Canada's Political, Justice & Police System: Corrupt!

PHOTO BY LAURA LENNIE
After the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek candidates' debate last Thursday, MP Tony Valeri ran from the national media. Pictured here, Mr. Valeri answers a CBC reporter's questions regarding cutting taxes on income trusts and the sale of a property next to his home, after being forced back inside the school after two people stood in front of his van to keep it from leaving.
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HEADLINE:
'Wild Night in Stoney Creek'
Peggy Chapman, Stoney Creek
(Jan 20, 2006)
With only days left in the federal election, questions continue to mount around a controversial land deal involving MP Tony Valeri.

The Stoney Creek News broke the story last week, reporting that the Hamilton-East-Stoney Creek MP purchased a property next to his home for $225,000 in April 2005, then doubled his money when he sold it three months later for $500,000.

In response to the story, Conservative Deputy House Leader Jason Kenney has sent a letter to the federal Ethics Commissioner.

It reads;

Please accept this letter as a formal request for you to initiate an inquiry into whether Mr. Tony Valeri, the Government House Leader, has fully complied with the rules, guidelines, and standards set out in the Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders.

Reports revealed that Mr. Valeri was involved in a real estate transaction in which a property he had purchased in April 2005 for $225,000 was sold for $500,000 less than three months later. Mr. Valeri ultimately sold the property to Mr. John Ng, the son of an influential local businessman who has been a frequent and generous financial contributor to the Liberal party.

The story has garnered national attention, compelling Mr. Valeri to come forward with all information connected to the property sale.

The Stoney Creek News held a local candidates' debate Jan. 12 (the day the story broke) at Orchard Park Secondary School. CBC radio and television reporters attended the event hoping to ask questions of Mr. Valeri about the issue - but found him to be uncooperative.

"As soon as the debate ended I approached him (Mr. Valeri) at the podium but he basically avoided me," said CBC radio news national reporter Christopher Grosskurth. "His flacks hustled him out the door. They made a premeditated move to escape. He had no intention of answering our questions. In my 25 years in journalism, I've never seen anything like it. It was a wild night in Stoney Creek."

CBC's the National refers to the incident as "highly unusual for a local candidates debate", suggesting Mr. Valeri wouldn't have answered any questions except for the fact their cameras caught him and his handlers using "strong-armed tactics" to escape from the event.

"Both Mr. Valeri and Prime Minister Martin have claimed that these transactions were completed with your (commissioner's) guidance and in compliance with the provisions of the Conflict of Interest Code," said Mr. Kenney, in his letter to the commissioner. "Our request for an inquiry would serve to verify those claims and to ensure that the integrity of the House of Commons is upheld."

Mr. Kenney also asked the ethics commissioner direct questions in the document including; How could the property have more than doubled in value within such a short period of time? How could a property adjacent to Mr. Valeri's home be properly classified as a 'recreational property'? And, did Mr. Valeri comply with his obligations under the Conflict of Interest Code and report the purchase and sale of the property within 30 days of each transaction?

"The final issue of concern is with respect to the classification of the land in question as "recreational property," said Mr. Kenney.

"The property was purchased from Mr. Valeri's neighbour and is located immediately next door to his personal residence. Our concern is that this classification was based on incomplete information, as the transaction clearly appears to be an investment. By classifying the property as "recreational property," it would be considered an "exempt asset" under s.10(1)(a) of the Conflict of Interest Code and therefore not subject to public declaration or divestment."

Section 8 of the Conflict of Interest Code requires that all public office holders inform the Ethics Commissioner of "any material changes in his or her assets, liabilities and outside activities" within 30 days. In addition, s.14 of the Conflict of Interest Code states: "Ministers of the Crown, ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries are required to publicly declare liabilities greater than or equal to $10,000 identifying their source and nature."

Mr. Kenney told the Stoney Creek News he is surprised Mr. Valeri doesn't come forward with all the information.

"This is not what a politician does at the best of times, never mind during an election. How does he expect the public to believe there's no connection between the close ties to the Ng family and the profitable sale of this property?"
Copyright 2005. Brabant Newspapers. All rights reserved