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UPDATED GuergisWatch: Our PMO's longish national nightmare is ... over?

That's what CBC News has learned. Canadian Press is reporting that the minister -- do I even have to say which minister? -- has resigned. I'll update with more after the PM's 12:40 media availability. (Yes, he's having a media availability on the Hill. Don't look so surprised! He does that every now and then, sometimes even when he hasn't just lost a cabinet minister.) 


UPDATE:  Here's the full text of Guergis' farewell email, in which she announces her resignation, but doesn't actually explain why: 

April 9, 2010

This morning, I tendered my resignation as Minister of State for Status of Women to the Prime Minister which he accepted.   

The past 9 months have been a very difficult time for me. I have made mistakes for which I have apologised.  I want the people of PEI to know that when I spoke emotionally I was speaking about the airport as I would never insult my father's birthplace.  I apologise again. I have worked hard for Canadian women and I am proud of my record of my accomplishments on their behalf.  

I will continue in my position as MP for Simcoe-Grey and continue to serve my community. 

Sincerely,

Helena Guergis, MP Simcoe Grey



Is it just me, or does the above not actually explain exactly why she is resigning?


Also, direct yon eyeballs to Colleague Hall's eerily prescient post, which went up at 12:15pm. 

UPDATE: Um, wow. Apparently, she's not just out of cabinet -- she's out of caucus, at least temporarily, after PMO "became aware of serious allegations about her conduct," which have now been referred to the Ethics Commissioner and the RCMP. But hey, Rona Ambrose gets to add a new title to her list, so it's not all bad news, right? I mean, if you happen to be a female Conservative cabinet minister, that is? 

At the scrum, PM stresses that the allegation that Jaffer had "opened the door of [his] office" is false. He's asked whether her resignation was requested, and he notes that she offered, but under the circumstances, "a resignation was necessary." 

Before leaving, the PM tells the rather stunned gaggle that "of course" he's disappointed -- but in this business, "you get the brickbats" as well as the "bouquets." 

JUST TO BE CLEAR UPDATE: From the PM's comments, it sounds as though the "serious allegations" that prompted him to refer the matter to the RCMP and the Ethics Commissioner go beyond what was reported by the Toronto Star, since he stated that his office became aware of them last night, but he declined to provide any further information.  

Courtesy of PMO, here's the full text of the PM's statement: 

Last night my office became aware of serious allegations regarding the conduct of the Honourable Helena Guergis. These allegations relate to the conduct of Ms. Guergis and do not involve any other Ministers, MPs, Senators or federal government employees. 

I have referred the allegations to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and to the RCMP. Under the circumstances, I will not comment on them further.

Ms. Guergis offered her resignation from the Ministry, and I accepted it. Pending a resolution, she will sit outside of the Conservative Party Caucus. I have asked the Honourable Rona Ambrose to assume additional responsibility for the Status of Women portfolio. 

Also, as spotted by National Newswatch, the former minister's official websites -- both .com and .ca -- have, like her short- to medium-term career prospects, abruptly gone dark, although you can revisit Helena in happier days via GoogleCache here. Also offline: www.rahimjaffer.com - and, as NNW noted, according to the Status of Women website, the minister is now, quite literally, a blank slate. 

A few additional thoughts: Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm not precisely clear on why the prime minister would disclose that he had referred "serious allegations" to the RCMP without detailing, even in a general sense, the gist thereof. He was under no obligation to make public the fact that he had done so, after all, but once he did so, as far as I know, there's no reason why he couldn't provide a little bit more information. No legal reason, that is.

 

Tags: blackberry jungle, guergisjafferwatch, helena guergis, losing status, rahim jaffer