Gagliano's versions

No proof he lied, speaker rules

ELIZABETH THOMPSON
Montreal Gazette Tuesday, February 19, 2002

There might be two contradictory versions of the facts but that does not mean former public-works minister Alfonso Gagliano lied to Parliament when he said he did not interfere in the affairs of a crown corporation under his control, House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken ruled yesterday.

"While there is clearly disagreement as to the interpretation of events surrounding a serious issue, the chair can find no evidence that a prima facie breach of privilege has occurred," Milliken told the House.

Moreover, Milliken issued a warning to MPs to watch what they say about former colleagues like Gagliano.

"This case makes allegations about the conduct of a former minister who is now no longer even a member of the House," he said. "I want to remind honorable members of the need for caution in framing remarks concerning individuals outside the House."

But Canadian Alliance MP Peter Goldring, who raised the point of privilege on Jan. 28, complaining Gagliano deliberately misled the House, said he is worried about the possible impact of yesterday's ruling.

"He's saying that a minister isn't so tightly bound by his statements in the House that he can't have a slightly different statement outside the House."

Milliken's ruling comes a week after an explosive letter was introduced as evidence in a court case in Montreal, recounting how Gagliano and his chief of staff put "intense pressure" on management of the Canada Lands Co. to hire or give contracts to friends of Gagliano or the federal Liberal Party.

Pressure Alleged

The letter, written by former Canada Lands vice-president Michel Couillard, echoed allegations made by former Canada Lands Co. chairman Jon Grant, who told reporters in January that Gagliano had pressured him to hire one of Gagliano's friends and that Gagliano's chief of staff, Jean-Marc Bard, had asked to be consulted on all contracts handed out in Quebec.

A week after Grant went public, Gagliano was dropped from the cabinet and appointed ambassador to Denmark. He is currently studying for his new job while waiting for Denmark to accept his appointment.

Today, opposition MPs will try once again to get to the bottom of the affair, tabling motions in two separate committees to try to force Gagliano or former managers of Canada Lands to testify concerning the allegations of political interference in the affairs of the crown corporation.

Bloc Québécois MP Francine Lalonde has filed a motion with Parliament's foreign-affairs and international-trade committee, calling for it to examine Gagliano's appointment as ambassador to Denmark.

Appointees Examined

Under a standing order of Parliament, the committee has the power to examine ambassadors named by order in council. Members of the committee have proposed 11 times since 1997 that a diplomatic appointee be examined, particularly in cases where the new ambassador was not a career diplomat.

In all 11 cases the committee, headed by Bill Graham, the new foreign-affairs minister, granted the request.

The committee does not have the power to reject a candidate; it can only give its judgment as to whether the nominee has the qualities to do the job.

Yesterday, Canadian Alliance MP Brian Pallister, co-chairman of the committee, said Gagliano's appointment is "a shameful one" and he will support Lalonde's motion.

"I don't know what Denmark did to deserve Alfonso, but they've got him and I think it is a shame," Pallister said.

"I think that the problem with this government is that it has placed patronage ahead of merit so many times and in so many different categories."

Meanwhile, the transport and government-operations committee is to debate a motion by Bloc MP Ghislain Lebel calling for the committee to hear testimony from Couillard, Gagliano and Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, who is now responsible for crown corporations.