Digging deeper THE ongoing Shovelgate saga may yet prove to be the undoing of Prime Minister Jean Chretien and his party of trough-dwellers. It’s beginning co look like it may well be the political version of the Death of a Thousand Cuts. When this scandal first broke, Chretien told caucus members it would blow over in a few days. He also adamantly defended his pro- tege, Human Resources Minister Jane Stewart. At the Liberal pre-session caucus meeting, Chretien told the assembled bootlicks thar Stewart’s head would not roll for this. He then gave each of them the spin they were to use when speak- ing to the media: “It’s nota lot of money, it's only 37 projects totalling about three million dollars that's being questioned.” After a couple of syco- phants spoke glowingly of Stewart's undoubted qualities (the only one which comes to mind is the fact she was the fruit of the loins of Ontario Lib bigwig Robert Nixon) Chretien made a show of ~ thanking them for their sup- port. : One caucus member was * questioned about the appar- ent solidarity in spite of the “evidence of gross mismanage- ment at best and outright fraud at worst. _.. He spit back at his ques- _ tioner, “Yeah, it’s true. We ~ always cat the sh** together. see Leo Knighi crime and punishment The problem is when there is pie, it’s always eaten in Brant (Stewart's riding) or Shawinigan (Chretien’s rid- ing).” Could it be there are starting to be some chinks in the armour? When the Commons resumed sitting after a Christmas respite of only seven or eight weeks the Reformers and the erstwhile Progressive Conservatives, took aim directly at Stewart. And for the first three days of the firestorm Chretien took the hear for Stewart. But that was then and this is now. Even the Bloc Quebecois, who began the week asking questions abour the Clarity Act and insults to /e pur laine, hopped on the band- wagon when they realized how bad the Liberals, their arch-enemies, were looking in this matter. Bloc leader, Gilles Duceppe, even managed to sound indignant in spite of the fact his province benelit- ed like no other from HDRC’s largesse. Chretien went missing from the House of Commons for the last two days of the week, leaving Stewart twist- ing in the wind like a rotting into Shove gamebird. What happened to the stalwart defense by the man who could defuse any criticism with litde more than a shrug and a joke? Perhaps it was the allega- tions of traud by Tory MP Jean Dube. It seems the Liberals received $150,000 in political contributions in 1997 and 1998 from organi- zations that had been the beneficiaries of $27 million in federal job grants from Stewart's ministry, Or maybe it was che revelations that pri- vate sector giants like Wal- Mart and Adidas gut job cre- ation grants. The Shovelgate pot is bubbling over and the PM has now realized it's not going to be easy to get it back to simmer. The spin trom: the PMO is nothing more than codswal- lop and should be treated with the disdain it deserves. The problem here is twofold. First, neither the PM nor Jane Stewart will tell us the truth. Twice this week, both Chretien and Stewart were cafled liars outside the House where qualified privilege for stich semarks is not provided and nary a word is uttered in protest. The second is the failure to defend the accusations made in Shovelgate. The Lib’s believe in big government. There's nota taxpayer who can’t be bribed with his own money. Jobs for the boys and a packet of FINANCIAL GROUP INC. dough for anvone who can help: us get elected. At the outset the belief that a government, any gov: ermment, can create jobs by shovelling, money at projects is simply ludicrous. The only jobs government can create are government jobs, something the Libs have done toa fare-thee-well. They don’t understand that fact now; they never have and they never will. Bureaucracy by its defini- tion begets itself. Ina bureaucracy, work grows exponentially by the number of people there is to do it. Don't believe me? A couple of months ago, in late October, letters were written by ne less a figure than an assistant deputy min- ister in Stewart's department. it seems they have been having a problem figuring out why some people had not applied for their old age pen- sions. The letter, which begins with the following: “the Minister of Human Resources Development Canada, the Honourable Jane Stewart, hag asked us to con- tact all contributors who are over 65 years old but who have not yet requested their CPP retirement pension.” The letrer is addressed to Susan Sunderland of North Vancouver, born in 1904, It may not surprise you to learn that the letter was never opened by Ms. Susdestand. See Scandal page 9 ROGER LATTA CFP,CLU,CHLF.C. Wednesday, February 16, 2000 — North Shore News - 7 AR sernaces fully weneranty 21 et Safety check, 18 rmmutes » FAST! inckuces up to 5 tires of 10wS3S Quakerstate 1362 Marine Drive 980-9715 Mon-Sul 8.00arn-G00pm, Sur, 900arn-5 COpm Exprns Feb 23/2000 § I i Oit, Lube & Filter I i ICBC HAS A TEAM OF LAWYERS, SHOULDN'T YOU? ‘| ° All claims have time timits ¢ Documents you sign can be used against you. Taylor & Blair BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS* é 102-145 West 15th St. North Van if 983-4311 ™ www.taylorandblair.com FREE CONSULTATION Graham Taylor Kevin Blair S.LAURSEN & § dr aperies & blinds Serving the Lower Mainland for over 28 years www.sidrapesendkiinds.com Custom Rods, Uphoistery & Becispreads tArk about our Seniors Discount) For Free Estimate call 922-4975 or 987-2966 Deapery Labour $13.90 pet panel fined. Low how Prices MARC LATTA Financial Advisor - JORDAN KENNA B.A., CFP Our goal: to grow and ‘preserve wealth for families and businesses. Save money on Toner ost Remanufacturing We Refill Ink Jet Cartridges Rentals from $100 per month = GUARANTEED WORKMANSHIP FAST PEKSONAUZED SERVICE BC LASER| 324°769) AUTHORIZED HEWLETT RESELLER & OKIDATA HIE Designing Financial Solutions: Investments, Insurance, ; 480 -171 West Esplanade, North Vancouver, B.C., v7M 319 = & Tax Planning Tel: (604) 983-2235. Fax: (604) 984-6335 Tol free: 877-984-2235 PACKARD