Could David Smith's kids be running Abotech?
I haven't written anything about Cynthia and Sebastien Smith, children of MP David Smith (Liberal-Pontiac), who is caught up in questions about contracts awarded to his company Abotech, which he says is owned and managed by his wife Anne Ethier. The kids are also part owners.
Because Abotech seems to run exclusively off of government contracts, his participation in the company would raise ethical questions. However, since the company is run by his wife and kids, and it is a home-based business, one wonders just how much distance there really is between David Smith and the workings of Abotech.
Reader Larry Joe posted this comment:
I want to know how old these children are? A 41 year old man could have children old enough to be doing meaningful work in the family business... but it's not all that common these days to start having children at 20-21 years of age.
Fair question, and since the kids are owners of the company, considering their role is legitimate (and not creepy delving into personal family affiars).
From his official Liberal party bio:
Married to Anne Ethier since 1987, they have two children, Cynthia and Sebastien.
Now I'm going to go out on a limb and posit that Cynthia and Sebastien were born after David Smith and Anne Ethier were married. If so, and assuming that they got started on having kids right away, that would make the oldest one 17.
Not of an age to be running a six-figure company. Of course, they could be much younger.
They might have been born before David Smith and Anne Ethier. David Smith, who is 41, would have been a dad at the age of 19 for the kids to have reached the age of 22, which I think is the minimum age these kids would have to be, that is, at least old enough to have gotten a bachelor's degree. Honestly, I think they'd have to be older.
But continuing with this theory, Anne Ethier is probably younger than David Smith. Just playing the odds here. If she is a year or two younger, then she would have been 17 when they had their first child. That would have been 1983. They didn't marry until four years later.
It might have happened that way. We just don't know.
But it's more likely that they got married in 1987, and started having kids a year or two later, making the oldest 15 or 16. Old enough to sign papers to be owners of a company in a legal sense, but I don't think old enough to be contributing much to running the place.
Index of Abotech posts:
Another Liberal scandal brewing
Abotech Scandal Update
Abotech Scandal Update #2: MP David Smith's six-figure company is run out of his home
Hiding behind the Ethics Commissioner
Abotech Scandal Update #3: Now Abotech is an aerospace company?
Abotech Scandal Update #4: The nature of the work performed -- "Other"
Liberals: David Smith might have done something wrong. Really!
David Smith, Jaguar Solutions, ASM Informatique, and Government Contracts
David Smith, Jaguar Solutions, ASM Informatique -- close, literally
The press confirms David Smith works out of his home
Could David Smith's kids be running Abotech?
David Smith, Abotech, and Nursing
The Abotech Affair: The Link between Indian Affairs and Public Works
Abotech: One competitive contract awarded
Major developments in the Abotech affair (and a major correction)
David Smith is as aboriginal as my Polish grandmother
David Smith's extended Liberal Party bio
On the question of who manages Abotech and subcontractors
The Smith-Brazeau connection -- Deeper than I ever imagined
Skew my story on Skewz.com
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Comments
C'mon Angry, you've been on this long enough - you haven't found the Sheehan connection yet?
Posted by: Jay at October 22, 2005 07:16 PM
Hello Angry,
Ignore the post from the likes of Jay above. You and your various correspondents are doing just fine.
This is just one small snag sticking up from the slime ridden log of our liberal "administration" wallowing below the surface.
Rob
Posted by: at October 22, 2005 08:05 PM
I linked to the Ottawa Citizen article in question. You know the one about David Smith, Abotech and conflict of intrest? Heres that closing paragraph.
"Mr. Harper came under fire this summer for being out of touch with the needs and desires of Quebecers, particularly because of his stance on same-sex marriage and his intention to revisit the legislation under a Conservative government, and his condemnation of the Bloc last spring"
While Angry may not have found the connection to Cindy Sheehan, it looks like the MSM has found the link to Harper and the CPC.
Keep up the good work Angry.
Posted by: ward at October 22, 2005 08:57 PM
My dad has something similar going on. Myself and my sister have stock in my father's corporation, however they are non-voting shares. I believe the intention is that when he dies, we retain control of the corporation and won't have to pay inheritance tax on it, or something like that. I assume it's the same thing here.
Posted by: Joe_Canadian86 at October 22, 2005 08:58 PM
ABOTECH
ABO as in ABO-RIGINAL
Interesting no ? The up front racial aspect of the company.
If he was black would he have called the company
NEGROTECH?
If he was a white man and called the company WHITETECH he would be up before the human rights commission lickety split!
Posted by: at October 22, 2005 09:24 PM
cauctech?
Posted by: steve at October 22, 2005 10:04 PM
And it is creepy to be googling or whatever his kids.
Posted by: steve at October 22, 2005 10:49 PM
Do you think its right to be involving his kids SIMLPY because they may be fleecing the taxpayers for millions of dollars.
Damn right!!!
Horny Toad
Posted by: at October 22, 2005 11:27 PM
I agree with you Toad. I don't think its right to be involving his kids SIMLPY because it is inferred that the father is fleecing the taxpayers for millions of dollars.
I'll wait for the report.
Posted by: steve at October 22, 2005 11:38 PM
Canadian Company Capabilities
Complete Profile
[New Search]
Abotech Inc.
Last Updated: 2005-04-25
Legal Name: Abotech Inc.
Operating Name: Abotech Inc.
Mailing Address
21 Meilleur St
GATINEAU, Quebec
J8Y 5W1
Location Address
21 Meilleur St
GATINEAU, Quebec
J8Y 5W1
Telephone: (819) 775-5835
Email: davidsmith@videotron.ca
Contact Information
David Smith
Title: President
Area of Responsibility: Government Relations
Telephone: (819) 775-5835
Fax: (819) 776-3784
Email: davidsmith@videotron.ca
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/app/ccc/search/navigate.do?language=eng&portal=1&estblmntNo=234567035873&profile=completeProfile
Updated: 2005-10-23
Posted by: maz2 at October 23, 2005 07:09 AM
steve, it would be weird for angry or anyone else to be googling my kid. I'm not in politics, I don't own a company with her listed as a shareholder, and my name isn't being raised in the House of Commons or the newspapers for questionable (and possibly actionable) ethics. David Smith opened that door by hiding behind them.
Posted by: Candace at October 23, 2005 05:45 PM
Weird?
What's weird about asking logical questions about the operations of our government? I don't think it's weird that someone would try to find something out for themselves rather than "wait for the report" as you advise.
It's perfectly valid to ask what service is being provided with our tax dollars and who is providing these services. The "children" are supposedly suppliers; their identities and their qualifications are valid areas of inquiry.
But feel free to "wait for the report" and enjoy your wholesome nature while you wait.
Posted by: Larry Joe at October 24, 2005 04:12 PM
It's weird that a guy using a pseudonym is gooogling kids on spec.
Posted by: steve at October 24, 2005 11:24 PM
Never mind answering my questions, Steve. Just continue to worship your feelings without ever questioning what the hell triggers them...
You can think or you can snicker into your handkerchief. It's your choice to make and you've made it.
Posted by: Larry Joe at October 25, 2005 12:18 PM
 
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