds using the gas tax transfer, and strict controls to stop partisan advertising.

See Toronto Star