Inside Politics

UPDATED - GuergisJafferWatch: RCMP "has concluded its inquiries ... and will be taking no further action"

by Kady O'Malley Posted: July 21, 2010 3:38 PM Last Updated: July 21, 2010 4:29 PM
That's according to a statement issued by the former minister's office. The missive also notes that the inspector "advised Mr. Rubel that the RCMP has concluded that there was no substance to any of the issues forwarded to them by the Prime Minister's Office." 

Here's the full release:

Statement from the Office of the Hon. Helena Guergis, P.C., M.P., MBA, Simcoe-Grey
July 21, 2010

Helena Guergis' counsel, Howard Rubel confirmed today that the RCMP has concluded its inquiries into Ms. Guergis and that he has been informed that the RCMP will be taking no further action. Inspector John Keuper advised Mr. Rubel that the RCMP has concluded that there was no substance to any of the issues forwarded to them by the Prime Minister's Office. All concerns relating to Ms. Guergis have been resolved and no issues remain outstanding


UPDATE: For anyone wondering whether to start the countdown to a touching, running-through-the-meadows long distance commercial-like reunion between Guergis and her erstwhile caucus colleagues, you might want to hold off on hanging the giant WELCOME BACK sign in the government lobby: According to PMO sources, this "does not affect decision to expell Ms Guergis from caucus." There were "several issues" that led to her resignation," iand there is still an ongoing investigation by the ethics commissioner. "This is a final decision," PMO told me when I asked, point blank, if there was any chance that Guergis would eventually be brought back into the fold. "It won't be revisited." 

AND THE INFOALERTE BOT WEIGHS IN: 


From: "Alerte-Info-Alert" <Alerte-Info-Alert@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 
To: Alerte-Info-Alert<Alerte-Info-Alert@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>
Subject: Helena Guergis

Helena Guergis

 

There are reports that the RCMP has advised counsel for the parties involved in the investigation into Helena Guergis and Rahim Jaffer that no criminal charges will be brought forward.

 

Please use the following talking points:

 

    • The RCMP's decision to not lay charges does not affect the decision to expel Ms. Guergis from caucus.

 

    • The Prime Minister received serious allegations from credible sources and forwarded them to the appropriate authorities.

 

    • There were several factors that led to Ms. Guergis' removal from cabinet and caucus.

 

    • The ethics commissioner is still conducting an investigation into her actions regarding a letter she wrote in support of a company that her husband had business dealings with, for a municipal contract.

 

    • The actions by the RCMP and the Ethics Commissioner are separate from the decisions of the Conservative caucus, which holds its members to a high standard of conduct.

Tags: and they all lived happily ever after?, blackberry jungle, guergisjafferwatch, helena guergis, orders of the day