Biography of B.C. MP drops political bombshell
The upcoming biography of the late Chuck Cadman, the independent MP from B.C. who held the deciding vote on the 2005 Liberal government’s budget, contains a political bombshell in the form of accusations that Cadman was offered a $1-million life insurance policy by representatives of the Conservative Party to vote with them.
From The Globe and Mail:
The widow of former B.C. MP Chuck Cadman says two Conservative Party officials offered her husband a million-dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his vote to bring down the Liberal government in May of 2005.
The offer, which was summarily rejected by the dying man, is outlined in a biography of Mr. Cadman by Vancouver journalist Tom Zytaruk that is due to be released on March 14. A copy of the manuscript, including an introduction by former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin, has been obtained by The Globe and Mail.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is quoted in the book, Like a Rock: The Chuck Cadman Story, as confirming that a visit took place, and that officials were “legitimately” representing the Conservative Party. But he says any offer to Mr. Cadman was only to defray losses he might incur in an election.
Like a Rock: The Chuck Cadman Story is published by Harbour Publishing.
These new Tories sure are a cheap bunch. You might be able to buy a Prime Minister for that little but not a dying, sitting member of Parliament. I feel so ennobled by Cadman’s last stand. He managed to save old Paul another 33 seconds of power. I want to meet the insurance agent that would sign that policy.
The Tories are a cheap bunch. So are the Liberals. Public amnesia has set it. The vote didn’t initially turn on Chuck Cadman’s vote. It began when Belinda Stronach crossed the floor and vote in line with Paul Martin — in exchange for a Cabinet position.
Note: It is illegal in Canada to offer — or accept — financial or material benefits in exchange for one’s vote in the House. There should absolutely be a criminal investigation into the Cadman allegations. There should also be a criminal investigation into the Liberals and the arrangement they made with Belinda Stronach. (Ironically, the Conservatives failed in their attempt. The Liberals succeeded. So it’s a bit rich to see the Liberals getting all hot and bothered now over a vote they helped subvert.)
Um is conveniently forgetting the David Emerson deal, which stands as the most sordid pol. manoeuvre of recent times. And it punctuated the beginning of the shiny, new, incorruptible government’s term in office.
I’m no Liberal apologist (and I would agree that the Libs look pretty silly getting all hot and bothered over these types of things), but Stronach had other, well-documented motivations for crossing the floor. Yes, she waltzed into a cabinet position, but keep in mind that BS knew there was a pretty good chance she wouldn’t be in that portfolio for long. By the time of the confidence vote, Mr. Dithers’ regime was just waiting for the last light push off the roof’s edge. I agree that both major parties have been playing this stupid game of gotcha for too many years. Dion is really bad at it and he merely dabbles in the hijinks when he’s not too busy trying to sound high-minded.
Bottom line: Harper has played underhanded enough that he’s deserving of one last gotcha swipe.
The Emerson deal may have been cynical, underhanded even. It wasn’t illegal. MPs can change parties whenever they like and can be rewarded for it. Scott Brison did the same exact thing.
What they can’t do is barter their vote in the House for “clear and immediate” reward. Belinda did just that. She could have easily abstained or voted against the confidence motion as an independent. She didn’t. She switched parties, voted to keep the government afloat and was rewarded with a Cabinet posting. It’s not the same thing as Emerson moving to the Conservatives or Scott Brison moving to the Liberals.
Emerson and Brison’s moves were self-serving, cynical, slimy even. But they did not break any laws or even any parliamentary ethics codes. (Hard to believe, but true.) From the sponsorship scandal kickback scheme to Belinda and Brison, from Emerson to Cadman, neither the Liberals nor the Tories hold the moral high ground.
But enough of that. This is a book forum, and I have to say — in the best possible way — that this must be thrilling for the publisher, not to mention the author. You can’t buy that sort of publicity.