Monday, May 27, 2002
A cabinet too comfortable - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- The Canadian cabinet was shuffled Sunday, much to the surprise of political watchers in this country. Rumours really began to hit Sunday afternoon, after the Ottawa Citizen milked the story that Defence minister Art Eggleton’s ministry had given an untendered contract to an old girlfriend of the minister. By Sunday afternoon, at Rideau Hall John McCallum was elevated to National Defence minister whilst the also scandal ridden Don Boudria had been demoted back to his old slot as Government House Leader.
Jean Chrétien liked to boast heretofore that none of his cabinet ministers had ever resigned due to scandal or conflict-of-interest. After nine years something had to give and the Defence minister had to resign. But prior to Eggleton’s resignation, the other cabinet minister that felt his feet to the fire last week was the Public Works minister, Don Boudria. Long-time Government House Leader Boudria was shuffled to the Public Works post following last January’s debacle with his predecessor Alfonso Gagliano and his handling of ministerial business. Then, Gagliano was facing a ton of pressure to step down after it was revealed he tried to sway a crown corporation to hire a supporter of his. Well, since Gagliano was a loyal Chrétien supporter, the Prime Minister sent his disgraced cabinet minister to a sinecure as Ambassador to Denmark. Less than five months later the new Public Works minister is in hot water over spending the night at a chalet that was owned by someone who just happened to benefit from getting a contract from the so said ministry. Boudria’s son Daniel (a policy wonk for Sheila Copps at Canadian Heritage), had treated his father to a night at the chalet in late March, paying the sum of $800.00. However, the check hadn’t been cashed until less than two weeks ago. The conflict was apparent and Boudria was on his feet last week defending himself. Even concocting a melodramatic response to an opposition question, presenting an affidavit from a parish priest (!) sitting down sombre in the House, as his colleagues jumped to their feet in applause.
But Sunday, it wasn’t Boudria who was turfed from cabinet, though he did get a visible demotion to the House leadership. Art Eggleton, a former mayor of Toronto who was appointed by the Prime Minister to run in 1993, had undistinguished himself as Defence minister this past winter over his handling of the department. Seems the Minister had mislead the House on our troops in Afghanistan and was on the chopping block then. It got to the point where the Citizen piece this weekend sealed his fate. A ministry contract to study Post Traumatic Stress Disorder amongst our fighting men and women, went to an old girlfriend of Eggleton’s and he couldn’t get the story straight when asked about it. The minister had said the hiring of his old gal pal was merely a decision made by staff. Yet when asked, Maggie Maier the flame in question, had said the minister was involved to the point where he encouraged her to seek the untendered contract. Well, the shit hit the proverbial fan and the Prime Minister consulted his personal Ethics Counsellor Howard Wilson and came the verdict that Defence minister Eggleton did have egg on his face. The conflict-of-interest was so apparent that his time in cabinet was cracked and he was forced to offer up his resignation to the Prime Minister.
It hasn’t been a good year for Jean Chrétien. He finally admits that people in his party have become lazy and “too comfortable”. The Liberal government has let the job get to their head and Chrétien has admitted his record has been tarnished. No longer is the Liberal government squeaky clean.
Yes, in the wake of the Gagliano affair, and the fact the Canadian people believe that politicians are corrupt, Chrétien is on his feet trying to work at fixing these slights. This past week he announced that a code of conduct for MPs and Senators was being drawn up, and that rules would be established for individuals unofficially trying to succeed him. The once proud Chrétien who spoke to Canadians ‘straight from the heart’ is now forced to act. This shuffle is evidence that the Prime Minister is facing the heat, and complacency must be curtailed.
John McCallum, the former chief economist for the Royal Bank, and perhaps the star candidate of the 2000 election moved from a junior cabinet post (International Financial Institutions) to the senior post of National Defence. Manitoba cabinet minister Ray Pagatakhan of Veterans Affairs, also takes on responsibility for Science, Research and Development. The former Secretary of State for Science and Research, Maurizio Bevilacqua moves to McCallum’s old slot, which is curious considering he’s been an MP for 13 years, whilst McCallum’s only been in Parliament for less than three and gets the senior post. Jean Augustine, who had been a backbench MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs committee, where Alfonso Gagliano himself, made a riotous appearance in March, was named Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women. With her appointment, Chrétien signals his wariness for the lack of women that participated in January’s cabinet shuffle. Boudria switches spots with his successor as House Leader, Ralph Goodale. The Saskatchewan MP becomes minister of Liberal largesse.
Liberal corruption is alive and well. Jean Chrétien is trying many cosmetic and public relation schemes to stem that stigma. We will have to see if it works, but my guess is that nothing will change, and the Grits will be arrogant still. At least Chrétien is trying and for the moment he should be commended for such petty progress. He certainly needs to do more.
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