And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (S.I.S.I.S.) writes:
MONNIN REPORT SLAMS MANITOBA TORIES
Canadian Press, March 29, 1999
[S.I.S.I.S. note: The following mainstream news article may contain biased
or distorted information and may be missing pertinent facts and/or context.
It is provided for reference only.]
WINNIPEG (CP) -- Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon was quick Monday to accept
every recommendation made in a report that said top Tories broke the
province's election laws in 1995 to try and steal votes from the NDP.
"There is a heavy price to be paid for engaging in conduct which damages
our democratic electoral process," he said of the plot to secretly back
supposedly independent aboriginal candidates with cash and other help.
"A vote-rigging plot constitutes an unconscionable debasement of the
citizen's right to vote," former Manitoba chief Justice Alfred Monnin said
in his 69-page report that wrapped up the inquiry he conducted last year
and this year into the scheme. "To reduce the voting rights of individuals
is a violation of our democratic system."
Monnin found that the Tories induced at least one aboriginal candidate to
run -- Darryl Sutherland -- which is a violation of Manitoba election laws.
Sutherland accepted money and a car without reporting it properly, another
breach. Tories covered up the scheme and filed a false election return
statement that hid the payments -- more breaches.
Because all this took place in 1995, however, and the time limit for
prosecutions under the legislation in effect at the time was six months,
Monnin said there is nothing that can be done legally. Manitoba New
Democrats, however, aren't so sure. Party spokesman Dave Chomiak said
they'll be checking with their lawyer and will have more to say on the
subject today. It might be possible, for example, to charge some inquiry
witnesses with perjury for not telling the truth. "There have to be
consequences for the cover-up, there have to be consequences for the lying,
there have to be consequences for the breaking of electoral laws," he said.
"I think it's one of the saddest days in Manitoba's political history."
Changing the legislation so the clock doesn't start ticking until the
chief electoral officer has reason to suspect a breach has occurred is one
of the recommendations in the report Filmon has accepted. Getting all
parties to adopt a code of ethics, possibly through legislation, that would
bar such activities is another.
The scandal has already cost two of the premier's senior aides their jobs.
Chief of staff Taras Sokolyk, one of the masterminds behind the plan which
in the end failed to alter the election outcome in any of the three ridings
involved, was the first to fall. Next was treasury board secretary Julian
Benson, who helped cover it up. The latest victim is Arni Thorsteinson, a
chief party fundraiser and a member of the board of Manitoba Hydro. Filmon
says Thorsteinson will lose both his party job and the patronage plum for
his role in the 1995 scheme which was providing money to the candidates.
But in the end, Filmon said Monnin laid the blame for the affair at the
feet of five individuals, clearing the premier, members of the legislature
and the party itself. Some of those individuals were among the most
powerful in the party at the time, but Filmon said that still doesn't mean
the party itself was guilty. "There was no evidence that any elected
members from our party ... were aware of or aided and abetted in this,"
Filmon said. "I quote his words, 'dumb plot'."
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In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is
distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed
a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and educational purposes only.
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S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty
P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2
EMAIL : <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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