Is Joe Volpe's time almost up?
Joe Volpe has only two days left before he is ejected from the Liberal leadership race. Can he come up with the $20,000 before then, or will he toss in the towel?
Or is this just the calm before the storm?
Recall that Joe Volpe was fined by the Liberal Party, having been found responsible for serious breeches of the rules governing the signing of new members in Quebec.
The original recommendation was to fine Volpe's campaign $1,000, but the party executive cranked that way up to $20,000, and gave Volpe 30 days to pay up. Those 30 days are up on Monday:
Pursuant to Regulations 16 b) and 16 c), the panel issues a public reprimand to the Leadership Campaign of Joseph Volpe and assesses a fine in the amount of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00), payable within 30 days of September 29, 2006. In default of full payment within the specified time, Mr. Volpe will be deemed to be disqualified as a leadership contestant.
The compliance panel seriously misconstrued the evidence before it as well as submissions and recommendations of the compliance officer and testimony of other witnesses.
We will be mounting a vigorous appeal to the permanent appeals committee of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Since then Volpe got into more trouble:
The Toronto Star on Sunday reported that a federally funded non-profit charity rounded up and paid seven of its clients to work on the Volpe campaign for the leadership of the Liberal party.
The report alleges the Ottawa-based Career Foundation issued cheques to the seven clients, who worked for the Toronto MP during the recent Super Weekend delegate vote.
Volpe's campaign denies the charges. His spokesperson told the newspaper that the organization had planned to pay the workers and was processing an invoice from the charity.
What we don't know (at least I haven't been able to find any news reports) is how the promised appeal is progressing. Nor have I heard that he paid the fine. As far as I can tell, Volpe is facing disqualification Monday night.
If so, the question is whether he goes out with a bang or a whimper. If with a bang, just how big, and just much will it distract from the race itself?
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Comments
Can't see Joe Volpe going quietly into the night.
He has the potential to do major damage to the Liberals. If he's still popular in his riding the revenge could start there. It's all up to him.
He's proven he's still deep into Liberal business as usual and he could spill more than a can of worms.
Just guessing, but it's possible he has them worried.
Posted by: Biddy at October 28, 2006 03:27 PM
I agree with Biddy. I am guessing that Joe is aware of many skeletons in the closet. My bet is he does not pay the fine and still stays in the race.
Any other bets ?
Posted by: Concerened Torontonian at October 28, 2006 07:02 PM
I agree with both. The media in the past has been loath to report on the improprioties of the members of the liberal party. I think that there are those in the party who view him as a threat and will do whatever they can to eliminate him.
Posted by: vieuX loup at October 28, 2006 08:16 PM
I suspect there will be a real pissing contest between Volpe and the Executive of the Party. However, based on Volpe's track record he will not go quietly and we will see him all over the news this week. Of course this is the kind of thing the media love. No need to give any serious thought to the subject but cover it for all it is worth. However, any media coverage will be very sympathetic to the Liberals. The media loves their Liberals and they need to do their part to ensure a Conservative defeat in the next election.
Posted by: hollinm at October 28, 2006 08:39 PM
"Apotex Joe" is Liberal sleaze personified. He will hang in, his beak is too deep in the trough.
Posted by: Mr Dithers at October 28, 2006 10:35 PM
20 Ginos for the MADE MAN is chump-change..eh capiche?
Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at October 29, 2006 06:20 AM
Crouton and Brault can piece that out for their palsy-walsy from that STILL-UNACCOUNTED FOR $48.5 MILLION.
Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at October 29, 2006 06:22 AM
My money is on Volpe launching a suit against the LPC if they force him out of the race while others also guilty of doing similar misdeeds are given a pass.
Volpe has no choice after the stink he's raised about being framed.
Posted by: gimbol at October 30, 2006 10:13 AM
"For the good of the party" thats what we will hear! meanwhile Volpe will be bought off by the [in true Liberal style] committee
Posted by: at October 30, 2006 11:26 AM
Dead Meat isn't part of the Liberal vernacular - after all you can still squeeze a vote out of a corpse. ;)
I say he doesn't go!
Posted by: at October 31, 2006 12:35 PM
 
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