In Peterborough today, Harper can’t escape his scandals

September 21, 2015

PETERBOROUGH, ON – Stephen Harper has made some serious errors in judgment since becoming Prime Minister – and we are not just talking about his disastrous stewardship of the economy.

Harper’s hand-picked Parliamentary Secretary, Dean Del Mastro, holds the illustrious title of being the first MP to serve time in jail for a crime committed while in office since Fred Rose was sent to the big house in 1946 after being convicted of spying for the Russians.

Mr. Harper personally appointed Del Mastro as his Parliamentary Secretary in 2008. 

Last June, Del Mastro was sentenced by a Superior Court Justice to a month in jail, four months house arrest, and 18 months of probation.

Harper visits Peterborough today, returning to the scene of yet another one of his scandals.

Did we mention Harper also designated Del Mastro as the government’s lead on the Ethics Committee? You really cannot make this stuff up.

Del Mastro can now be added to a growing list of Harper affiliates who have been charged with fraud, bribery, and breach of trust. Pamela Wallin, Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau, Arthur Porter, Bruce Carson, Saulie Zajdel: the list goes on.

Birds of a feather flock together, as the saying goes.

Oddly enough, as late as June 13, 2012, Mr. Harper defended his right-hand man, lauding him for serving “his constituents and [the] House [of Commons] honourably.” In fact, Mr. Harper kept him on until September 26, 2013.

Violating the Canada Elections Act and falsifying documents to try and cover up his tracks: is that what Stephen Harper thinks it means to serve the citizens of Peterborough “honourably”?