Martin urges probe into Jaffer affair

CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES Enlarge Image

The Prime Minister's Office says suggestions Rahim Jaffer has influence in the PMO are 'absurd.'

OTTAWA -- Winnipeg NDP MP Pat Martin said Thursday allegations a former Conservative MP used his insider ties to the Harper government as a business marketing ploy should be investigated as possible influence peddling.

Martin also demanded the government take action to prevent former MPs from lobbying the government for at least five years after leaving office, saying Rahim Jaffer's story exposes a glaring loophole in the Lobbyists Act.

"There hasn't been a stink like this in Ottawa since (the sponsorship scandal)," said Martin.

Martin was reacting to a story in the Toronto Star Thursday that alleged the former Tory MP bragged to prospective business clients at a dinner in Toronto in September 2009 he could use his connections to the government of the day to help procure low-interest government loans, grants and tax credits.

The story -- complete with titillating details of booze-laden dinners with "busty hookers" at expensive Toronto restaurants -- also claimed an email sent the following morning from the host of the dinner proclaimed "Mr. Jaffer has opened up the Prime Minister's Office to us."

"Jaffer left this distinguished assembly with the distinct impression that he was going to get them access to the Prime Minister's Office and all the glorious largesse that flows from it," Martin said.

At another dinner meeting a few weeks earlier, Jaffer allegedly handed out his old business cards, which name him as the MP for Edmonton-Strathcona and Conservative party national caucus chairman, positions he hasn't held since he was defeated in the 2008 federal election. He is now co-founder of Green Power Generation Corp., a company focused on business development for renewable energy technology.

Later Thursday, it was revealed Jaffer had also used one of his wife's Parliamentary-provided email address to send emails himself. Jaffer's wife is Helena Guergis, minister of state for the status of women. Guergis is herself under fire for a temper tantrum she threw at the Charlottetown airport in February and glowing letters written about her to various news outlets by staffers who didn't identify themselves as her employees.

Jaffer made headlines last month when he dodged a legal bullet related to his arrest north of Toronto after police stopped his speeding car. He was initially charged with speeding, drunk driving and cocaine possession, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving after the Crown said it was unlikely to win a conviction on the other charges.

The Prime Ministers' Office said Thursday suggestions Jaffer had influence in the PMO was "absurd."

"The days of who you know in the PMO haven't worked in Ottawa since we took office," said PMO spokesman Andrew MacDougall. "It's just not how we operate."

However, the Conservative party did ask Jaffer to remove the party logo from his personal website Thursday. The site claims Jaffer "plays a crucial role in business development and marketing through his countless relationships developed from his former career as a parliamentarian."

Whether the influence worked on the PMO or not is irrelevant, said Martin.

"This has to be investigated in the context of peddling influence regardless of the lame protestations of the PMO that he has no influence on them," he said. "His wife is a cabinet minister for God's sake."

Patrick Glemaud, who ran in 2008 for the Conservative party in Ottawa and is CEO of Green Power Generation Corp., said in a statement Thursday the allegations in the Star were "inaccurate and a complete mischaracterization."

"In light of the publication, GPG intends to seek legal action against the Toronto Star," Glemaud said in the statement.

The Canadian Press reported Thursday that Jaffer got tangled in a dispute over money with his Tory caucus colleagues last year. And that falling-out worsened a relationship with the party that was already on the rocks after the 2008 election, making it highly implausible that Jaffer had special access to the halls of power, the insiders say.

Conservative sources said Jaffer, former national caucus chairman, had been arguing with some MPs over his management of a small fund that paid for snacks and social events for caucus members.

When Jaffer lost his Edmonton seat in the fall 2008 election, Ontario MP Guy Lauzon took over the fund -- and that's when the friction ensued.

Insiders said only a small sum of money was in dispute, perhaps a few hundred dollars, but the confrontation created bad feelings between Jaffer and some MPs.

One caucus member, who asked not to be identified, said it created more tension with the former MP, who was already in Harper's bad books following the 2008 election.

"Rahim offers no special influence over the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) whatsoever," said the MP.

"Anyone who knows the PM knows he is a completely different person from Rahim."

-- with files from CP

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 9, 2010 A3