Liberals want probe into alleged Tory back-out deal
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 6, 2005 | 6:01 PM ET
CBC News
The Ottawa Citizen reported Tuesday that it has obtained e-mails suggesting there is a "binding agreement" by the Tory party to cover Riddell's nomination expenses.
And David McGuinty, the Liberal MP for the Ottawa South riding, has asked the commissioner of Elections Canada to determine if the payment is legitimate.
Riddell had planned to seek the Tory nomination but was replaced at the last minute by star candidate Allan Cutler. Cutler is the public works employee who nearly lost his job after voicing concerns about the federal sponsorship program in 1996.
Riddell, who represented the Conservatives in Ottawa South last year, told CBC on Friday that he would agree to quit the nomination contest if the party covered his expenses, estimated at about $50,000.
"I'm pleased to say the party agreed to do that, as was proper, and as I think they acknowledged was proper," Riddell said in a report on The National.
However, this week, Tory Leader Stephen Harper offered a different version of events, saying there was, in fact, no deal with Riddell.
"The party had some willingness to discuss, to be reasonable. But in fact, there's no agreement and he hasn't been paid anything," said Harper.
"I will just say that it's a matter of public record that Mr. Riddell had a troubled candidacy the last time he ran in the election."
Riddell acknowledged he never signed a contract with the party.
Meanwhile, the man Riddell stepped aside for is trying to stay out of the controversy.
"It is not my issue," said Cutler. "My issue is personal integrity, and as long as I keep my personal integrity, I'm not worried about everyone else."
