Partisan cheques put Conservative MPs in hot water

Harper's problem here is his caucus.

Conservative MPs will naturally try to link the payments to the Conservative Party -- hardly surprising.

But their method is so heavy handed as to be problematic. It also underlines the apparent favouritism in distribution of stimulus funds.

That said, the story is getting big(ish) play mainly because it has good photos to illustrate it.


Partisan cheques put Tories in hot water

John Ibbitson
Ottawa— The Globe and Mail

The Prime Minister's Office is warning Tory MPs to behave, after one their ranks swapped the Government of Canada logo with the Conservative Party logo while presenting a ceremonial cheque.

Gerald Keddy, the MP for South Shore-St. Margaret's, recently delivered one of those oversized cheques that politicians love to be photographed handing over to grateful constituents. In this case it was for $300,000, from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, for an upgrade to a rink in Chester, a community in Mr. Keddy's Nova Scotia riding.

But his own signature, rather than the relevant minister's, was on the cheque, and the Conservative Party logo was prominently displayed where the Government of Canada logo should have been.
...

The Prime Minister's Office agrees. Dimitri Soudas, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, described Mr. Keddy's actions as "inappropriate."

"Announcements by Members of Parliament of any political stripe are there for the benefit of all Canadians," he said in an interview.

The PMO sent a letter to all Conservative MPs Wednesday reminding them that. "tax-funded projects and grants MUST be announced as Government initiatives, not Conservative Party initiatives.

Full story here: http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/partisan-cheques-put-tories-in-hot-water/article1323521/?service=mobile
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