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Canada: Banned sponsorship testimony on U.S. weblogs
CTV ^ | 04/03/05 | CTV

Posted on 04/03/2005 7:56:46 PM PDT by Pikamax

Banned sponsorship testimony on U.S. weblogs

Jean Brault in 2004

CTV.ca News Staff

Updated: Sun. Apr. 3 2005 10:18 PM ET

Some of the so-called explosive testimony from the Gomery Inquiry that Canadians aren't supposed to see has found its way onto U.S. political weblogs.

On a U.S. weblog, the anonymous author said this about his source: "For obvious reasons, I cannot reveal this person's name or position, but this person is in a position to have the information. Bear in mind that this comes from a single source, so while I have confidence in the information, you should consider the sourcing carefully."

The testimony of some witnesses has been blocked from publication by Justice John Gomery in an attempt to protect their rights to a fair trial.

Three people criminally charged in the sponsorship scandal -- Jean Brault of Groupaction, Paul Coffin of Coffin Communications and former civil servant Chuck Guite -- are scheduled to go to trial this spring.

Brault testified before the inquiry on Thursday. His lawyers are asking to have his trial delayed until September. A decision on that is expected Wednesday. If it is granted, the media and opposition may push to have the ban lifted.

Even with the ban, as more and more opposition MPs are becoming aware of the testimony, what they are hearing has some thinking it could be enough to bring down the Liberal government.

"Members of Parliament say this dramatic testimony goes to the heart of the way the Liberal Party machine operated in Quebec under Jean Chretien and his Quebec lieutenant, Alfonso Gagliano," Fife said.

On CTV's Question Period, NDP Leader Jack Layton said Sunday the revelations are damning.

"There certainly seems to be an atmosphere of real disturbance because we've been waiting for Liberal corruption to be exposed, and perhaps we're on the threshold of seeing the dimensions of it."

At a Montreal rally for his supporters, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe told them to be ready for an election.

He also called for the Quebec wing of the federal Liberal Party of Canada to start a trust fund to repay Canadian taxpayers for money allegedly misspent in the sponsorship scandal.

"We think it's time to make sure that they'll have enough money to reimburse. Why don't you start now?" he asked rhetorically.

Despite the damaging allegations, the Conservatives aren't pushing for an election anytime soon.

"Will there be a non-confidence motion next week? I doubt it," said Deputy Conservative Leader Peter MacKay said on Question Period.

Layton was also reluctant to see an election at this time, saying, he'd rather see Parliament keep sitting.

The Conservatives form the official opposition with 99 seats. The Bloc has 54 and the NDP has 19. The Liberals have 133.

Unless a large group of Liberals turns on their own party, any move to defeat the Liberals depends on the Conservatives.

The Prime Minister's Office released a statement Sunday hoping the opposition parties would wait for the Gomery inquiry to finish before triggering an election.

Fife said some Liberals say privately that some individuals identified by Brault are vigorously denying his allegations.

With reports from CTV's Rosemary Thompson and Robert Fife


TOPICS: Canada; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: adscam; canuckistan; corruption; weblogs
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1 posted on 04/03/2005 7:56:47 PM PDT by Pikamax
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To: Pikamax

I had to read the headline 3 times before I realized it was a BUAHAHAHAHA!!


2 posted on 04/03/2005 7:58:38 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (First you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women (HJ Simpson))
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To: Pikamax; Clive

Read all about it!

http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/


3 posted on 04/03/2005 8:31:58 PM PDT by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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To: freedumb2003

Looks like elections in Canada in 3 months. Summer holiday season. About time a Canadian politician had to work a summer.


4 posted on 04/03/2005 9:21:22 PM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: Nathan Zachary

Hopefully in the spring - when turnout would be higher...a low turnout would only benefit those corrupt Fiberals...


5 posted on 04/03/2005 9:24:47 PM PDT by Heartofsong83
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To: Allan

Bump


6 posted on 04/03/2005 9:28:50 PM PDT by Allan
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To: Heartofsong83

What isn't it spring now?

as long as it's during the time when all those unionists are working their summer jobs on the flooway expansion project.
They won't have time to vote.

I was reading the Captains page, some guy said "Canadians are actually centerist". LMAO yea, if you live in Manitoba because it's in the center of the country. Let's hope the conservatives kick butt this time. Then what will all those lefty's who want to run away going to do?


7 posted on 04/03/2005 9:50:03 PM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: headsonpikes; Mitchell; Shermy; ARridgerunner
This story is getting amazing.

Apparently
Canadian authorities are considering charging Canadian websites
that even link to the American site
Captain's Quarters
with contempt of court!!

8 posted on 04/03/2005 11:53:59 PM PDT by Allan
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To: Allan

To be fair, I think that they're saying that anyone who "reproduces" the information, as in quotes from it, can be charged.

I doubt if they will be.


9 posted on 04/04/2005 12:50:23 AM PDT by furquhart (Peace? But there is no peace!)
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To: Nathan Zachary
They'll probably drop the writ for June but its more likely there'll be an election in September.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
10 posted on 04/04/2005 12:58:24 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: furquhart
That's not the way I read it.
Read the first two paragraphs again.
It says the (unnamed Canadian web site) promoted the US site
(Captain's Quarters)
not that it quoted from it.

You must realize what the climate is like in Canada.
Canadian bloggers are being cautioned not even to link to Captain's Quarters.

11 posted on 04/04/2005 1:00:54 AM PDT by Allan
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To: furquhart

PS:

This is the country
that during a famous previous publication ban
searched returning Canadians
at the US border
to make sure they were not carrying US newspapers.

I kid you not.


12 posted on 04/04/2005 1:17:21 AM PDT by Allan
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To: furquhart; Mitchell; Shermy; ARridgerunner
Further update:

I think that they're saying
that anyone who "reproduces" the information
as in quotes from it
can be charged.

No. This is not the case. To quote from the article I linked above:

"Inquiry official Francois Perreault voiced shock at the publication ban breach
and said the commission co-counsel Bernard Roy and Justice John Gomery will decide today
whether to charge the Canadian website owner with contempt of court."

The website in question would be Neale News
which is a Canadian news site
very similar in style to the Drudge Report.
that is
with links to articles
not quotations from the articles themselves.

13 posted on 04/04/2005 2:02:59 AM PDT by Allan
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To: Pikamax

Hey, government I just read the webblog and every detail of it. Come and get me now. :)


14 posted on 04/04/2005 5:34:58 AM PDT by youngtory (The Conservative Party of Canada is no longer conservative all thanks to Harper.)
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To: youngtory
LOL.

I thought our prisons were over crowded. Where are they going to put us all?

15 posted on 04/04/2005 6:17:27 AM PDT by fanfan (" The liberal party is not corrupt " Prime Minister Paul Martin)
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To: fanfan
I thought our prisons were over crowded. Where are they going to put us all?

I could only wish that fanfan was a Liberal bagman pondering justice, instead of just another poor put-upon canucklehead! LOL!

Heads On Pikes!!!

16 posted on 04/04/2005 6:28:03 AM PDT by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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To: Allan

I think you are spoofin' the old perfesser. I buy USA today at the corner store and get all the U.S. television news including Fox.


17 posted on 04/04/2005 10:26:36 AM PDT by albertabound (It's good to beeeee Albertabound.)
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To: albertabound

I gather you are too young
to remember the ban on the Homolka trial news
and Canadians returning at Niagara Falls were searched
to make sure they were not carrying the Buffalo newspapers.


18 posted on 04/04/2005 10:37:17 AM PDT by Allan
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To: Allan

I have it one excellent authority that the Conservative Party is mobilizing and on "Red Alert." Campaign HQ's are being rented as we speak and lawn signs are being dusted off.

Cynically I think the impact of AdScam is overblown. You must remember that even if the Prime Minister was caught molesting a young boy the Liberals would get at a minimum 30% of the vote. I kid you not. That is how entranched the Liberals are. It really is as the underlying factor very deep the base of the Liberal Party. The Liberal base is very staunch in its support. We are talking about the usual suspects.

About 25% of Canadians are Marxists, just look up "Canadian Healthcare" on Wikimedia. 30% are Liberal Party "centrists" and about 10% are NDP hard socialists. About 20% of Canadians are Conservative (my the Canadian definition, more Libertarian than US conservatives) and about only 10% of Canada are American style conservatives.


19 posted on 04/04/2005 4:00:56 PM PDT by rasblue
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To: rasblue

Your estimate of conservatives is way too high.

Only 15% of Canadians (if that) are conservative by any definition.

Most Canadians who ever vote conservative just want the liberals without the name.


20 posted on 04/04/2005 5:05:09 PM PDT by Allan
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