Former Tory MP Rahim Jaffer and former cabinet minister Helena Guergis, in a October, 2008, wedding photo. Federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson on Tuesday said she would not investigate allegations against Ms. Guergis that had been passed on to her by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
A Parliamentary committee is calling on the key players involved in stories of strip clubs and boozy dinner talk about government grants to testify before a House of Commons committee.
Rather than a direct probe to find out why Helena Guergis was required to resign from cabinet last week, opposition MPs on the Government Operations committee voted Wednesday to launch a probe into the lobbying taking place to secure federal funding for environmental projects.
The committee probe seeks to hear from former minister Helena Guergis, her husband Rahim Jaffer and the two business men Mr. Jaffer met with who are now facing fraud charges. The committee is also inviting the current and former ministers who oversee the government's green energy funds.
The three opposition parties on the House of Commons government operations committee passed the following motion Wednesday afternoon, which was originally put forward by Liberal MP Martha Hall Findlay.
"That the committee immediately conduct a study of renewable energy project funding by the Government of Canada, and associated lobbying and advising activities associated with such funding; that the witnesses the committee calls before it shall include, but not be limited to: Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources, Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour, Patrick Glémaud, Green Power Generation Corp., Rahim Jaffer, Green Power Generation Corp., Nazim Gillani, International Strategic Investments, Honourable Helena Guergis, Member of Parliament Simcoe-Grey; and that the committee submit a report to the House of Commons on its findings."
The motion was amended to add the name of Mr. Gillani's business partner, former CFLer Mike Mihelic. Mr. Gillani and Mr. Mihelic are the men who are reported to have met with Mr. Jaffer to discuss possible business opportunities.
The committee then passed another motion outlining when the witnesses should appear and warning they will be issued a summons - a form of supoena - should they fail to accept the invitation. Mr. Jaffer and his business partner Mr. Glemaud are scheduled for April 21st while Mr. Gillani and Mr. Mihelic are invited to appear on April 28. No other witnesses have been scheduled.
Bill Curry