..... and the plot thickens!

PMO letter on Helena Guergis is released
By Tonda MacCharles
Ottawa Bureau
Thursday, May 10, 2012

OTTAWA—The letter that Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office fired off to the federal ethics commissioner that triggered Helena Guergis’ political woes was a straightforward referral of allegations that “she promised to advance private business interests,” the Star has learned.

Signed by Harper’s then-chief of staff Guy Giorno, the three-paragraph letter makes no mention of reports about partying with cocaine users or busty hookers, or any other outlandish behaviour.

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Nor does it mention that at the heart of the potential conflict-of-interest allegation was Guergis’ spouse Rahim Jaffer, a former Conservative MP.

Moreover, the letter, dated April 9, 2010, makes no explicit request of ethics allegation commissioner Mary Dawson, but outlines allegations “made by Mr. Derrick Snowdy” — a private investigator.

“In particular, Mr. Snowdy alleges that Ms. Guergis attended meetings at which she promised to advance private business interests. Mr. Snowdy makes additional allegations about the MP’s conduct, allegations that may or may not be relevant to her responsibilities under the Conflict of Interest Act and/or the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.”

It says Snowdy flagged concerns to the Conservative Party legal counsel (lawyer Arthur Hamilton) and says the PMO has no “first-hand knowledge” of the matter, nor did it communicate directly with Snowdy.

But Giorno suggests Snowdy claimed to have “collected evidence to corroborate his allegations,” and provides his phone number to Dawson’s office.

The letter has never before been released.

It was filed late Thursday in an Ottawa courtroom in support of Giorno’s motion to have a court toss out Guergis’ defamation lawsuit against him on grounds she has no basis for a claim.

That motion has been scheduled for July 19.

Guergis is suing Giorno along with Harper, Harper’s principal secretary Ray Novak, the party’s lawyer Hamilton, several other Conservative officials as well as Snowdy for defamation.

“With respect to the removal or resignation of Guergis from cabinet, the prime minister had an unfettered right to remove Guergis,” says the Giorno motion filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Her departure from cabinet was the subject of “Crown prerogative and/or parliamentary privilege,” Giorno claims.

“Guergis had no right to remain in cabinet. She could be removed at will by the prime minister.”

Guergis resigned from cabinet, and was turfed from Conservative caucus, sitting as an independent MP for a while. She lost her seat in the last federal election.

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