PM mum on RCMP 'visit'

On the way to New Orleans for the leaders’ summit, among the reporters, all the talk was of Sunday's strange events and why the Conservatives picked and chose among journalists for a special briefing on last week's RCMP raid at Tory headquarters.

I'm glad to see we've stopped trying to call it a "visit," as Conservatives insisted last week in their public statement. Now it's the RCMP "stormed" party headquarters.

Any attempts to raise this with Harper's entourage so far today have been unsuccessful. Dimitri Soudas, one of the communications aides in the PMO, came back and greeted journalists on the plane to New Orleans this morning, but when asked about all this business, he said simply he was focused on government, not the party.

We don't expect Harper to entertain any questions from Canadian reporters today -- true to form when he's travelling abroad. Our only glimpse of him has been on arrival here an hour or so ago at a private strip near New Orleans airport, where Harper was serenaded with a brass band from Preservation Hall.

Also, from what we can gather, it does seem that Canada has abandoned its usual practice of holding a separate news conference for its own reporters at these summits. (I've been coming to these things since 2004.) Now, our only chance to pose questions of Harper will be at the final news conference featuring all three leaders, in which only six questions are permitted -- two from each country.

Comments

[MJH]

It is a sad day in Canadian politics and journalism when a "raid" by Elections Canada means you're guilty. It seems to me that the courts should settle a difference in legislative interpretation between the Conservatives and Elections Canada.

[Mike Tessier]

So are all the Stars reporters on the Liberal payroll or is it split evenly among the other parties. If this was a raid on a liberial or NDP office I'm sure it wouldn't even make the paper or if it did it certainly wouldn't be more than a foot note. The selection of reporters is likely don't so that the news gets reported correctly without the normal Star/Liberal NDP filter added in. Just one you guys should report on the rest of the country you know the area outside of the GTA.

[Tell Me More]

Not talking to the Media? That's the very definition of arrogance. Keep the pressure on!

[Vid Ingelevics]

The first two comments on this blog are indicative of the current Tory mindset under Stephen Harper. I'm sure MJH and Mike Tessier were at the ramparts calling for an inquiry into the RCMP intervention in the 2006 election, weren't you? Partisanship leads to exactly the kinds of dubious activities the Tories are now accused of as when there are only true believers there is no-one to question whether the means justifies the end.

[Bruce MacLean]

Susan, Were you among the small select group invited to yesterday's "Press Briefing"? The Star seems very mum itself about that. Oh, and nice to see the Tory Trolls out in force on this story. Hope it's a good payday.

[bob ward]

Susan:

I thought the CBC was in charge of askin...er writing the questions???

[Canajen_Eh]

LOLOL

I just love it when the Conservatives' true colours are showing.

[dg]

I was thinking you should change your ad banner "Oxymoron Watch" every so often just to give equal time to all the various oxymoron's available to you. How about "Conservative Transparency". Just a suggestion.

[Another fine mess]

According to the Conservatives on Friday, the RCMP "visited" their party Headquarters. But yesterday, they said the mounties "raided" said HQ.

I know that voters are supposed to have notoriously short memories, but 3 days?

[bob ward]

Susan quick a big IN and OUT scam. Only this one is a LIBERAL SCAM. I know it might be a little bit of work for you as the LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA won't likely research this article for you but hey, what the hec, give it a go and let us all know what you find out.

From Question Period April 17, 2008

QP Thursday April 17, 2008

Peter Van Loan
Our view is we simply want the same treatment that others have received. For example, the member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, in 2004, received $16,132.93 from the Liberal Party to pay for advertising. Then after the campaign, she transferred back $16,132.93. It is the same—

Peter Van Loan
Mr. Speaker, the member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine just had an opportunity to get up and explain to the House her actions in 2004, where she accepted $16,000 from the Liberal Party, gave it back and then claimed a rebate on it. She did exactly what she says is criminal behaviour by the Conservative Party.
Guess what? She did that and now she claims it is wrong when we do it. That is our concern. We believe all parties should be treated the same. We believe this behaviour is legal, and we do not know why different standards should apply to different parties.

Peter Van Loan
Mr. Speaker, the member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine pointed out exactly the problem with the situation. Her return was cleared. The Liberal Party of Canada transferred $16,000, which she used on her campaign. She received it on May 29, 2004. She returned that $16,000 to the Liberal Party in October 2004 and she claimed a rebate from the taxpayers.
It is the exact same structure that has been used by all parties. We do not understand that when the Conservatives did it, it became inappropriate.

[Tom G]

Susan,how about following up on the LIBERAL scam Bob pointed out for you.Will it be the next BIG story for your liberal blog sorry i meant news paper

[M Bouchard]

Wow cons will not even concede they had their hand in the cookie jar. Yes it is the world against you poor conservatives. The point isn't the in out portion. It is the illegal attempt to (by bringing EC to court nonetheless) get the tax rebate after going over election spending limits. A deliberate attempt to steal the election by circumventing election finance spendings, then being so ballsy as to ask, no demand the 700,000 tax return being withheld because of going over the limit.

How dumb are you guys. Then you don't even keep your story straight for 48 hours. If you want to spin it, you better go back to your republican masters handbook that tell you to keep telling the same lie no matter what. But it's ok because you are making the inept Dion look prime ministerial these days and that is worth a laugh in itself.