Stephane Dion using government resources for leadership campaign [update]
The debate continues, with Jason Cherniak defending the email, and my response.
I'll be the first to say that I sometimes wonder if something as innocuous as an email is really something to get upset about. But the rules are clear, and while one email might seem like nothing, it could easily become hundreds, thousands, even hundreds of thousands of emails -- so I suppose the rules make sense.
The rule I'm talking about is the one that forbids government employees from using their email accounts for political partisan reasons. A typical government email address is "@parl.gc.ca". These addresses are assigned to MPs and their assistants and are to be used to help in their work on behalf of their constituents.
Bryon Wilfert is the Liberal MP for Richmond Hill. He is also the caucus liason for Stephane Dion, one of the candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Party. One of Wilfert's assistants sent this email out using his or her parliamentary email account:
From: Wilfert, Bryon - Assistant 1
Sent: June 27, 2006 1:46 PM
To: ...Subject: THUNDEROUS THURSDAY
Please join the Stephane Dion Campaign for an evening of fun at The Brig Pub (23 York St. - ByWard Market) this Thursday, June 29th from 5pm- 7pm. Our special guest will be the Hon. Don Boudria.
We're calling it: "Your Boss is Away… Come out to Play!"
I've cut out the "To" field because I don't think it's fair for people to be drawn into this just because they received an email. Suffice it to say, however, that just about everybody got this email.
So "Thunderous Thursday" is not a party hosted by Stephane Dion. It is being hosted by the Stephane Dion Campaign. That's important. This is a partisan Liberal leadership event. Don Boudria is a former Liberal MP who is now a senior associate at the public relations agency Hill & Knowlton. He is also a senior member of the Stephane Dion leadership committee.
And check out the flyer. See the big Stephane Dion logo? You'll see it in the upper right-hand corner of every page of Stephane Dion's leadership website.
This is not the first time this has happened, as we see in this story from Stephen Taylor. In that case, very similar to this one, the staffer apologized (sort of).
You might think this isn't a big deal. But this was a mass mailing for a leadership campaign event. It sure seems like Stephane Dion is letting his caucus liason MP Bryon Wilfert use his taxpayer-funded parliamentary resources (both the assistant and the email account) as Dion's personal fundraising tools.
I guess the Liberal leadership candidates really are hard up for cash. So much so that they're willing to do really dumb things to get their hands on any.
[And in case you were wondering, I got this information via a recipient, who in turn got in touch with me via a personal non-government account. He understands the rules.]
Update: Literally moments after posting, I received word that this assistant had sent out a "recall" message. Uh, too late. I think we deserve an explanation about how the rules apply to Stephane Dion's campaign.
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Comments
This reminded me of something I read on a liberal blog awhile back:Policy Watch.
One need not throw stones in glass houses, especially when Rob Anders is under investigation for the very same thing, devoting a staffer to Stevie's Leadership campaign.
Steve
Kanter On Politics
Posted by: Steve Kantor at June 27, 2006 06:27 PM
It's typical of liberals, they have and always will, consider government resources as their own.
It doesn't matter whether they are in power or in opposition, it's part and parcel of their view, that liberals are entitled to their entitlements.
Posted by: William at June 27, 2006 08:10 PM
"It doesn't matter whether they are in power or in opposition, it's part and parcel of their view, that liberals are entitled to their entitlements."
Well since as we've seen conservatives are doing the exact same sort of thing, it probably doesn't say anything about liberals at all. It probably says - quite accurately - that increasingly the lines between politics and government are becoming hard to draw and hard to see.
It would take an incredible amount of arrogance to see one mistake (yes, definitely a mistake) made by a political staffer and use it to condemn a whole group of people with a political viewpoint opposite to mine.
Posted by: Craigers at June 27, 2006 09:09 PM
The public threshold of tolerance with respect to Liberal shenanigans / corruption / outright flaunting of the law (I'm looking at you Volpe) is so high at this point that I'm certain this item will not register so much as a blip on the radar of national consiousness.
Btw, good point by William and well stated besides.
Posted by: Brad in Waterloo at June 27, 2006 09:13 PM
Craigers said: "It would take an incredible amount of arrogance to see one mistake...."
Um, ONE MISTAKE? lmao. Yeah, one mistake. Just one lonely oopsies. This is obviously a totally isolated incident. We're all shocked. Totally floored. Who would have ever anticipated that news of an ethical indescression would emerge from the Liberal camp of all places. Well holy shmoly...
Please excuse me while I shuffle off to dispense with the shattered remnants of my "arrogance."
Posted by: Brad in Waterloo at June 27, 2006 09:23 PM
"This is obviously a totally isolated incident."
It's not? What's the link, other than some supposed pathological immorality that affects liberals?
Are all the instances of Conservative wrongdoing somehow connected as well? Can I link Gurmant Grewal to Rob Anders in five steps or less? Come on.
That kind of paranoia is so much opposition thinking.
Posted by: Craigers at June 27, 2006 10:01 PM
Dion's campaign really needs to start building some bridges to Volpe. Afterall it's all about "integrity."
Syncro
P.S. I wonder how Cherniak will spin this?? Should be funny!!!!
Posted by: Syncrodox at June 27, 2006 11:30 PM
This NOT an error by a political staffer it is an error by a long time Liberal MP who should know better. Byron Wilfert is out of his depth in Federal politics. He should have stuck to his Richmond Hill municipal ward.
Posted by: Mel N at June 27, 2006 11:57 PM
Who gives a flying... ?
For my full response, please see my blog.
Posted by: Jason Cherniak at June 28, 2006 12:39 AM
No, really, Stephane Dion sucks.
Posted by: morison at June 28, 2006 12:41 AM
Who organizes an event at The Brig? It's not exactly a top-shelf selection. (Don't get me wrong: it's not bottom shelf; it's just not where The Beautiful People usually enjoy being seen.)
And apparently Cherniak doesn't realize that emails coming from federal Government email accounts bear the imprimateur of, well, the federal Government.
Posted by: Paul O at June 28, 2006 01:14 AM
Yawn. This is the most annoying form of 'gotcha politics'.
Big flippin' deal. You've never used your work email for personal use? Don't give me the old 'it's the principle' crap, either. If this is the best untoward act you can come up with to 'get' the Liberals with, well, it's sad.
This stuff makes me embarassed to consider myself a Conservative supporter, really.
Stick to the Caledonia story you've been working on - at least there seems to be a modicum of scandal there...
Posted by: KM at June 28, 2006 08:22 AM
PS - I can't believe I agree with Cherniak... (I think I hear the omnious clippity-clop of the hooves of what can only be the four horsemen of the Apocalypse...)
Posted by: KM at June 28, 2006 08:26 AM
Yeesh, talk about a big case of nuthin'. I can recall receiving Stephen Harper leadership emails from MPs and assistants supporting him too.
Posted by: at June 28, 2006 08:41 AM
Yeesh, talk about a big case of nuthin'. I can recall receiving Stephen Harper leadership emails from MPs and assistants supporting him too. Wish I'd saved them!
Posted by: Mike at June 28, 2006 08:42 AM
From: Ignatieff, Michael - Assistant 3
Sent: June 1, 2006 4:29 PM
To: - LIBERAL ASSISTANTS
Subject: MI Monday/les lundis de Michael - June 5th: Clock Tower Brew Pub
Please see the below invitation.
Veuillez trouver une invitation ci-jointe.
Jane Wisener
Special Assistant/Adjointe Spéciale
Michael Ignatieff
Member of Parliament for Etobicoke - Lakeshore
MICHAEL'S MONDAY
Come join your Ottawa Centre friends next Monday . . .
Discuss politics, network and socialize!
Date: Monday, June 5, 2006
Time: 5 - 7 p.m.
Place: The Clock Tower Brew Pub, 575 Bank Street (in the Glebe, just south of the Queensway)
Bring your friends!
Any questions, please contact:
Yasir Naqvi
ynaqvi@langmichener.ca
Tim Straka
timothy.straka@gmail.com
LES LUNDIS DE MICHAEL
Venez vous joindre avec vos amis d'Ottawa-Centre lundi prochain...
Discutez des politiques et venez socialiser avec nous!
Date : Le lundi 5 juin 2006
entre 17h et 19h.
Lieu : The Clock Tower Brew Pub, 575 rue Bank (dans le cartier Glebe, au sud de l'autoroute)
Invitez vos amis.
Pour vos questions, contactez
Yasir Naqvi
ynaqvi@langmichener.ca
Tim Straka
timothy.straka@gmail.com
Posted by: mike smith at June 28, 2006 08:51 AM
I find all this hub-bub pathetically petty. Am I the only one who finds it obscene that Harper deliberately picks a fight with the media so that he can go on the "campaign" road to deliver his vote-buying messages - at "taxpayer" expense. His cabinet also holding press conferences in elaborate set-ups - at taxpayer expense. Can you imagine what this has cost Canadians so far for Harper's campaigning? I don't suppose he'd return the cost via the Conservative party for these campaign costs?
The email thing is pretty small I'd say in comparison.
You see, if Harper stayed on the good side of the media he'd could give press conferences in Ottawa with questions from reporters and save a whole lot of damn money couldn't he.
We've been had again by Mr. Strategy!
Posted by: Sandi at June 28, 2006 01:55 PM
There's an event at the Brigg? Thanks for letting me know. I'll be there for sure!
Posted by: Derek at June 28, 2006 02:25 PM
From: Guergis, Helena - Assistant 1
Sent: Friday, November 25, 2005 2:53 PM
To: - SEN GLOBAL; - CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS CONSERVATEURS; - CONSERVATIVE ASSISTANTS CONSERVATEURS; - LIBERAL MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS; - LIBERAL ASSISTANTS; - NDP MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS NPD; - NDP/NPD ASSISTANTS; - NDP MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS NPD; - NDP/NPD ASSISTANTS
Subject:
Staff, Members, Spouses; you're all invited
Invitation
You are invited to a Jewellery Party
Hosted By
Helena Guergis, MP
On Monday, November 28th, 2005
Spouses Lounge, Rm. 631-S Centre Block
From Noon to 6:00 p.m.
Enjoy Christmas Cheer, Snacks & Friendship.
Featuring Jewellery Designs by Yvonne Reynolds
Buy One Get One ½ Price
(Cash or Cheque Only)
Membres du personnel, députés, conjoints sont tous invités
Invitation
Vous êtes cordialement invités à une présentation de bijoux
organisée par
la députée Helena Guergis
Le lundi 28 novembre 2005
Salon des conjoints, salle 631-S Édifice du Centre
De midi à 18 h
Venez vous amuser et grignoter entre amis à l’occasion des Fêtes.
Bijoux conçus par
Yvonne Reynolds
Achetez-en un obtenez-en un autre à moitié prix
(Chèque ou comptant seulement)
Posted by: More Dave at June 28, 2006 04:15 PM
 
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