Something is beginning to be very obvious -- regardless of the truth or falsity of the allegations made, this story has been known for some time and kept on ice.
Note how long it has been since the alleged wrongdoing took place.
Note how the story broke just in time to try to stop a post Convention bounce.
Note how press releases were distributed instantly from a certain Cabinet minister's office.
Note how very well briefly the Conservatives are.
Now, none of that changes the fact that very serious allegations have been made; allegations that cannot be ignored.
My point is not that there is unfairness, or a "feeding frenzy" (there is but so what?); but observe the Conservative knew about the story for some time (how long? a week, a month, six months? doesn't matter) and sat on it until it would have the greatest possible impact.
My point is not "wicked Conservatives, how could they sit on a story"!
My point is that the Conservatives are very very very good at political games and are storing up materials; they play a long game.
Despite the blunder in November (which we Liberals did not, in fairness, play as well as we might), the Conservatives are still consumate political players.
They will find and play any weakness. The lesson is that we must expect the unexpected.
50 comments:
Sounds to me that you're bitter that the Liberals got caught with their hand in another scandal...yet again.
Doesn't the lack of morality in the Liberal party ever bother you folks?
One must ask if her mentor, Liberal MP Judy Sgro knew about this.
It's quite the pity when we all want good investigative reporting but only against the other guys.
"Doesn't the lack of morality in the Liberal party ever bother you folks?"
Doesn't the lack of morality ever bother the Conservatives? Not at all, because from top to bottom, Conservatives are immoral. Dishonesty, bad faith attacks, swarming and wilding over trivial issues are just habits for Conservatives, from top to bottom.
You embarrass Canadians. And you need to go.
Hear, Hear anon @ 10:06 a.m.!!!
Ah yes, the Judy Sgro thing.
I recall the CBC interview with a pious, radical Christian with glasses. A lady who stood tippy toe to rail against evil and connections to the dark underworld of...SEX! When told by the CBC the Ethics Commissioner exonerated Ms. Sgro and asked Diane Ablonczy if she would apoligise to Judy for all the vitriol and (as it turned out) inflamed lies, Diane ablonczy hemmed and hawed ever so briefly and refused to apologise; still hasn't todate. harperites are true to their roots; liars, mudslingers and, incompetent but foremost amongst their character flaws, hypcrites.
Ruby can expect to here slime for the rest of her career. Once Harperites start casting stones they do not stop.
The Liberals never should have dropped the Cadman matter. Harper abused our law and made a very public issue private by suing for libel. Not only was the overriding public interest subverted in the name of something as vague as reputation, but the Liberals showed that they are cowards subject to manipulation. No wonder Harper could also get away with the prorogation of Parliament. The Liberals traded away, and ran away, from big issues they could have attacked Harper over for months. Instead, they thought that a new leader would reset the playing field, forgetting that in politics, there are always skeletons in the closet.
As Morton said, the allegations are serious. I think though, that the workers in question need to be careful. I doubt that the Conservatives are their friends either.
With Iggy moving up in the polls, this attack makes sense.
That being said, I can't support anything other than full public disclosure on this. I hope that no politician pulls out libel law on this one; I also hope that some sort of authority is sought to make an unbiased, informed finding on the matters before us all. The press is no substitute for a finding of fact.
ridenrain said...
One must ask if her mentor, Liberal MP Judy Sgro knew about this.
__________________________________
The Star revealed Ms. Dhalla told Ms. Sgro all about the allegations at the Liberal convention and Ms. Sgro has been advising her since. In fact many Liberals knew about it at the convention.
Morton, thanks for keeping the Anonymous identity, I detest being labelled left or right, it serves the poli's, not the electorate.
Not bitter -- just noting the side point that the Conservatives are very good at this sort of thing. That doesnt mean they can work with nothing and if there is fire to the smoke then we need to act.
Anonymous 10:06...you're too funny! Calling the Conservatives immoral...doesn't Adscam ring a bell? Or how many golf course receipts have been written on a napkin by a serving PM?
Larry:
How does the immorality one person mean that another is moral???
The moral compass of the Conservatives, if they ever had one, is broken beyond repair.
How long has your leader known about the allegations Morton?
''In Vancouver for the Liberal convention last weekend,
Dhalla told Sgro the Star was about to publish a story about two former nannies and their allegations of abusive working conditions while employed by the Dhalla family.''
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/631023
Seems alot of people, of all stripes knew what was coming, and prepared for the storm.
It is laughable to say that the CPC influenced the Toronto Star to sit on the story until after the coronation!
Had Iffy had ANY political experience,
he would have got out infront of this story,
asked Ruby to take a leave from caucus as she dealt with her 'personal' difficulties.
Ted, your statement is contradictory to say the least.
Liberal morality can be called into questions as early as the 1980's when they invoked the NEP to alienate west against east. Or perhaps even the 1970's when they formed their alliance with the NDP and started this country into a debt we'll never retire. And why? All for political gain which may not be shocking in itself except the Liberal party now seems to thinks it's entitled to do what it wants and not have to answer for it.
Oh boy - the CPC trolls are out in full force (in and out (whoops that's a Con scandal, so to speak) on every Liberal blog.
You see, the Cons DO NOT respect Canadian values, nope, they do not believe in our values.
"INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY" is a Canadian value.
Wilson is just too, too funny. Spends all her time spewing old tiresome attack news. Wilson, perhaps your PM approved talking points should be updated.
You see, Cons are corrupt forever because the biggest corruption scandal was under the tenure of John A. MacDonald - Cons can never be trusted because of him.
What a pointless comment Sandi.
When did your leader know about the TorStar article?
Logic makes the CONspiracy theory highly debatable.
And inexperience will be your leader's demise.
Larry:
You are not making any sense.
Even if the Liberals were corrupt, some or every single last one of them, that in no way means the Conservatives are moral.
The reality is obviously clear that they are anything but:
- bribing MPs for their votes
- breaking campaign finance laws to spend over the allowable limit
- funnelling over 80% of government project spending into Conservative ridings
- breaking his own fixed election date law
etc.
No amount of past immorality by anyone clears Harper and the Conservatives of their corruption and wrongdoing.
"You see, the Cons DO NOT respect Canadian values, nope, they do not believe in our values."
Ah yeah, right. So what are Canadian values? Official bilingualism, multiculturalism, gay marriage?
Just asking...
P.S. Why is anyone, RuralSandi, who questions liberal doctrine considered a troll? Are you so myopic and anti-democratic that you can't tolerate a bit of a healthy debate? If so, that speaks volumes...
Plus, there's your last sentence that is so ridiculous, by any standard, that it almost defies comment...wow.
"No amount of past immorality by anyone clears Harper and the Conservatives of their corruption and wrongdoing."
Ted, I could comment on all your examples, including a Liberal predisposition for breaking their own financing laws, but...life is too short. Suffice to say that comments like those above reek of hypocracy considering the liberals own checkered past.
Ah, Wilson, you get my point. Most of your comments are pointless.
You are a Con partisan troller that spends an awful lot of time referring to old tiresome notes. Yawn
Ah, Wilson, you get my point. Most of your comments are pointless.
You are a Con partisan troller that spends an awful lot of time referring to old tiresome notes. Yawn
Larry - Ah yeah, right. So what are Canadian values? Official bilingualism, multiculturalism, gay marriage?
Bigot
"Bigot"
*LOL* @ RuralSandi
Typical...why aren't I surprised?
Larry:
They are only hypocritical if you can point to where I participated in any past wrongdoing of the Liberal Party or defended them. Don't bother looking because I never did either.
I really don't understand the Conservative-think on this: The Liberals were bad so we can do whatever the hell we want with government and taxpayer money to get and keep power.
Such high regard for the voters.
Apparently, this is getting more serious by the hour -
================================
"Intercede called Dhalla on behalf of Tongson, and Mason said she told the Liberal MP to give Tongson her passport back within 24 hours or she would call police."A Toronto agency [Intercede] that helps domestic workers says allegations of caregiver mistreatment levelled at Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla and her family are shining a light on a widespread problem.
Mason has said she didn't know at the time that she was dealing with a federal politician.http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hd1QZYYq3jbTAEUXwH9yasgCpvIA
================================
Why was Dhalla even holding the passports in the first place? What right did she have to them? Obviously, these allegation have not been made out of thin air at a moments notice by merely digruntled nannies. UH OH! :D
If these allegations are true, you basically have a multicultural critic engaged in slavery. I think it is fair to wait for the facts before assuming guilty. I would also wait for the facts before assuming she is not guilty as well.
Frankly these allegations come from the star and that leads me to believe they are accurate. Not exactly your pro-Conservative newspaper.
As for the comments that Conservatives have no moral compass, give your head a shake. If this is proven true, how stupid will the Liberal party look having a Liberal "rising star" that pays her illegal workers $1 an hour
Most of the media isn't even talking about this anymore. I think it was a pre-emptive strike in an attempt to draw attention over the Conservative Mulroney Schreiber scandal. This was saved for that reason - probably not the "post-convention bounce".
I think it failed, because there was NO mention of this on the "at issue" panel last night on CBC - and there are a couple of Conservative "fan boys" on that panel - Andrew Coyne in particular. He couldn't resist getting a shot in if the story was worth his comment. No... Mulroney Schreiber, and the Conservative reaction is more important. Also more important was an issue between Giourno (sp?) and a clerk of the Privy Council. I'm sure Coyne thought that a private matter in one MP's household is NOT a Party matter (she's resigned already), while happenings in the PMO are.
Dead story. We'll see some info when (or IF) the Labor Board is involved...
Wishful thinking Western Grit. Once the committee deals with this, like with Mulroney the story will be everywhere.
I also understand that Ruby is not saying the nannies are lying, she is just saying she personally didn't hire or supervise them. That is already proven to be a lie.
I think the media hasn't done much on this so far because it is inevitable that Dhalla is finished.
its a cultural thing. Dhalla probably grew up treating servants like sh*t. Why do people expect her to change? Multicultural my a**. Real Canadian values are not seen in the Fiberal Party.
Michael:
This does indeed get curiouser and curiouser.
Is the article saying that, after over a year, they are only now asking for their passports? That seems unlikely. Is the article saying that Intercede interceded a year ago? Poorly written article.
It is an interesting article too because it highlights what you folk are calling "slavery":
"Magdalene Gordo, 31, and Richelyn Tongson, 37, say their passports were also illegally withheld and that they had trouble getting paid, but Dhalla has denied the allegations.
A third caregiver, Lyle Alvarez, says she was also hired by Dhalla's family and claims she was severely overworked and underpaid as well.
Alvarez has said Dhalla promised she would try to help her stay in Canada as a live-in caregiver if she passed a tryout as a housekeeper.
Alvarez says that nine-day tryout included long hours scrubbing floors, cleaning clothes and shining dozens of pairs of shoes." So someone, maybe Dhalla, held her passport. If true, that is bad and probably illegal, but hardly slavery.
The rest? Their complaint is that they had to work hard and they had trouble getting paid (which implicitly confirms they in fact did eventually get paid).
And this is what brings the Conservative government to a standstill?
And you wonder why we accuse them of using this as a distraction from their own performance.
Considering she won "Worst MP to work for" in the Hill Times this year; one has to wonder why the situation at home would be any different?
'Cause it's not her home?
There is no way she is guilty. She is a Liberal.
I didn't know the Liberals added slavery to the list of Canadian values.
It's delicious irony that Iggy made an official statement that Harper must do more to deal with Human Trafficking before the 2011 Olympics.
So... hired as "housekeepers" (I'm quoting), they scrubbed floors and cleaned - during a short trial period. They claim they had "trouble getting paid". They WERE paid.
The only thing that I can see that may be an issue is the passport thing. Either way, this is a domestic labor dispute... NOT the leaking of Finance Dept. info (Flaherty), the attempted bribery of a sitting MP, or the buying off of a Conservative PM (allegedly Mulroney - who has admitted to taking the money).
I'm sorry, but you Cons will try your smoke and mirrors routine, but Dhalla purportedly being guilty of a labor code violation is NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THOSE OTHER CONSERVATIVE SCANDALS.
Nice try, but the Mulroney scandal, and the Garth Turner book are having a bigger effect on public opinion. Even the public see the Dhalla thing as a personal household matter (not even HER home, and certainly not one she spends much time at - I know this).
Do you really think we'd ever see this behavior from the NDP???
re:
"Do you really think we'd ever see this behavior from the NDP???"
>>>probably, but would anyone care??
From the wires; Howard Levitt, known as HowiWowi is a wrongful dismissal lawyer; he doesnt know FA about this stuff
A lawyer representing embattled Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla said the allegation levelled at her and her family of mistreating foreign workers they hired as domestic workers is a travesty and suggested it was part of an organized campaign by Ms. Dhalla's political opponents to discredit her.
"Whoever has decided to target her has made a grievous error," said lawyer Howard Levitt. "The allegations are absolute nonsense."
In fairness, Howard Levitt is a very prominent and respected Bay Street lawyer at a big law firm. He is best known for wrongful dismissal work but he is a very competent civil litigator generally. Subject only to not being as good as me (joke) he is a leading Canadian counsel
Morton with all due respect, Ruby Dhalla would never hire a lawyer for counsel unless she needed to.
She is a shame to Canada and this is the best the Liberal party can offer.
Until Ruby Dhalla is found guilty, she is INNOCENT!!I agree with James in that the timing seems suspicious.
As for the CONS, don't talk to us about scandals...you have your own to deal with:
1) In/Out scandal (which is still before the courts)
2)Cadman affair (my guess is Harper was going to lose his lawsuit...still too many unanswered questions)
3) Fixed elections...(what a waste of $300 million)
4) No recession..possible recession..recession..severe recession...Make up your minds!!
5) Infrastructure spending...I'll guess that over 90% will be in Con ridings...Where's the support for the rest of Canada?
6) Cons, how come Omar Khadr hasn't been returned to Canada even though the courst have told the gov't to bring him home?
7) Why doesn't Harper have a plan to get reduce the deficit...they reduce taxes but are excellent at increasing the federal deficit (I can't take credit for this...one of the bloggers posted this this morning but I can'r locate who it is...sorry)
She got the job because shes muslim. Martin put her in over a good candidate Cania because he was white. What can you expect if you hire somebody because of their colour!
Anon,
Andrew Kania is still white -- and he is an MP and a good guy.
Ruby Dhalla, is Sikh and not Muslim. Not that such a point makes any difference -- I comment simply to be accurate.
In that spirit I note Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak Dev, who was born in 1469 to a Hindu family.
After a series of pilgrimages to Tibet, Sri Lanka, Bengal and Mecca, he began emphasizing that religion should become the basis for bringing people together rather than driving them apart. He was particularly concerned about the conflict between Hindus and Muslims in India.
His most famous saying is, "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim, so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow the path of God."
james
"She got the job because shes muslim. Martin put her in over a good candidate Cania because he was white. What can you expect if you hire somebody because of their colour!"
Charming. Now we have racists making nasty comments.
Mr Morton
AS a lawyer deal with the issuea. No work permits. Slave wages. Holding passport.
As a political commentator don't talk so stupid. Nobody sat on the story except the Star. Tories would want the story out on the eve of the convention, not after it's over.
Anon (6:06)
You've already convicted her without all the evidence coming forward...
Until ALL evidence comes forward, she is innocent and besides, what ACTUAL evidence do you have to convict her?
Go read here:
http://bcinto.blogspot.com/2009/05/ruby-dhalla-fires-back.html
Quite a different story which the media is still not reporting. Thanks Jeff.
It would have cost the Dhalla family a lot less to pay the nannies a fair wage,
than this high priced lawyer is going to charge.
When Judy Sgro was going thru StripperGate, again an immigrant issue, wasn't she asked to leave caucus until cleared of wrong doing?
I believed she was innocent until she had a lawyer promote conspiracy theories. Who do you think the next nominee will be from Brampton-Springdale?
She is guilty. Her testimony today did nothing to clear her name.
And you know this because you had a secret hidden camera in her mother's house and saw it all?
Interesting to note that Jason Kenney met with the advocate for Dhalla's mother's former nannies, Pura Valesco, the day before the meeting with the Ontario Ministry of Labour (she's the one in the pink scarf).
Just some more facts that make one go "hmmmmmm" about this whole thing.
Kenney also met with her on Apr. 16th.
http://bigcitylib.blogspot.com/2009/05/more-on-ruby-dhalla-travels-of-ms.html
Post a Comment