A fishing line or a smoking gun?

The opposition was in high dudgeon Tuesday afternoon in the House of Commons, as recently discovered memos dating as far back as 1995 were made public. The memos revealing the backroom dealings in Finance Minister Paul Martin’s office, were mysteriously provided to the TVA network in Quebec and to Opposition MP's . According to the Opposition these latest developments, are more proof that Martin was fully involved in the awarding of contracts in the Liberal cabinet of Jean Chretien. In fact they claim Martin's involvement predates the current adscam scandal under investigation, claiming that it was Martin not Chretien that laid the groundwork for the scandal to follow.

At issue for the opposition are Martin’s close ties to the Earnscliffe group, which benefited from a close working relationship with the Finance Department during the Martin era as Finance Minister. Since becoming Prime Minister and even in the run up to his accession, Earnscliffe insiders have always been a strong force in his camp. So the accusations are neither particularly new nor unreported in the past. None the less, having memo’s floating around expressing concern about the concentration of funds into one lobby group does raise some red flags.

As part of the continuing sideshow known as the adscam hearings, Martin will find his name dragged into the proceedings on Wednesday, when controversial bureaucrat Chuck Guite makes his long awaited appearance at the hearings.

Susan Delacourt in the Toronto Star is reporting that Guite's testimony could make for an uncomfortable day for Martin and heat up the already dvisive Liberal civil war.

Guite is rumored to be ready to draw a line between Martin and abuse of funds when he breaks his silence to the committee. It’s expected that Guite will train a fair amount of his testimony on the cozy arrangements between Earnscliffe and the Prime Minister in waiting phase of the last few years. Yet another shot in the ever increasing ugly Liberal civil war.

The opposition took turns attacking the culture of cronyism they claim found a father not in the office of Jean Chretien, but can trace it’s beginnings to the doors of the Finance Minister of the era. Using memos from Mr. Guite and former Liberal attack dog Warren Kinsella they sandbagged Martin and his Public Works Minister Stephen Owen on Tuesday with revelations of contracts being tendered without the knowledge of Public Works.

The Prime Minister said from the outright that the government needed to get to the bottom of this scandal, find out everything that needs to be made public and ensure that it never happens again. As the committee continues on along its meandering path, having the truth come out seems to be making life a little more difficult for the PMO than had been expected.

The Opposition members who are busy receiving a flurry of brown manila envelopes, are more than happy to assist the malcontent Liberals skewer the current leader. The prospect of Chuck Guite pointing a finger at a sitting Prime Minister is the kind of theatre they could only have dreamed of a few short months ago. His much anticipated testimony Wednesday morning should help to speed things along in the process. The only thing that remains to be answered about his appearance will be; whether it becomes just another fishing line for the opposition or if it indeed is the smoking gun that tarnishes the finely crafted image of the current Prime Minister.

***CORRECTION*** My apologies to all Podunkians who rose early to follow the dramatic testimony of Mr. Guite, turns out he doesn't do his Jack Nicholson (you can't handle the truth) performance until Thursday at 9am EST, 6 am PST. Rise early and follow the bouncing cheques!!


The above posting is from my Boondoggle blog, to find more items and links about government check it out.