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Friday, December 30, 2005
A simple answer to a simple question
Paul Martin is admitting that the PMO had significant advance knowledge of the decision not to tax income trusts, information that might have been leaked to select traders before the public announcement.
When asked whether someone in the PMO leaked the information, did Paul Martin say "No"?
"The fact is we are dealing with opposition allegations. And that's all we are dealing with. Opposition allegations during an election campaign," said Martin. "The RCMP obviously have a responsibility to follow up on matters such as this. That's their job."
What the...?
As I see it, there are three reasons to give such a tortured non-answer to such a basic and such an important question about the people he picked to work for him:
- He knows someone leaked.
- He suspects someone leaked.
- He knows his people well enough not to be fooled into thinking they weren't capable of committing a crime.
None of these are great options.
[Extended entry at Angry in the Great White North]
Posted by Steve Janke on December 30, 2005 | Permalink
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Comments
A further option is that Mr Martin is unable to be direct when bafflegab will suffice. He is a politician, with political instincts, and I emphasise the "stinks".
Posted by: Bean Counter | 2005-12-30 7:33:19 PM
Neat. Notice what Martin has done - he has deflected the CONTENT of the issue-and focused on an irrelevant side issue - of PROCESS.
Instead of dealing with the issue's CONTENT - a leak of information - he has said that the issue's PROCESS is important. The issue is a problem issue because it is an election tactic of the Opposition. If it weren't for the opposition and an election - according to Martin there would be no problem.
He's used this tactic frequently. He reduces the problem of an issue by totally diverting attention from the issue's content - and focusing on how that issue is processed. So, instead of dealing with allegations of corruption, he'll talk about how 'it is the duty of an Opposition to oppose'. Hah - so, the only reason for the corruption being talked is because that is the duty of the Opposition. To oppose.
And now - he's ignoring the content (leak from his office) and saying that it's a problem only because the Opposition is bringing it up as an election tactic. Neat.
Posted by: ET | 2005-12-30 7:46:19 PM
I agree with the idea that the leak came from the PMO. And Martan, I am sure knows exactly who it was. The profit from this leak where made just days before the writ was drop and as we all know donation made before the writ are not subject to the election act. Follow the money!!!! Who made big profit on the day and who made big donatition to the Liberal party just days before the election was called? Who are there friends and conectitions with those within the PMO? Put that together and shake the tree and see what falls out.
Posted by: Jonathan Hook | 2005-12-31 2:35:31 AM
I like ET's analysis, not least because it ascribes to Martin a will to decieve. Unlike his predecessor, Martin's not insane; he's fairly sharp, and he's enough of an elitist to want a finger in every pie. He therefore likely has some idea of what's going on in every major undertaking of his party, such as boosting the profits of supporters of his party, and also a natural interest in not seeing corruption (in which he necessarily participates) exposed.
I agree with Hook about following the money, but I'd cast the net wider. Check to see who made the good money off this announcement, and then check to see what all their contributions have been. Liberals do have a habit of sliding money to their long-term contributors.
Posted by: Tozetre | 2005-12-31 3:49:32 AM
This sounds like mafia tactics.
And guess what? Canadians are getting accustomed to that. Do they really care?
The Islamists are probably studying how they can get involved in the gimmick. Martin was just visiting a mosque. And remember that islamist who won the liberal nomination and said it is a victory for Islam (not Canada, who cares about Canada).
Posted by: Rémi houle | 2005-12-31 5:14:25 AM
Goodale Will Sing, er, Talk.
Goodale announces his first campaign photo-op.
When: Next Week.
Topic: Does Corruption/Crime Pay? Sub-topic: What is "trust"?
Where: In Wascana riding? Broad Street campaign office? Coffee shop? Legion Hall? Mosque?
Will it be a success? Will Goodale win votes? (Suggestion for Goody's campaign manager: Take copies of Martin's Red Book for distribution.)
Goodale will "allow" the RCMP to set the agenda. The haute noblesse oblige from the Liberal oligarchy. The grilling is "just talks". Donna worry, eh, Gag. Shades of Librano$$$$$$ >>>
Goodale Set For Talks With Mounties On Trusts
By SIMON TUCK
Friday, December 30, 2005 Posted at 7:10 PM EST
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Finance Minister Ralph Goodale says that he and other government officials are scheduled to meet with the RCMP next week as part of the criminal investigation into whether the federal government's plans for income trusts were leaked.
Mr. Goodale confirmed yesterday that he discussed the plans with "one or two senior" government officials outside his staff and the Department of Finance before announcing them Nov. 23, including Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Mr. Martin rallied behind his beleaguered Finance Minister for the second straight day, rejecting opposition demands that Mr. Goodale resign because of the criminal investigation into whether there was a leak or insider trading.
Mr. Goodale said he has no particular message for police and will allow investigators to set the agenda.>>>
globeandmail.com
Posted by: maz2 | 2005-12-31 5:26:54 AM
In a perfect world, we'd have RICO laws here in Canada, and we'd use them against our own government for racketeering, embezzlement, supporting organized crime etc.
Canada is not a perfect world.
RG
Posted by: RightGirl | 2005-12-31 7:38:46 AM
A rather obvious question for Goodale is whether his lawyer will be in attendance at the "meeting" with the RCMP.
Isn't it awfully big of him to "allow investigators to set the agenda?"
Posted by: Drained Brain | 2005-12-31 8:18:00 AM
Good Analysis ET - this is exactly what Matin has been doing for years. When are Canadians going to wake up and realize that the Liberano's, like the mafia, hold the minnions in contempt?
Posted by: jema54j | 2005-12-31 9:02:07 AM
The real crime is that your government is "managing" your investments for you, by dictating to you where you can put your money, who you must deal with, and how much of it they will allow you to keep if you are fortunate enough to make a profit.
Once the original crime has been committed, it is a given that all kinds of filthy shenanigans will result. There is no honest way of divvying up stolen money.
Will Alf sing like a bird and sell Fat Paulie down the river? Or will he keep his trap shut and do time in da joint so Mr. Big won't have him rubbed out? Stay tuned.
Posted by: Justzumgai | 2005-12-31 9:50:13 AM
Maybe the RCMP should ask Martin who received the brown envelopes...another question he has been avoiding. It came out that $60 grand went into Chretiens riding. Did Martins riding also receive one? Is this why he is avoiding the question? The opposition should keep pounding him on this issue. It is obvious we have Liberal MP`s that were elected with DIRTY MONEY...they should be exposed and charged with FRAUD! I don`t appreciate my tax dollars being stolen and used to elect Liberals!
Posted by: AlW | 2005-12-31 10:26:30 AM
Wonks and minions of Big Government profiting from capricious and pernicious political interference in free markets? Perish the thought! They joined government to help the people, not steal from them.
Well, then again:
[QUOTE]"I find economics increasingly satisfactory, and I think I am rather good at it. I want to manage a railroad or *organize*a*trust* or at least swindle the investing public" ... [British Treasury Department employee and future socialist economics guru John Maynard] Keynes had indeed set up his own “special fund” and had begun to make investments by July 1905. By 1914, Keynes was speculating heavily in the stock market and, by 1920, had accumulated £16,000 ... It is not clear at this point whether his fund was used for investment or for more speculative purposes, but we do know that his capital had increased by more than threefold.[ENDQUOTE]
I'm still a bit skeptical, because to pull off a scam as huge as ITScam it would require an absolute bumpkin to to be running Finance, and a know-nothing stuffed-shirt lawyer in the PM's chair. Or, a couple of rascals pretending to be a bumpkin and a know-nothing.
Either way, the only person I wish to trust with my income in the future, is myself.
Posted by: Justzumgai | 2005-12-31 11:34:59 AM
How many Martin "portfolio companies" profitedxis a beter question.
Posted by: WLMackenzie redux | 2005-12-31 2:00:13 PM
At least he doesn't want to break-up the country:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canadavotes2006/national/2005/12/31/elxn-goldring051231.html
Posted by: justin | 2005-12-31 6:26:39 PM
Did you happen to notice Sheila Copps’ column in the Toronto Sun today? She’s giving bloggers credit for staying with the Income Trust alleged leak story. She also has some interesting historical points that the RCMP should be interested in?
Posted by: ann | 2006-01-01 9:50:11 AM
That's right, Justin. Vote CPC or the whole country will be destroyed! if that sounds odd, why does it work for the Liberal Party?
Posted by: Scott | 2006-01-01 10:59:23 AM
3400 percent increase in one trust ,the day before the goodale announcement. wow! some liberals are trying to make a lot of coin before the taps get turned off.The r.c.m.p. should not be the people looking into this scandel.They have been in the control of the liberals for a very long time.The securities commission should get on this as fast as they can,because there is alot more here then just making the liberals look bad,it is important for a whole lot of economic reasons.I know that when people from around the world look at how canada is run ,it is rather embarassing but now the liberals have made it even worse by showing others that we don't even have proper checks and balances in place to control market manipulation.
Posted by: stan | 2006-01-01 6:57:17 PM
Another interesting observation about Canada's international reputation. If you go to www.news.google.ca and look for the stories related to Goodale and the Income Trust leak...click on all the stories...Look how many are picked up by international press (China, India, Australia, etc.)
Posted by: ann | 2006-01-01 8:33:08 PM
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