2125...Damned If U Do Damned If You Are Guergis

Either she did not do enough as a Minister or she did too much. Bad enough her desk has been put out in the hall and, because she had her bathroom key taken away, she has to walk to the Zeller's on Sparks Street to go to the loo.

Now this.

Libby Davis, MP, Député
Vancouver - East
House Leader, New Democratic Party
Leader à la Chmabre, Nouveau Parti Démocratique


April 16, 2010


Mary Dawson
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Parliament of Canada
66 Slater Street, 22nd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

Ms. Dawson,

I write to you today to formally request that you investigate the conduct of the Honourable Helena Guergis, former
Minister of State (Status of Women). It appears that Ms. Guergis, while a cabinet minister and Member of
Parliament, may have violated Article 9 of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of Parliament, Section 4 of the
Conflict of Interest Act and perhaps other applicable statutes.

Article 9 of the Code. A Member shall not use his or her position as a Member to influence a decision
of another person so as to further the Member's private interests or those of a member of his or her
family, or to improperly further another person's or entity's private interests.

Section 4 of the Act. For the purposes of this Act, a public office holder is in a conflict of interest
when he or she exercises an official power, duty or function that provides an opportunity to further his
or her private interests or those of his or her relatives or friends or to improperly further another
person's private interests.

On April 16 2008, an article by Kevin Donovan in The Toronto Star newspaper reported that Ms. Guergis wrote in
September 2009 to a municipal official on behalf of Wright Tech Systems, in her words to "encourage [him] to
consider [Wright's] presentation about alternative waste management technology."

The Star has reported on the business relationship between Ms. Guergis' spouse, former Member of Parliament and
Conservative Caucus Chair Rahim Jaffer, Toronto area businessman Nizam Gillani, and Wright Tech Systems. It
appears that Ms. Guergis and her family had a private interest in Wright Tech Systems and that Ms. Guergis'
promotion of the company could have furthered the interests of her and her family.

This would appear to be in direct conflict with the Code, and I formally request that you investigate.

I am at your disposal to provide any further information, as required.

Sincerely,

[original signed by]
Libby Davies, MP

Attached: Toronto Star article of 16 April 2010, page A1

Of course take this with both a grain of salt and a bit of jealous. Right letters all you want Dipper Davies [Davis, Davis, it is D A V I S] but you ain't influencing squat.

WFDS