Canada: Election chatter grows amid talk of devastating Gomery testimony( Testimony banned)

Canadian Press ^ | 03/01/05 | Alexander Panetta

[Pikamax]

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=8c66f0f3-82c8-4d29-aa29-e57eb0843a25


Former ad executive weeps during Gomery testimony
MONTREAL - Former advertising executive Jean Brault broke down in tears on the witness stand at the Gomery Commission yesterday. It occurred in mid-afternoon as Mr. Brault was being grilled by the inquiry's chief counsel, Bernard Roy.


The line of questioning cannot be reported because Mr. Brault's testimony is subject to a publication ban imposed by inquiry Judge John Gomery on testimony by Mr. Brault and two other scheduled witnesses, who face criminal charges in connection with the sponsorship affair and whose trials are scheduled to begin early next month. Mr. Brault owned Groupaction, named in the affair that saw $100-million of the $250-million sponsorship program funding paid to Quebec advertising and communications firms with close ties to the Liberal party.


Mr. Brault appeared to tire under the relentless questioning as the day wore on, and at one point buried his head in his hands and began weeping. He is scheduled to resume testifying today. The incident came just before the commission's regular mid-afternoon break, which the judge then called.

After a 20-minute respite, a composed Brault returned to the stand and resumed his testimony. The publication ban was imposed because media coverage of the inquiry could make it impossible to find an unbiased jury for Brault's trial if his testimony is publicized in advance.

[goldstategop]

It was never about saving Canada. It was all about lining the pockets of the federal Liberals and their friends. They lost their standing in French Canada. Now how much lower can they fall in the eyes of English Canada once the sordid details come out?

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[furquhart]

Friends. If you've got a ping list, we're going to need your help on this one.

If you're from the US, that is.

On Monday, the opposition is going to raise the issue on the floor of the House of Commons (where they have immunity from prosecution for what they say). We need it to be publicized by US sources.

If you've got a blog, post what they say. And here, too.

[Fenris6]

If you've got a ping list, we're going to need your help on this one.

I hear the buzzing of an approaching blog swarm

[Tribune7]

Whatever we can do let us know. Bumping for the morning.

[conservative in nyc]

Why is there a publication ban on testimony that may topple the government? What would happen if Fox News just happened to report on the testimony and this stupid ban?

What are the Liberals afraid of? Why can't they stand up and act like men (and women) instead of hiding behind their daddy's robe?

Here's hoping the government falls and the Conservative Party makes enough inroads in Ontario to win a clear majority. It's going to be tough, though, since they'll win nothing in Quebec and little in Atlantic Canada.

[geedee]

"The new testimony at the Gomery inquiry cannot be revealed because of a publication ban but is considered so devastating to the Liberal government that it has all parties looking at election scenarios."

Someone help out this stupid 'ol Texan. I've never comprende'd this Parliamentary Crapola as a form of government and have yet to have it explained to me just how it actually HELPS the citizens of said country.

It looks to me like all it does is allow those in the minority to rule those in the majority without their consent. For example . . . let's say the Conservatives get 49.9% of the vote, or seats, or MP's, or however in the hell these things are measured . . . and the rest of the pervert parties total 50.1%. Can't the PP's band together and form a government and leave the Conservatives out in the cold?

Then when they do something unpopular or wrong or, hell, even illegal . . . can they really just issue a "publication ban" and the info is kept from the people? Hell's fire . . . that sounds like what our Democrats do with the help of the MSM . . . see the Democrat's computer notes on stopping certain judges from being voted on for example. Instead of the Democrats being pilloried for their unconstitutional actions, it was the Republicans who were pilloried by the MSM because . . . gasp . . . they actually read the memos that were on an unprotected server.

But I'm getting off the subject . . .

Another aspect of this Parliamentary crap is it provides insulation for the weasels where, in actuality, they're accountable to no one. Our Canadian Conservative Brethren complain all the time about how difficult it is for them to make wholesale changes. Here . . . we work our asses off and every two years we can start to whittle our enemies down to size.

Why in the hell would ANY citizen or country want to be part of a Parliamentary system? I'm older'n dirt . . . and I've been asking this question my whole, stupid life. Forgive me, I just don't comprende.

[Straight Vermonter]

Can you give us a precis of what this scandal is all about?

[goldstategop]

Parliament is responsible to the voters and in turn the Cabinet is chosen from among the Members Of The House Of Commons who are collectively responsible to the House. This is the basic principle of parliamentary government. Every act is done in the Name Of The Queen with the advice of Her Ministers but the authority for it flows directly from the people. In the parliamentary system of government, the executive and legislative power is united. This means that through an election, one party will be chosen to lead the Government and the country and it will be held accountable through Parliament for its policies.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[goldstategop]

The Ad-Scam scandal was supposedly about the federal Liberal Government using public funds to help defeat a separatist referendum in Quebec. In reality, thanks to its name, it turned out to be a scam that lined the pockets of people in Quebec advertising agencies and other bodies connected to the Liberal Party. What it was about was not saving the country from breaking up, but providing the federal Liberals and their friends with ill gotten lucre. There's been nothing like it in Canadian history, unless you recall the Saskatchewan scandal that destroyed the provincial Progressive Conservative Party.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Straight Vermonter]

Thanks.

[Conservative Infidel]

Why is there a publication ban on testimony that may topple the government? What would happen if Fox News just happened to report on the testimony and this stupid ban?

I concur. Whenever a gag order is issued on proceedings in the USA, all the media outlets throughout the world are publishing the lurid details. Or is this another shining example of the world wide liberal press protecting their own (liberal politicians)?

[spanalot]

Here is an interesting post that was found on 'small dead animals' with a HT to Instapundit.

Leftist Despots, Drugs, prostitution, graft, organized crime permeating this leftist scourge of North America.

Is it a surprise that Canada also gave us the first concentration camps?

http://www.infoukes.com/history/internment/gulag/

---

Let me add these to the pile:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_file/story/253857p-217343c.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/11-22-2004/news/story/255098p-218457c.html
http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/027_2004-11-18/han027_1415-E.htm
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/11/18/alfonosogagliano041118.html

Posted by: Sean at April 2, 2005 06:06 AM

[NorthOf45]

... and little in Atlantic Canada.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

[Heartofsong83]

Assuming they win 80 seats in the West (out of 92 possible seats), they would likely need to win at least 60 seats in Ontario and 10 in Atlantic Canada to be within striking distance of a majority (with 150 seats, they could use a few Liberal-in-name-only backbenchers to push their agenda unless Mr. Dithers uses the heavy hammer). That means their voice needs to resonate in the suburban 905 area code around Toronto and in northern Ontario. Some Liberal seats going NDP wouldn't hurt them either...

[fanfan]

Hi Meekie,
Could you put out a general ping for this? It's going to be a juicy week/weekend, and we may get a Consevative government up here yet! Thanks, and see post #4.

[MeekOneGOP]

Pinging my General Interest and Canada list here.

Canada: Election chatter grows amid
talk of devastating Gomery testimony
(Testimony banned)

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[fanfan]

Thanks, Meekie.

There are also a couple of interesting threads on FreeDominion.ca

Here's an assessment of the current situation... 04/ 02/ 05 1:54 pm springer,

New Gomery testimony spurs talk of election [ 1 ... 4, 5, 6 ] 04/ 01/ 05 6:09 pm Gabby Jay

Election time? [ 1, 2 ] 04/ 02/ 05 7:17 am karadjos

[JudyinCanada]

Hi fanfan....

I must advise all Canadian Freepers to temper any excitement or high hopes.

This bunch of arrogant, thieving, lying, crooked snakes will retain power against all odds.

They are the mob. No matter how many scandals they have chalked up against them, Canadians don't seem to mind.

It is stunning how they are continually voted into power. But then, with the entire media operation up here as pro-liberal as they are anti-conservative, it is little wonder.

Mr. Harper will immediately be painted as a right-wing, religious, fanatical nut, anxious to join America and send Canada's young people overseas to be killed in "America's" war. This was the line that went out during the two weeks prior to the last election, and it worked.

Sorry to rain on any parades, but I keep my optimism in check up here.