Major theft from a Tory riding association
There has been a serious breach of trust at a Tory provincial riding association in Alberta. An arrest has been made. Thank goodness that the justice system has been allowed to do its job without interference.
A tip from reader Sara:
Hey, I just read where a senior Tory official in Mayerthorpe, just north of Edmonton is is big time trouble over pilfering $54 million out of the Tories.
I can't wait until you get on this one - I bet it's making you really angry.
Waiting for your comments and detective work on this one.
It should be noted that Sara is not one of my fans. Still, $54,000,000 is a huge amount of money to drain from the coffers of Alberta's Progressive Conservative Party.
How could they have missed that? In the case of the missing money from the federal Liberal Party London riding association, somewhat more than $13,000 was allegedly taken over the period of a year.
But $54,000,000?! Sheesh, this is Ocean's Eleven scale.
So here's the scoop on the alleged theft from Whitecourt-St. Anne PC Association:
A 67-year-old Mayerthorpe man has been charged with defrauding a local Tory association out of $54,000 over six years.
Alfred William Burrill, the former treasurer of the Whitecourt-St. Anne Progressive Conservative Association, is scheduled to appear in Mayerthorpe provincial court on Oct. 25.
George VanderBurg, the riding's Tory MLA, said his association called in the RCMP this spring to investigate. He said Burrill is a well-liked farmer and chartered accountant.
I guess George Clooney is off the hook -- it was $54,000 and not $54,000,000.
Sara asks if this makes me angry. Of course it does. A serious breach of trust has been alleged.
The association has responded by calling the police. This is important for many reasons:
- A crime is a crime, and we have a system in place to investigate crimes and punish criminals.
- If a crime is investigate privately, there are no safeguards for the accused.
- If a crime is punished privately, there are no safeguards for the accused, nor protections for those doling out the punishment.
- If a crime is not investigated, the criminal may continue to commit crimes and hurt other innocent citizens.
- If a crime is not investigated, others who might have been hurt might never realize that they've been wronged, or never learn the identity of the criminal and so seek civil restitution.
We do know that in the case of the London riding association of the federal Liberal Party, there was an attempt to curtail an investigation. David Pretlove, the interim executive director of the Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario) made a very specific offer to the London riding association, offering to write a cheque from the accounts of the LPC(O) to cover a portion of the shortfall, on condition of a written promise that no further action be taken. The included not calling the police.
Consider all the implications I've outlined. The political dimension adds more:
- If someone donates money to the LPC(O), is it for the intention of financing party operations, or to help prevent investigation into crimes against the party?
- If David Pretlove was willing to spend LPC(O) money in such a manner without authorization, as has been stated by LPC(O) officials once the story became public, then how was it that he was able to continue in his position of authority?
- We know about this story because the riding association refused the offer and police were called. Since we know of at least one attempt to cover up a crime using party funds, have there been other attempts?
In the story of Whitecourt-St. Anne Progressive Conservative Association, there is no report of an attempt by the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party to cover up the alleged theft.
So yes, I'm angry. But it could be worse and I could be angrier. Now it's up to the criminal justice system to sort out guilt and innocence. Thankfully the system is being given the chance to do its job by people who seem to respect the system.
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Comments
Allow me to hijack this post since I can't find even remotely associated headlines: Good turnout at the Busch Race in Montreal. I'm surprised. As a traditionalist, prefer that the NASCAR circuits remain provincial but suppose the sport needs to expand it's base to backfill the millions of boomers driving off to that short track in the sky over the next few decades.
Maybe Sara's taking it in right now, rubbing shoulders with all those Canadians of Scots-Irish decent.
Posted by: iowavette at August 4, 2007 12:46 PM
Well at least sara got the first two numbers correct. Not a completel watse of air others could be using.
Posted by: missing link at August 4, 2007 01:52 PM
Well at least sara got the first two numbers correct.
Actually, ML, Sara got the first five numbers right. She just didn't know when to quit.
Posted by: Brian in Calgary at August 4, 2007 02:53 PM
When I worked in a PAPERMILL, our Union Treasurer stole over $25,000. The local Fraud Dicks told me that the union rank-and-file had to VOTE on whether or not a crime was committed. I knew the fat slob coppers were lying thru their teeth. The treasurer was never charged. I quit the mill. Went to T.O., got a job as a NEWSCAMERAMAN, and was shortly fired thereafter, thanks to the RCMP.
Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at August 4, 2007 03:00 PM
"Actually, ML, Sara got the first five numbers right. She just didn't know when to quit."
But isn't being half-right good enough for a liberal?
Posted by: Matt at August 4, 2007 05:39 PM
Ah Sara just got overly excited and just kept adding zeros. It's a big deal when a Liberal spots kindred spirits in the Conservative fold, they can relate to pilferers right away they wrote the book.
The difference here is there'll be no cover up, the thief won't pay back the money and all be forgiven as if it never happened.
Posted by: Libby at August 5, 2007 07:41 AM
$54K or $54M the point is moot as the AB PCs continue to slide into "librano-esque" apathy. They are stale, visionless and promote leberal expansion of government and run a well concealed kleptocracy....failing to clean up the party of reds and Kleptocrats, AB conservatives have been looking for a right of center alternative to park their vote with since King Ralph's last election.
The Mayerthorpe scanda is just indicative of party wide decay and larger public crimes that are yet to be discovered.
The first alternative right of center party with some polich and promise that emerges will sweep the PCs from power in the tidal wave political purges that AB is noted for. Albertans have been looking to sweep the PCs from office for some 8 years now but there have been no viable alternatives in the left opposition.
Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux at August 5, 2007 08:48 AM
$54K or $54M the point is moot as the AB PCs continue to slide into "librano-esque" apathy. They are stale, visionless and promote liberal expansion of government and run a well concealed kleptocracy....failing to clean up the party of reds and Kleptocrats, AB conservatives have been looking for a right of center alternative to park their vote with since King Ralph's last election.
The Mayerthorpe scandal is just indicative of party wide decay and larger public crimes that are yet to be discovered.
The first alternative right of center party with some polish and promise that emerges will sweep the PCs from power in the tidal wave political purges that AB is noted for. Albertans have been looking to sweep the PCs from office for some 8 years now but there have been no viable alternatives in the left opposition.
Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux at August 5, 2007 08:56 AM
I do apologize for the error. I have a really bad habit of not proofreading and do feel really silly now. Again, sorry for the error.
Still, by obsessing on my error does not eliminate the fact that wrong can be done by ALL political parties. It's not the parties - it's individuals. I guess I was trying to point out, poorly, that the constant attack and obsession with blaming the political parties themselves for political point gain is wrong.
And now - trying to use a cover up issue to make the other look less "criminal" is really a stretch.
Wrong by any other name is still wrong.
Posted by: Sara at August 5, 2007 10:49 AM
Don't believe King Ralph was a Conservative, just a poseur of convenience.
We have to remember Red Tory Joe out of Alberta too, he showed his true colors, couldn't join a truly Conservative brand.
Where is he now? Any sightings?
Posted by: Libby at August 5, 2007 12:41 PM
This is probably why, a few months ago, our local riding association had to act very quickly, on the orders of HQ, to ensure that riding association board members take out liability insurance (E&O insurance).
Posted by: Werner Patels at August 6, 2007 10:20 PM
May I enroll you in my campaign to stop referring to the Alberta Progressive Conservatives as "Tories"? When I saw your headline I thouhgt this was actually a federal Conservative scandal. Alberta is ruled by "PCs", not Tories.
Posted by: ebt at August 7, 2007 12:38 PM
 
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